Chapter 18 #2
She glanced back at me, understanding dawning in those storm-gray eyes. A flush crept up her neck, painting her skin the most delicious shade of pink, but she smiled—a real smile, warm and slightly embarrassed and utterly captivating.
"I'm fine, Nansar. Just... well-pleasured." The blush deepened, spreading to her cheeks. "In the best possible way."
"You're certain? I wasn't too—"
"You were perfect." She crossed back to me, rising on her toes to press a quick kiss to my jaw, her lips soft and sweet against my skin. "I wanted everything you gave me. Everything we shared."
The knot in my chest loosened slightly, though concern still lingered. "If I'd known it would leave you sore—"
"Then what? You would've held back?" She shook her head, her hair cascading over her shoulders. "I didn't want that. Last night was... it was exactly what it needed to be."
I caught her hand, bringing it to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "Still. Tonight, I'll be more careful with you."
"We'll see about that," she murmured, but there was affection in her voice, a promise of future passion that made my cock throb as she pulled away.
We ate standing up, too anxious to sit, shoving food into our mouths without really tasting it.
The bread was good, the meat seasoned with unfamiliar spices, but I barely registered the flavors.
My mind was racing, trying to understand what had changed, what the elder had seen or sensed that had satisfied her mysterious requirements.
Chloe finished first, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she reached for her shirt.
I watched her finish dressing, memorizing every detail—the curve of her spine, the way her hair fell across her shoulders, still mussed from our lovemaking, the graceful movement of her fingers as they worked the fastenings.
Whatever happened next, whatever the elder's explanation, I knew one thing with absolute, bone-deep certainty: I wasn't ready to let her go.
Not now. Not ever. Despite the bone-deep knowledge that it was exactly what needed to happen.
"Ready?" she asked, turning to face me as she fastened the last of her clothing, her fingers fumbling slightly with the ties.
I nodded, pulling on my own garments. "Ready."
But as we moved toward the door, Chloe's hand found mine again, our fingers threading together, holding tight.
"Nansar," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever happens out there... thank you. For last night. For—" She swallowed hard, her throat working. "For everything."
I pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her scent—wildflowers and female and something perfectly her. "Don't thank me yet. We still don't know what game the elder is playing."
"I know." She looked up at me, her gray eyes bright and determined, filled with a strength that never failed to humble me. "But still. Thank you."
I marveled at how naturally she leaned into my embrace now, how her body melted against mine without hesitation, without the flinch or tension that had once shadowed her every movement when touched.
She tilted her face up toward me, seeking my kiss as naturally as a flower turns toward the sun, her hands resting comfortably on my chest, feeling the steady beat of my heart beneath her palms.
The transformation was nothing short of miraculous.
I remembered how carefully I'd had to move around her, how she'd startled at unexpected contact, how her breath would catch and her eyes would go distant, lost in memories of pain.
Hewes had left his mark on her in ways that went deeper than any physical scar, wounds that couldn't be seen but cut to the very soul.
But now... now she reached for me. She welcomed my touch, craved it even, sought it out with an eagerness that made my heart swell.
The way her fingers traced idle patterns on my skin, the way she pressed closer when I wrapped my arms around her, the way she'd cried out my name last night with nothing but pleasure and trust and raw need in her voice—it filled me with a pride that burned like fire in my chest.
I had helped her heal. Not completely, perhaps—some wounds never fully closed, some scars remained tender—but enough that she could reclaim this part of herself.
Enough that she could experience touch as something beautiful rather than something to be feared.
Enough that she could give herself to me without reservation.
I loved her, I thought, the realization settling over me with quiet, unshakeable certainty.
I loved her strength, her resilience, the way she'd fought her way back from the darkness that bastard had tried to drown her in.
I loved her courage, her sharp mind, her stubborn determination that refused to let the world break her.
I loved the softness she showed me now, the vulnerability she trusted me with, the trust she'd given me piece by precious piece, each one a gift more valuable than gold.
And I would spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy of that trust, of the miracle of her choosing me.
The moment we stepped outside, a roar of approval erupted from the gathered Welati.
I froze, my hand instinctively tightening around Chloe's as dozens of voices rose in celebration. The villagers had assembled outside our cottage, their faces split with wide grins, some clapping their hands together while others called out what sounded like blessings or congratulations.
"What the—" Chloe breathed beside me, her confusion mirroring my own.
I scanned the crowd, trying to make sense of the scene.
Children darted between their parents' legs, laughing and pointing at us with uninhibited joy.
Several of the older females were wiping tears from their eyes, their expressions soft with what looked disturbingly like maternal pride.
Even the warriors stood with arms crossed and satisfied smirks on their faces, as if they'd won some bet.
"Nansar," Chloe hissed, leaning closer, her breath warm against my ear and sending a shiver down my spine despite the chaos around us. "Why are they acting like we just got married or something?"
Before I could respond—not that I had any answer to give—my gaze landed on two figures who stood apart from the celebration.
Kragath leaned against a dwelling at the edge of the clearing, his massive arms folded across his chest, expression thunderous.
And beside him, looking equally displeased, was the female from last night—the one Chloe had chased away.
"Not everyone seems happy about... whatever this is," I murmured, nodding toward the pair.
Chloe followed my gaze and snorted. "Yeah, well, she can stay mad. And Kragath can suck a dick."
A laugh burst from my lips, unexpected and genuine, the sound surprising even me.
My scrappy little human, never one to mince words.
Chloe looked startled for a moment, then her lips curved into that smile I was quickly becoming addicted to, the one that made her whole face light up like the first rays of dawn.
The elder emerged from the crowd, and the cheering somehow grew even louder, echoing off the surrounding buildings. She raised one weathered hand, and silence fell almost instantly, the Welati people showing their matriarch the respect and obedience she commanded.
"My people," the elder's voice carried across the clearing, warm and pleased. "We have witnessed something precious. Something rare." Her eyes found mine, then Chloe's, and there was a knowing glint in them that made my stomach tighten with equal parts apprehension and anticipation.
"A true mating bond, formed under our watch, blessed by our hospitality.
" The elder's smile widened, her dark eyes gleaming in the morning light.
"Nansar and Chloe, may your journey together be long and filled with joy.
May your bond strengthen with each passing season, and may you find the happiness that so few in this harsh world ever discover. "
I felt stupefied, my mind struggling to process her words. Beside me, Chloe made a strangled sound that was somewhere between a gasp and a squeak.
"Wait—what?" Chloe's voice cracked adorably.
The elder's laughter rang out, rich and knowing, and the crowd joined in with good-natured chuckles. She waved a hand dismissively, though her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Peace, young ones. The shock is written plainly on your faces." She stepped closer, her expression softening into something almost conspiratorial. "I know what you must think of us. What stories you have heard."
I found my voice, though it came out thick. "The Welati are known to be... unpredictable. Dangerous."
"Brutal... savage," Chloe added, then winced. "Sorry, but yeah. That's what everyone says."
The elder nodded, seeming unoffended. "Yes.
Exactly so." She gestured to her people, who watched with knowing smiles.
"A reputation we have cultivated with great care over many cycles.
The prisoners who land upon this world—most are violent, desperate, cruel.
They would take what we have built, harm our young, destroy our peace. "
She turned back to us, her gaze sharp and intelligent.
"But if they believe we are monsters? If they thought think we eat our captives, torture for sport, kill without mercy?
" Her smile turned cold. "Then they give our lands a wide berth.
They flee at the sight of our scouts. They avoid the Welati at all costs. "
"So it's all an act?" Chloe breathed, wonder creeping into her voice.
"Not all," the elder admitted. "We kill to protect our own, always.
But the rest is a necessary deception." Her expression warmed again.
"We are a peaceful people. We wish only to live in harmony, to raise our families, to honor the old ways.
But peace requires protection, and sometimes protection requires. .. a fearsome reputation."