Feigrind raised an eyebrow, and Bhortis scoffed. “Then why does he look as though someone tore down his tent?”
All four gave me expectant looks, and I felt my frustration rise. “I do not wish to speak of it.”
“And yet, you will anyway,” Khaul said firmly. “Your mind is clouded. It will distract you if you’re needed in battle. Speak your mind, Tavik. What bothers you?”
A part of me wished to walk away, but he had a point. I couldn’t let myself be distracted, not when I usually fought alongside Saneth in all the battles. I needed to be at my best to protect him like he did for me.
“I wish to bond with Saneth, but I don’t know how to ask. He doesn’t believe me when I tell him he is my other half, and I worry he won’t accept.”
Instead of teasing like I expected, they all looked thoughtful. Bhortis was the first to speak, asking, “Has he said he is interested in bonding?”
I shook my head. “He has not mentioned it.”
“If he’s worried about Tavik’s sincerity, he might not want to bring it up,” Feigrind pointed out. “Did you jest about it at any point to make him think you were not serious?”
My expression flattened. “You all jested enough for me. He believed I was bothered by the idea because I argued against you for so long.”
To their credit, they looked abashed. Godr rubbed the back of his neck, giving me an awkward smile. “Sorry. In our defence, we didn’t actually know there were feelings there. It was innocent teasing.”
And I knew that. It only ever bothered me because it looked like it bothered Saneth. When he’d explained his reasoning, I realized I’d gone about it wrong, but I couldn’t take it back. There was no changing the past.
“I don’t think that matters,” a feminine voice said behind us. Khaul moved to allow his bondmate into our little circle, putting his arm around her shoulders protectively.
Cocking my head, I asked, “What do you mean?”
“You two have always jested. I don’t think Saneth would get caught up in that kind of talk. You’re focusing on the wrong thing.”
Khaul smiled down at his bondmate, his voice tinged with affection. “Explain it to us, wise healer. What are we missing?”
She poked his side in retribution, a smile on her lips, and shook her head before giving her full attention to me. “He has wanted you for a long time. We all saw it. If you ask him to bond with you, he won’t say no. You just have to do it in a way that feels sincere. In a way that means something to the two of you.”
“Like what?” I pressed. “Nothing has felt right so far.”
“I can’t answer that for you,” she replied, giving me an understanding smile when my shoulders slumped. “You need tothink about you and Saneth. What’s important to the two of you? What made you fall for each other?”
My mind flicked back to Saneth’s story about me protecting him. We always had each other’s backs. It was what made us two parts of a whole in my eyes. Without him, I would have lost my life in battle before now, and I knew it was the same for him.
Zoya pointed at me, raising her eyebrows. “That. Whatever first crossed your mind. That’s what is most important. Use it and come up with a plan. And remember, no matter what, he’ll say yes.”
I hoped she was right.
Six
SANETH
“Will you train with me today?” Tavik asked softly, his nose running up and down the back of my neck. He had woken me with his mouth on my cock, and I was sated and still sleepy wrapped in the warmth of his arms. I grumbled at his suggestion, pulling his arms tighter around me.
“Must we?”
He chuckled, nipping me lightly. “Unless your intention is to become my bedwarmer instead of a warrior, yes. I’ll admit, I wouldn’t hate returning to you naked each night.”
I elbowed him, spinning in his arms when he jerked out of the way before the blow could hit. We wrestled for a few moments, and I felt the tension that had settled around us the past few days ease as we grinned at each other, each trying to get the upper hand to pin the other. He managed to get the better of me only because I was too focused on not accidentally kneeing his cock, and when his weight covered my body, I groaned in submission and allowed it. There was nothing better than being pinned beneath him naked.
He hummed, his expression thoughtful. “Perhaps I should ask someone else to train with me. You are too easily subdued these days.”
My eyes widened, and I wriggled to get free, but there was no removing him if he didn’t want to move. He drew my arms over my head, stealing my attention with a scorching kiss that made my toes curl. I was half hard when he pulled back from the kiss, nipping at my chin with a smug expression.
“You’re a cheat,” I said, my words a tad slurred from lust.
