They reached the edge of the gardens at the back doors of the palace. A large fountain made with shells and twisted leafs poured water out of the center, and Ezra dragged Mira into it to rinse the paint off.

He combed his finger through her hair, the blue paint washing out in thick streams. As the water brushed the paint off his own body, the markings along his skin glowed, and Mira caressed the ones along his arms.

"You did amazing up there," Ezra said to her, cupping her chin in his palm. "I'm sorry you had to endure it."

Mira shrugged. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," she lied. But it was over, and it no longer mattered what she had felt before about it. She didn't have to do it again.

They stood naked in the fountain, kissing. When suddenly Ezra's mother appeared from behind him. Mira saw her first, and practically ran into the shells sprouting water behind her. She backed into them, slipped, and Ezra caught her before she fell against a sharp shell underneath them.

"You still have not completed the ceremony," Jin spoke impatiently. She was no longer a friendly and warm face.

Ezra turned to his mother as he pulled Mira to her feet. "I have it under control mother."

"She needs to know now, Ezra."

"I need to know what?" Mira stepped up, covering her breasts with her arm.

"I know how he likes to tip toe around your human sensitivities, so we will not require you do it in public. But he must drink the fertile water and you must drink it from him." She gestures towards his waist.

Mira closed her eyes, feeling betrayed and embarrassed. "Can I at least put some clothes on first?" She sighed.

"It seems like a waste of clean clothes but if that's what you wish," she waves a hand at them and turns on her heel. "The council will be waiting when the festival ends."

Mira waited until she was gone before turning to Ezra and glaring at him. "When She said I had to drink from you, she meant I had to drink your semen, didn't she?"

Ezra closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I should have told you."

"Yes, you should have."

"I didn't want to freak you out even more about tonight. I figured we'd get through the hard part first, then I'd tell you the easier part."

"Sucking your dick in front of a council of aliens is the easier part?" She scoffed. "Why in the world would they want me to do this anyways?"

"The fertile water, filtered through my body and into my seed provides many nutrients that will be healthy for you and a pregnancy... it's kind of like a prenatal vitamin."

"You're shitting me, right?"

"No. I'm serious. Many women used to drink from their men weekly while pregnant to gain nutrients."

Mira rolled her eyes and stepped out of the fountain, marching towards the palace. "Well if I get pregnant, I will not be doing that."

"That's fine," Ezra said, chasing after her. As they approached the palace, Mira began to shiver, and Ezra stayed close to her, trying to shield her from any eyes that might be looking. But Mira didn't care at that point. The whole planet had basically already seen her naked and painted. What was a few more people?

They reached their bedroom, and Mira found a green, long sleeved dress. She pulled it on quickly, tied her dripping wet hair back, and turned to Ezra. He stood there quietly, his arms crossed and his body still bare except for a small pair of brown shorts he grabbed from the floor.

"How long are you going to be angry with me?"

Mira sighed, stepping closer to him. "It depends... are there anymore secrets, or anything else in general you've been keeping from me?"

The corners of his lips twitched into the smallest smile. "Not that I can think of."

The smile forced itself into her lips as well. "I don't believe you."

He fell to his knees, clasping his hands together. "This is how humans beg, right? So please forgive me?"

She rolled her eyes again and grunted. "You're terrible at acting human."

"But I'm amazing at loving you," he grabbed her by the waist and tugged her forward. She looked down at him as he kissed the dress over her stomach.

"I guess you're pretty okay at that," she admitted, reaching for his chin and pulling his face up to look at her. "But no more secrets. Promise me?"

"I promise."

She leaned down and kissed him, her fingers combing through his hair. She stopped abruptly, and then tapped him on the nose. "Alright. Let's go get this over with."