Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
NORA
Airik insisted that Nora sleep and that he’d keep watch. When she offered to switch off with him, he barked a command to Lucky, who made his eyes extra wide and cute, tugging on the hem of her shirt with his teeth.
“Are you weaponizing the pet?” she asked, lying down, knowing Airik would never deign to let her keep watch.
“I don’t know what that means,” he said, his lip twitching as if holding back a smile. “Sleep. Maybe tomorrow you’ll finally move faster.”
She fought a yawn. “Whatever you say, Major Asshole.”
She had fallen asleep to the soft sounds of his laughter and the crackle of the flames.
By morning, when Nora woke, she found Airik beside her, eyes shut tight in a fitful sleep.
He faced her, mumbling words she didn’t recognize.
Her hand was pressed against his chest, over his heart, completely covered by his own.
His brows furrowed, the crease between them so deep that she fought the urge to kiss it smooth.
Her heart thrummed, honored that some part of him felt safe enough to be with her like this, even if his dreams didn’t seem to leave him in peace.
Unable to watch him suffer, she stroked his bare chest in slow circles. His fingers tightened around hers for an instant before his eyes snapped open. He shot up, tearing himself free from her grasp, reaching for the knife in his boot.
“Airik?” The gun in her bag flashed in her mind. This was why he’d given it to her, she realized. But she wasn’t afraid and didn’t reach for it. He wouldn’t hurt her.
He turned to her, eyes wild and unfocused, like they saw something not there but horrific all the same.
As soon as he found her gaze, he went still. Tension eased from his face, his breathing slowed, and the hand reaching for his blade returned to his chest, right over the spot where he’d held her hand.
“We’re fine,” she said. “Everything is fine.”
“I fell asleep,” he said, rubbing his chest.
“You did.” Nora smiled, wondering if maybe they had called to one another in their dreams. “But it’s okay—Lucky kept watch. I told you he’s a good boy.”
At the pace they were making, they were now only a day or two away from the city. The two of them melded together with surprising and horrifying ease. Nora grasped at straws, obsessively searching for something capable of severing her heartstrings before they morphed into something unbreakable.
“Does your species have fated mates?”
Airik stopped mid-step, turning to her.
“Maybe you call it a soulmate? I saw a documentary once about people who believe their hearts are split in two before birth. When you finally find your other half, it’s supposed to be magical. Fireworks and all that.”
He raised a brow. “No.”
They’d taken only one step before he spun back abruptly. “Do humans have soulmates?” His eyes narrowed. “Do you have a soulmate?” His hand shot out, grabbing her braid tightly, his fingers flexing as he adjusted his grip, as if she’d flee.
Airik tugged on it, forcing her attention back to him. Her pussy responded immediately with a throbbing heat. She bit her lip, preventing a moan. How had she lived so long without knowing that she loved this?
“Do you have a mate, Nora?” he asked again.
Lie, she thought. It’ll make everything easier—whatever is happening between us…can’t.
“No,” she said, unable to let go of the thing blazing between them. “I don’t have anyone.”