I swipe one before he can even offer it to Lois and down the thing, the overly sweetened alcohol going down far too quickly.
Az chuckles. “Having a good night, then, dear Niska?” he teases before offering up his remaining drink to Lois. She refuses with a shake of her head and a downturned frown. Az just grinsat her and starts to sip the drink, watching her over the rim of the glass as he does.
The conversation carries on around me, with Gibbi sometimes pausing to ask me questions about how I’m finding my stay at the palace, what I think of Xaavia so far and how well I’m being treated.
Honestly, she seems like a really nice person.
But I can’t get away from the pit forming in my stomach that her presence causes. It’s like she showed up and started digging, and the longer and longer I stand here, the deeper the hole gets. But I know -I know- what’s at the bottom of that pit. It’s not the other side of the world, it’s not buried treasure, and it’s not ancient ruins. It’s reality. Gibbi showed up to shovel away all the confusion I have in my mind about what Kiahn and I are to each other.
“So,” Gibbi pauses, taking in a big inhale through her nose before continuing. “My father has been trying to get me to agree to my first contract for a while now, and I’d really like for it to be with Kiahn. I think he would be fair and kind, and like I said, I’d like to settle here. So… are there any tips you could give me about getting him to agree? Does he like females to be direct? Or does he enjoy the chase?”
Oh God, that pit is getting somehow deeper and wider. It’s like a sinkhole.
My breathing starts to speed up and I feel a little lightheaded. Lady Zalora’s gaze slices to me as she waits for me to answer these questions like this is any kind of normal conversation.
“Niska,” a deep, calming voice envelopes me, and I know it’s him before I turn to lay my eyes on him.
Everyone around us bows their head amongst murmurs of greeting for their prince, and people part to give him room.
Kiahn stands there like a life raft - a rope ladder thrown into that sinkhole, trying to pull me out. I feel myself sag a little atthe sight of him. And I think he sees it. His gorgeous green eyes survey me up and down and he steps forward, offering his hand. “My bride is tired, and I would like to invite her for cuddles.”
The invitation snaps me right out of myself, my hand coming up to slap over my eyes.
“Cuddles? What is that?” I hear Az ask.
“It is a human custom where we share a bed, holding one another. We talk until we fall asleep in each other’s arms,” Kiahn answers like he’s describing the recipe for a new dish. “It is for comfort. Niska trusted me with the tradition on the ship.”
Sliding my hand from my eyes, I see Az’s light up. “We can do that?!” He turns, spinning on the spot. Lois and Jaya had slunk off only a few seconds ago to go and try the food on offer. Az wastes no time and starts weaving through the crowd, no doubt to try and find Lois to issue her an invitation to ‘cuddles’ with him.
30
Chapter 30 - Kiahn
It had been a relief to me when my Niska had accepted my invitation to cuddles tonight. In truth, I’d been wanting to ask her for this since she first introduced me to the concept back on the cruiser. The thought that I could have her in my arms while she slept had kept me awake in my bed, making the space between my sheets feel like the barren lands of the far west where there is no signs of life for as far as your eyes can see.
But not tonight.
I’d had enough of talking with males who are clearly now trying to push notions of me entering contracts with their daughters or sisters. Even when that particular goal was not the evident one being pushed, I was in no mood to discuss the amazing array of biodiversity shown on one of my senator’s vacation planets.
I’d tried to keep my eyes off of her. I swear to the four. Ididtry. But no matter how much I feigned interest in whomever wasspeaking at the time, I just couldn’t keep from her. She is like a planet, and I her moon, forever in her orbit.
At one point, I’d seen Aunt Zalora had brought Gibbi L’Ryx to meet with Niska.
I’d sighed internally at witnessing that.
Or perhaps it hadn’t been such an internal sigh, since I’d then had to cover the noise with a clearing of my throat.
Gibbi is a decent woman. I didn’t have worries over her saying something to offend my Niska, but the game at hand here was so evidently being played by my Aunt, it just made me tired of the whole thing.
And I know a contract with Gibbi would be a good thing for the Northern Principality. With her father’s connections in the artificial womb industry, our own lab for the population that doesn’t care about passing on prestigious bloodline venoms can be updated.
But the thought of Gibbi strapped to a breeding bench feels wrong in my mind. I don’t even want to think of the female that way. She is polite, well mannered, and highly educated.
But she is not my Niska.
I sigh and pull her little human body even closer to my side. The very second I could tell she was uncomfortable, I had swooped in and offered the very first reason for leaving that my mind could conjure. Apparently, all those times I’d longed to invite her to cuddles had finally manifested into words.
And I’m glad she accepted the invitation.
