Chapter 16 Nasrin
NASRIN
Iwas a fucking idiot for being jealous of Fiona as I made my way through the mountain to the place where the shuttle waited outside. An absolute dummy. But there it was.
Dalk had told Fiona that he’d murder any man who got a vision of her and tried to claim her as his mate. Way over the top, horrifically violent, and not something I’d ever want to hear coming from a partner.
But I was jealous all the same. Not of the murdery vibes, but of the fact that Dalk had no issue making his feelings for her known. He chose her, just as she’d chosen him. And he was willing to fight for her.
I didn’t even think I’d wanted Gahn Thaleo to fight for me. I hadn’t wanted any sort of commitment from him. Not until this morning. I’d thought we were just going through some shared experience – gloriously intense – but ultimately temporary.
But I hadn’t wanted to leave his cave when all was said in done. I’d forced myself to, of course, knowing that my friends were waiting and that it was time to go. Knowing that he wouldn’t ask me to stay.
At least I was looking forward to seeing our other friends in Gahn Errok’s mountain – Priya, Stephanie, Taylor, Abby and her sweet baby Keir.
That took a little bit of the sting off of everything.
Even so, I must have been wearing misery around me like a cloud when I met up with the group, because Oxriel and Zoren both jolted with awareness and turned to look at me.
Oh, Jesus.
That’s when I remembered that they could smell sex on you. My hurried splashes in Gahn Thaleo’s little bathroom cave hadn’t been enough.
“Nazreen,” Oxriel said quietly, leaning down towards me. “Are you alright?”
“Of course,” I blustered. “Why?”
“Because you smell…” Perhaps wisely, he chose not to finish that sentence. “But you do not look happy.” His sight stars quickened. “Do I need to kill someone?” Zoren tensed as well, as if prepared to spring into battle at Oxriel’s word.
“God, no! Don’t even joke!” I said, swatting at him.
“It was not a joke.” His adorable face was stony with seriousness. I remembered how viciously he’d fought in the vaklok. Oxriel might have been a cutie patootie, but he could take somebody down like nobody’s business.
“I’m good, Ox,” I said quietly. “I am happy. Or was. What happened this morning is what I wanted. What I chose.” I blew out a breath between my lips. “Things are just a bit complicated right now.”
Oxriel and Zoren seemed to accept this as Valeria called us into the shuttle.
No one else had overheard our conversation.
But Tilly and Fiona had questions for me, knowing that I’d stayed behind to be alone with Gahn Thaleo.
I remained tight-lipped, awkwardly fending off their queries until they gave up.
Then, I settled in for the flight back, and for the rest of the week in Gahn Errok’s mountain.