“Except take me home.”
My spine tightened, and pressure built in my chest. I pushed the sensation away. Seth was allowed his reaction.
When the door opened, Seth stepped out and went to our quarters. Lucy was on the couch, asleep. He moved toward her, and I let my tail fall away from him.
As I started toward the food dispenser, Seth said, “I think I want a mentor.”
I paused. “Mentor?”
“I meant a…” he trailed off. “A whatever you called your friend. Tim-something, who you introduced me to.”
Who?I thought but did not say. “Do you mean Pimtimzol?”
“Yeah, him.”
“Pimtimzol,” I repeated slower.
“Pimtimzol,” Seth said a few times.
“You want an oravirven?”
“Yes, Pimtimzol talked to me, and I think it’s a good idea.”
“He talked to you?” I asked, tail flicking. What exactly had he said? Not that I’d shared anything too shocking, but what if my careless words injured Seth unintentionally?
“Is that a problem?” Seth asked, hand stilling on Lucy.
“No. I’m glad you’re requesting an oravirven. I find it comforting to speak to someone, and I hope you will as well.”
“Yeah.” Seth gathered Lucy into his arms and went into his room.
I wanted to follow him. Instinct roiled inside of me, demanding I soothe every line of stress away. I wanted to nuzzle him and rub my scent on him, to claim him. My cock hardened at the thought, and I groaned.Seth. What would it be like to fuck him?
A chime sounded, startling me. “Yes, NAID?”
“Prince Serlotminden would like to speak to you.”
My third older brother. I’d known it was coming. It was a miracle my brothers hadn’t pinged daily. Maybe Hallonnixmin had made a schedule. That was something he would do—organizing the troops to pester me.
“Send him to my bedroom.”
“Yes, Prince.”
I went to my room and sat on my bed.
“Pest,” Serlotminden said with a wide grin. He looked more like my mother than like me or Hallonnixmin, who resembled our father. He had dark purple scales with accents of white and gold and long white hair that was shaved on one side. Like me, his ears were pierced to the tip, but he had a gold ring in the middle of his bottom lip.
“Speedy,” I said, trying to keep the exhaustion from my voice.
“Where’s your mate? Hallonnixmin said he didn’t see him either. You’re in your room, so shouldn’t he be there?”
“Is that all you wanted?”
“Pretty much.”
“Seth is fine.”
“Fine?” he repeated. “You’re newly mated, you should be more than fine. You two should be in the throes of passion and sex. Is everything alright?”
