He refused to give up, though.
Drawing her closer, he pressed his lips against her temple.Her scent surrounded him.They had just this journey together before she would leave him.His breathing shuddered when pain crushed his heart.As much as he wanted to keep her with him, she had a right to choose.
He extracted himself then tucked a blanket around her semi-naked body.Unable to resist, he stroked her upper arm, relishing her softness.“Mhi’ hirihadie,” he whispered and kissed her cheek.
He slipped out and into his room, aiming for his waterfall.Not that he wanted to wash the scent of her off his body, but the day had started.While he stood under the scorching spray, he ran his hand over his chest and stomach, to his koq.Her mouth… He groaned.So hot, silky, wet…
With one hand splayed on the back wall, he dipped his head under the water, reliving what she’d made him feel.The way she’d made his body sing still lingered in his soul.
After allowing the heat from the room to dry him, he pulled on his boots and clean pants.A listen told him she still slept, so he headed to the activities room.Upon seeing Ulvus, Nenn almost turned around.Instead, he drew in a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and approached his wall.
“Morning,” he said.
“Since you are not looking after your weak female, I demand a rematch.”Ulvus spun a sword, his agility mesmerizing.
“Why?”Nenn flicked a glance at him, ignoring the insult to Tiny.If Ulvus couldn’t see her core of inner strength, then the male was a fool.
“This time with weapons.”Ulvus smirked.“I shall let you choose.”
“How magnanimous of you,” Nenn said.“I am trained to take a warrior down to heal him.No matter what weapon you hold, Ulvus, you will find yourself on the floor.”Nenn faced him.“You are a sava, skilled with every weapon.A taed can work and fix anything.I cannot be a sava, a taed, or an arrak.”
Ulvus glowered.“By that thinking, I should only challenge savas.”
“Or arraks.”Nenn shrugged and raised his gaze to the climbing wall, considering this conversation over.
He hit the mat hard, jarring his shoulder.Pain exploded outward, numbing his fingers.He should have expected Ulvus’s attack, something he admonished himself for.
“Ulvus,” he snapped, wincing when each move to free himself hurt.
The male smirked, his face too near.Without hesitation, Nenn slammed his forehead into Ulvus’s nose, sending the roaring male stumbling back, clear blood pouring to his chin.At least, it had wiped away his smugness.
Gripping his upper arm, Nenn rolled onto his knees then bent a leg to stand.“Was that necessary?What did that gain you?”He leaped aside when Ulvus staggered forward.“I am in no mood to entertain this nonsense.We both need healing.”
“The idiot cannot understand that,” Vaen said, his ferocious scowl in place when he strode into the activities room.“Attack anyone again and you will have all of us to deal with.”He dug inside Nenn’s pocket and pulled out his med-dev.“In fact, I shall report your behavior to the udaps.Let them decide your fate.”
“No, it is not necessary,” Nenn muttered while scanning his shoulder.
The pain eased, and feeling returned to his fingertips.He swung his arm to test his shoulder’s mobility then approached Ulvus to heal his nose.
“Stand still,” Nenn said when the male inched back as if he expected retaliation.
Vaen huffed but didn’t walk off, choosing instead to remain at Nenn’s back.
“Why wait until now, Ulvus?It has been days since our sparring,” Nenn asked.
“You have been playing with your pet,” Ulvus gritted out, disgust coiling his upper lip.“She is always by your side.”
“Sounds like envy to me,” Vaen said, snapping Ulvus’s glower to him.
“Mate with such a species, the very ones who killed the Senate?”Ulvus settled his amber gaze on Nenn.“They cannot all be love mates.Vatia sahaars are rare.”
Nenn froze, his hand in mid-scan.“What did you say?”The flames of an active volcano poured down his back.He gaped.“Why do you think this?”
He’d heard of love mates but never met such a fated pair.
“I have seen such behavior before.Drafe has found his vatia sahaar, the son of Kreta,” Ulvus spat.“Like that male can never do wrong and is favored by the gods.Even mine.”
“I know you can hear me, Nenn.I’m starving.Are you fetching me or what?”Tiny’s voice added fuel to the fire lambasting his body even as her voice penetrated the room via his forearm.
