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that sometimes I alter my appearance and visit
     earth, pretending to be mortal. I sit and gaze out across a lake or a river or an
     ocean, and I dream.”
    “Of what do you dream, Goddess?” Kalona asked, the skin of his cheek still tingling
     from her kiss.
    “I dream of love and happiness and peace. I dream that there is no Darkness in this
     world or in mine. I dream that mortals would stop struggling against one another and
     unite instead. And I dream that I am not eternally alone.”
    “But you are a Goddess, immortal, divine, and powerful. Could you not force the mortals
     to be peaceful, to shun Darkness?”
    Nyx’s smile was sad. “I could if I wanted to take free will from them. I wouldn’t
     like that, though. And I promise you, they wouldn’t, either. And I am beginning to
     understand that even the absence of strife would not rid this world or mine of Darkness.”
    “Explain this Darkness of which you speak,” Kalona said.
    “I don’t think I can—or at least not well. I am inexperienced with it. So far I have
     only sensed its malevolence and witnessed what those under its influence will do.
     Humans can be very cruel when incited. Did you know that?”
    Kalona did not, but he realized he did not because he had not been paying much attention
     to the mortals that inhabited earth. His only focus had been on winning his place
     at Nyx’s side. He was just beginning to understand he might need to be by her side
     for more reasons than the desire he felt for her.
    “Are you in danger, Nyx?”
    The Goddess met his gaze. “I do not know.”
    “These ridiculous tests! They keep me from you. I should be beside you, protecting
     you!”
    She studied him carefully, not reacting to his outburst. Eventually he felt foolish,
     and he stared out at the lazily flowing river.
    “You are eager to speak about human strife and the dangers of Darkness. You are quick
     to leap to my defense.”
    “Always!” he assured her, wondering why she suddenly looked so sad.
    “But you say nothing of my eternal loneliness.”
    “I thought I need say nothing—that you understood that if I was your protector, I
     would be by your side, your lover and mate, eternally watching over you.”
    “Kalona, perhaps a good lesson for you to learn is to never presume you know what
     a Goddess, or any woman, is thinking,” Nyx said. With a smile she motioned for him
     to join her as she settled on a smooth driftwood log and began to pick through the
     pebbles by her bare feet, choosing some and discarding others.
    Kalona sat and, not knowing what to say next, blurted, “Is earth really like the Otherworld?”
    “Yes and no,” she explained. “The earth is to the Otherworld as the People’s Great
     Spirit Tree is to a Goddess.”
    “Then the earth is only a wan reflection of the Otherworld,” Kalona said, unable to
     keep the relief from his voice.
    Nyx’s gaze flicked up to meet his briefly before she went back to choosing rocks.
     She continued, “Though only a reflection of the Otherworld, there is a unique beauty
     on earth that is made even more special and precious because nothing remains the same
     here. Humanity lives and dies and then lives again. The seasons change. The continents
     shift. Human life happens here, love happens here, birth and death happen here. Humanity’s
     time is brief but fascinating and heartbreaking and exquisite. I hope that someday
     you will come to value humans, and the earth, as I do.”
    “I value you, above all things,” Kalona said.
    Nyx met his gaze. “I know you do. I could feel our connection when first I looked
     into your amber eyes. Since then I believe you have intoxicated me.”
    Kalona went to his knees before her. “Tell me what I can create that would please
     you most! I want only to make you happy and to be by your side always as your protector
     and mate.”
    “Kalona, son of the Mighty Moon I love so well, I cannot tell you what to create for
     me. That would be