But she did not have a mate, and her family could fly to see her anywhere. Being Aždaja did not begin, nor end, at the ‘Riik’s borders. It was a forever thing. Theoretically, she could go anywhere, doanything.
It was an offer of freedom that should have thrilled her wild heart, but instead it just made the bruising worse.
“I— I will think on this,” she promised, blinking back a frustrating prickle of tears.
“You don’t have to answer now. It’s a standing offer.” The elevator dinged and the doors began to slowly slide open, but she didn’t take a step before Atria pressed just the tips of her fingers against her bare arm.
Hele turned to stare at the witch, surprised that she would risk it when most non-dragons feared the constant pulses of energy that made her skin flicker. It was harmless, but it was also different, and Hele understood that differences were often threatening.
She’d even wondered if perhaps that was why Vael had stopped touching her after those first few days. Did he worry she would hurt him? Or did he simply… not like her skin?
The insecurity was buried under dense layers of Aždaja pride, but it was there all the same. A crack in an otherwise strong foundation.
Her throat constricted painfully. That small, tentative touch from the witch meant the world to Hele.
Atria’s lovely face, heart-shaped and expressive, was wreathed in concern. Speaking quickly, she said, “I know this is forward, but it’s hard for me to— I’m… sorry you’re hurting. If you’d like to talk, you can call me any time. I may not be able to understand what you’re going through, but I can listen, and if you’d like help, I can soothe some of the pain.”
Hele stared. “What— How do you know?”
“I’m an empath.” Atria dropped her hand. She carefully tucked both behind her back once more when she ruefully added, “Not much use in science, but in my other life, I helped the heartsick. I can do the same for you, if you’d let me.”
Her heart lurched. She knew what empaths did. They helped blunt the worst of emotional pain, working skillfully to untangle deeply embedded psychological wounds and amplify positive feelings through the exchange of energy. For a wild moment, she almost jumped at the chance to put distance between herself and all the ugly new feelings.
She could make the heartbreak and doubt disappear.
It was so tempting, but when Hele opened her mouth to say yes, she couldn’t force the word out.
A sharp stab of possessiveness held her tongue.
What would happen if she didn’t feel this way? Would she not care about Vael anymore? Would he simply drift from her mind like a cloud on the horizon?
The feelings hurt, but they belonged toher.They should not be dulled, or stripped from her. Hele wished that she could cut out the part of her that loved Vael so that the pain would not be so great, but she was too selfish to ever truly consider it. Her feelings for Vael belonged to her and to her alone. What she did with them was no one’s business — not even his.
And though he did not want her in the way she wanted him, Hele refused to give him up entirely.
“Thank you,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. Her chest felt bruised, but she did not think that was a bad thing. Not completely, anyway. “But some things, I think, are good for me to know. Even the bad things. I am… adapting.”
Atria nodded. A small, sad smile curled her lush lips when she answered, “Yeah, I understand. Some things you just have to feel. But if you ever change your mind or you just want to talk, call me. We can discuss programs, too. Don’t forget that.”
Hugging herself tighter, Hele stepped into the elevator. “I will.”
Maybe she wouldn’t let the witch take her heartbreak, but her other offer didn’t sound too bad at all.
If there is nothing keeping me here, then maybe it’s time for me to wander.
ChapterEight
It turnedout to be a good thing that Taevas had given him the week off. There was no way Vael could have focused on his duties after a sleepless night of searching for Hele. She hadn’t answered any of his calls or messages, so he’d pulled in every favor he had to try and track her down. Unfortunately, no one knew where her new apartment was — or rather, no one was willing to tell him.
While a part of him was deeply relieved that no one had given up the location of her dwelling purely from a safety and privacy perspective, he was left pacing his living room all night, worried sick about her.
At least Alex was with her,he thought as he forced himself into a quick, cold shower. Water pelted the bunched muscles of his shoulders and back.But it should be me who soothes her when she’s hurt.
If only he hadn’t been the one to hurt her in the first place.
Around and around he went, agonizing over what he could have said, how he could have handled her announcement better, if only he weren’t so shit with words. He was deeply embarrassed by the way he reacted and desperate to smooth things over with her.
If only I knew where she was!
