“How’d you manage to convince him to learn Erabi?” Simon asked, offering his barbarian a bite of food from his bowl and smiling when the big brute took it from his fingers instead of holding the food himself.
“We are learning together,” I grumbled, jealous of the attention Simon was getting. Uttin had been completely naked last night and still didn’t touch me. If I wasn’t so sure of myself, I’d be hurt by his actions.
Okay, so I was a little hurt. Simon said Uttin had no preference for gender, and he’d already explained that there was no requirement to lay with another while in the clan’s care. So why was Uttin still avoiding me?
Uttin came back with two steaming bowls, his cheeks pink from the cold and his expression stoic like usual. The expression didn’t change when he looked at me, and I felt another pang in my chest because of the lackluster response. I wasn’t used to being dismissed. People fell over themselves to give me what I wanted at home. I was a prince of Al Nuzem. And yet here, I was nothing. Not even a tribute in their eyes anymore. And to Uttin, I was only a nuisance he had to deal with until he could be free of me again.
UTTIN
I thought it lucky that Simon was already in the receiving tent eating his meal with Feigrind when I arrived with Zakai. I would have fetched him if I had to, but I was glad to be spared the trouble. Giving Zakai someone to speak to while I conversedwith Orthorr was supposed to keep him happy. But I was gone only long enough to get our food and when I came back, he looked dejected and hurt. I frowned as I approached, shooting Simon a questioning look.
“Why does he look like that?”
Simon studied him for a long moment before asking in Zakai’s tongue. To my surprise, Zakai only grumbled a short response and turned his face away. Simon’s eyebrows shot up and he pushed, but Zakai was not as receptive to him as he had been the day before. When I sat beside him and handed him his bowl, his pout only grew, and he seemed to slump in on himself.
Simon’s lips twitched, and he sat back against Feigrind, humming when his bondmate wrapped his arms around him. It surprised me that Zakai scowled because of this. I knew he had no issue with male pairs since he had attempted to lay with me many times. So then why was he so upset?
“What am I missing?” I demanded of Simon.
His grin was mischievous, and I felt I wouldn’t like his response.
“He’s jealous.”
That made me frown, and Feigrind tighten his grip, moving his bondmate a little farther away from Zakai. Simon rolled his eyes and smacked Feigrind’s leg in response.
“Not of you, dummy. Of me.”
Feigrind looked startled, and my own jealousy swam to the surface. I had cared for Zakai since he arrived. Why would he want Feigrind instead?
Simon looked between us and rolled his eyes again, this time so dramatically that I had to fight the urge to smack him. Feigrind would murder me if I tried, even if it was only a tap in retribution for his brattiness.
“You two are idiots. He’s a prince. He’s used to having the attention on him. And the one guy he wants attention from isbeing all noble and keeping him at arm’s length. He’s jealous of the attention I’m getting, not of my bondmate.” He reached up and patted Feigrind’s cheek affectionately. “Not that you’re not sexy. But if he was jealous because of you, I’d have to gut him, and I’d rather not. My head would end up on a spike outside Al Nuzem’s capital city.” He locked eyes with me again. “If you want to make him feel better, then stop acting like he’s a poisonous snake who could bite you at any moment.”
I didn’t think of Zakai in this way, and it bothered me that he might think I did. “I do give him attention. We practice language together and share meals. He is not a snake.”
Simon sighed dramatically. “Not that kind of attention. He wants cuddles and kisses. He said he’s come onto you a few times, but you ignore him. You’re hurting his feelings.”
I grimaced. “That wasn’t my intention. But I did not wish to repeat the mistake Godr made with Ambrose. Besides, he is a prince. Should he not remain untouched until he is returned home?”
Simon snorted. “Believe me, he’s been touched plenty. Spending time with you won’t change that. And I already talked to him about the whole choice thing. He knows he doesn’t have to. But if he’s anything like me, going so long without sex has to be irritating for him. Especially when the object of his desire sleeps next to him each night.”
My stomach clenched tightly at the thought. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Zakai. I just felt responsibility toward him. I was meant to keep him safe and happy, not to slake my lust with him. But if my refusal was bringing him unhappiness, perhaps I was only punishing us both.
To test Simon’s theory, I set my bowl aside and picked up the little prince, settling him in my lap like Simon sat upon Feigrind. Zakai looked startled at first, but I didn’t miss the pleased smilethat flashed across his face before he focused on his stew again. Simon shot me a look that said ‘I told you so’. I ignored it.
Being in my lap warmed Zakai enough to converse with Simon. I had meant to seek Orthorr and check in, but he wasn’t here, and I was unwilling to leave Zakai after seeing how unhappy he was to sit alone in the short time it took for me to get our food. Instead, I ate my meal and spoke with the brothers who had braved the weather to come here to socialize. Some, like Einar, wouldn’t come near the receiving tent and would instead hole up with his bondmate until the storm had passed. Others, like Feigrind and Khrull, enjoyed socializing with the clan and came here to eat together like they would in the village center if the weather was better. Khrull’s bondmate, a sweet man named Briar, sat a little farther away, weaving with a few others while talking amongst themselves. Children played together in another corner with their parents watching over them, and some of the older members of the clan sat by the fire to stay warm and shared stories amongst themselves. It was peaceful. It had been a long time since I took a moment to truly feel at peace, and I enjoyed the time I got.
It didn’t take long, however, for Zakai to grow annoyed with my attention being away from him. He wiggled around until he was straddling me and could put his face directly in front of mine, his little scowl marred by the pout. I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Do you need something, tavi?”
Simon snickered at the name I used for him, but I knew Zakai used something worse for me.
Zakai, irritated at my use of my own language, huffed and crossed his arms, glaring at me. I should have figured out sooner that he was a prince. He was a petulant little brat when he didn’t get his way. There was something wrong with me that I found it so adorable.
“You know,” Simon said, interrupting our stare off, “if you really want him to learn, it might be better to give him an incentive.”
I glanced his direction, ignoring the triumphant grin Zakai gave me out of the corner of my eye. “What do you mean?”
