Chapter Thirteen #2
I left before she could formulate a response. The vendor selling beverages was only a short distance away, and I was heading back within moments.
When I returned, Elaina looked unsettled, darting glances around her as if she expected someone to attack at any moment. I placed the cups on the table and scanned the crowd moving around us, but nothing stood out to me.
“What happened?”
Her gaze flicked up to me before going back to scanning the Market. She didn’t even look as she reached for the cup and brought it towards her mouth.
“I think people are watching me.”
The statement caught my attention, but I pretended I wasn’t concerned. She was Human and would draw interest from many Morrak, not just the rebels.
“Who?”
She turned her head, looking around without being obvious that she was gauging the people, not the products on display. I was surprised by how good she was at it.
“There were three. They took turns passing by, then pretending to shop before turning as another took their place.”
My brows rose. There had been three who confronted Serenya in the Markets, and three attacked Taryn, but they were dead, ripped to pieces by her varku.
I followed Elaina’s gaze, trying to spot anyone showing her too much interest, but there was nothing. Just the normal traffic and movement of people shopping. There was no obvious threat or unusual behavior.
I studied Elaina and she seemed convinced, but she wasn’t properly trained. She didn’t know how to spot people faking being normal within a crowd.
“You are different. There haven’t been many Humans on Morrakan yet, so you will get stares.”
The words earned me another glare.
“I know the difference between curiosity and animosity.”
I shrugged and she muttered something in her language. I didn’t catch it, but I chose not to ask her to repeat what she’d said. It had probably been insulting.
The thought amused me, and I smiled as I watched her finish the juice. She was more alert than she’d been when she first started eating, but she didn’t seem interested in the food any longer. Humans apparently ate much less than we did, but she was also much smaller.
Clearing away what was left, I stood and guided her toward the River Caverns. She protested the stairs, bemoaning the fact that she’d have to climb them again once we were done bathing.
I ignored the complaints, keeping ahold of her hand to pull her along. By the time we reached the River Caverns, her objections had stopped, and she followed without trying to slow me down.
She seemed to be growing increasingly comfortable around me. She was more willing to remain close and accepted my touch without trying to pull away at the first opportunity. It was progress, and the knowledge spread warmth through my chest.
We passed several other Morraki bathing in the river. Families, warriors, and dozens of couples. Nothing seemed unusual until Elaina suddenly stopped.
“There.”
I followed her gaze as she made a small gesture toward a warrior seated on the opposite bank. He was in shadow, features hard to make out, but he appeared to be watching a pair of female betas bathing in one of the pools.
“What about him?”
She shook her head and tugged my hand, keeping her voice low despite the fact that even with our enhanced hearing, he wouldn’t be able to hear her.
“I saw him earlier. In the Market Caverns.”
The certainty in her voice made me study the male more carefully. Nothing stood out, and I didn’t remember seeing him before. He was dressed, but that wasn’t unusual, and he didn’t have any obvious weapons.
He was just another warrior enjoying the river.
I looked down at Elaina and shrugged.
“Many go to the Markets then come to the river to bathe.”
A series of emotions flickered across her face before she turned it away from me. Her shoulders slumped, defeat written in her posture.
Once, I would have appreciated her submission.
“I don't believe in coincidences.”
I almost laughed when I caught her mutter. It was a comment I’d made myself on many occasions, and I usually would have agreed, but this time it seemed like she was worrying over nothing.
I let the matter drop instead of pressing her on it, moving her farther down the edge of the river before undressing.
Eventually she followed me into the water, less concerned with her nudity than she had been the prior evening, although her cheeks still held a flush when she caught me looking.
I didn’t try to hide my interest, although I kept my kethra under control.
I didn’t need to advertise to the other Morrak that the omega was of value to me.
The current flowed around our legs as we washed the day’s sweat and sand from our flesh. It was warm and comfortable, although the air was a bit cool when I was accustomed to warmer temperatures.
We were almost done bathing when I noticed Elaina wasn't looking around or asking questions as had become normal for her. She stood close by, quiet, focused on cleansing her hair.
It might have concerned me if I hadn’t seen her concentration as proof that she had come to trust me to look out for her wellbeing. She didn’t need to keep watch when I was there.
I was still congratulating myself on the accomplishment when she leaned back to rinse her hair and lost her footing. One moment she stood beside me, and the next she vanished beneath the surface with a gasp that had my heart stopping.
The current caught her and was trying to pull her away before I could react. It wasn’t fast in this portion of the river, but it was strong enough that she was out of reach in a blink.
Sudden fear exploded through me, my kethra flaring so bright they sparkled through the water and lit her form as she reached towards me. I moved before I was conscious of the decision, lunging forward and clamping my hand around her wrist.
A single tug had her body flush with mine as she coughed up a mouthful of water. She was in my arms, and I was striding up the slope towards our things before she finished sputtering and was able to protest.
“I’m fine, I just slipped.”
I frowned down at her, my kethra still brighter than they should be as my tail lashed behind me. Hers were just as bright, but it no longer mattered what others thought if they saw the display.
“You almost drowned.”
She scoffed which led to more coughing.
“I did not.”
The denial would have been amusing if my heart wasn’t still trying to slam through my ribs. There was an ache in the middle of my abdomen, but I didn’t have time to think about myself.
“You need a kethral.”
I didn’t want to release her, but she was dripping and starting to shiver in the cool air. I needed to get her dry and safe.
Nothing else mattered.
I placed her on her feet but kept hold of her with one hand as I reached for a drying cloth. I rubbed her skin brusquely, too focused on the task to appreciate the first chance I’d had to touch her while we were both conscious.
“I don’t. I promise I’m fine, I was only startled. I can swim fine.”
My eyes narrowed as I tossed the cloth aside and swung a robe around her. Few Morraki could claim to swim well enough to resist the current, but Humans had more of an affinity for water than we did. It was possible she was being truthful.
Heaving a sigh, I lifted her again.
“Drazien!”
“You will allow me to carry you, or I will take you to a kethral.”
My words made her freeze before she gave up her struggles. Going limp, her head was resting against my shoulder before I made it to the stairs, and her eyes were half shut by the time we passed the Market entrance.
Her breathing slowed as I continued to climb, regretting my home being on the High Level for the first time since I’d been promoted and able to reside there.
As her heartrate slowed along with her breathing, I finally understood I’d been misinterpreting her actions. It had been exhaustion, not comfort or trust. She hadn’t had the energy to hide herself or resist.
The realization brought a surprising amount of guilt. I should have noticed sooner and ended the outing earlier. I should have listened when she complained and realized what the cause was.
The guilt brought irritation with it. Mostly because I knew I was to blame, and yet how was I supposed to have known?
Elaina made a small sound that tightened something inside my chest. I adjusted my hold, clutching her closer. The mission, the rebels, all faded into the background. For the first time since announcing my plan to Rhydek, protecting Elaina felt far more important than using her as bait.