The Star Caster by Jamie Loeak Page A

us.”
    “Why the hell would they do that?”
    “Don’t forget that they are unable to use us again.”
    So s tupid. Seriously idiotic humans. “Wait a minute,” I say. “You said that Ego and Val were your masters. But you said that the human doesn’t own us. I don’t understand it at all.”
    “If your captor manipulates his wish, forces you to stay with him, then he is your master. Thankfully, most humans don’t realize they can do this. Instead, they are focused on their immediate wants and wishes. Since Ego and Val asked for me to be by their sides forever, they are my masters.”
    Wonderful. And they wanted to keep me for forever, too.
    “How long have Ego and Val kept you here?” I ask as I start to figure things out. “How long have you lived here?”
    Sterren shrugs. “It’s probably been ten years. I’ve lost count over time.” He is looking down at the ground when he says this, and I can sense his feeling of helplessness. He has given up on being his own man. And who knows how long he’s had to think about this.
    “Sterren?” I ask quietly. “How old are you?”
    “ Star Casters stop aging.” He says this statement simply, and I realize that I already know this. He told me this when he told me about Ego and Val’s second wish, their wish to remain by his side forever. I don’t even bother asking him when he was born, because it doesn’t really matter anyway. All that matters is that he will be here with me, forever. And that makes this whole dilemma easier to handle, easier to live with.
    So, I look down at myself, at my hands, since that’s all I can see right now. I can’t believe that I’ll stay like this for the rest of my life. And that means that I can’t do anything I ever set out to do. I can’t be a lawyer. I can’t be free.
    “Danika, I’m sorry that this happened to you.”
    My lower lip trembles as I try not to start crying. I shake my head to destroy the helpless feeling that has made its way inside my chest.
    But Sterren has moved, closing the space between us. His hands move to frame my face and I look up into his eyes. Instead of focusing on my thoughts, I reach up and move his hair from his eye. There, underneath his golden eye, is the faint outline of the star tattoos that I have. My fingers trail along his cheek, tracing his beautiful tattoos. I let my fingers move so that they follow the sensuous curve of his lower lip, of his strong jaw. Sterren’s eyes flutter until they shut, and that is when I push the boundaries and press my lips to his.
    At first, Sterren is frozen, unsure of my intent. However, he is a guy, and he isn’t going to push me away. So, he kisses me right back. And when he does, a slam, much like a firework, forces its way down my spine. I whimper, but hold on to the kiss so that it doesn’t end. Sterren doesn’t seem to want it to end either, and he moves, pulling me into his lap. He changes the kiss, taking it from slow and intense to pure amazing.
    When the kiss ends, I’m breathless.
    “I never expected something like that from you,” Sterren pants. He wipes his mouth and leans back, his hands resting on the hard ground. His wears a small, yet satisfied smile.
    I find myself blushing, but I clear my throat to speak. “I’m capable of all kinds of things,” I say with a smile. “That is one thing I’ve learned from all of this.”
    “You are capable of doing anything,” Sterren says as he leans forward and pulls my hand in his. He runs his fingers along my palm, creating tingling sensations that shoot up my arms and into my heart.
    I swallow before speaking. “Thank you,” I say. I bite my lip before continuing, because I’m afraid that it’ll quiver. “That really means a lot to me,” I say when I control my emotions.
    Sterren continues, “It’s true.”
    I sigh and roll my eyes. “You hardly know me, Sterren.”
    “I know that you were confiden t enough to tell me about your capabilities. So, that leads me to believe