Noro laughed. “Matheson, what did you think? That they wouldn’t come for you? That they’d let you stay here forever?”
I felt stupid and embarrassed about the doubtful part of my mind thatdidthink that. “I don’t know. It’s a long, hard journey, and then the gryphons…”
“We don’t know what’s going to happen.” Noro put his hand on my shoulder gently. “But I do know that we’re going to get through it together. All of us.”
I smiled. “You say that as if you’re one of our group. Of mates, I mean.”
As soon as I said it, I realized it was inappropriate. I blushed fiercely. Noro blinked, and I knew I’d made him uncomfortable.
“Sorry, that was a bad joke,” I mumbled. “Just ignore me.”
Noro hesitated, like he was thinking about saying something. But he only said, “Don’t worry about it.”
I noticed he hadn’t pulled his hand away. It was still there on my shoulder, warm and gentle. My blush didn’t go away, either, as much as I wanted it to.
“They miss you a great deal,” Noro said. “They wanted me to tell you that. And how much they love you.”
I smiled. A wave of emotion welled up in me and hoped I didn’t start crying again. “Thanks. I miss them a lot. I wish we were back there with them instead of trapped here…”
A thought hit me as I spoke. I snapped my eyes back up to Noro.
“Wait,” I said. “We’re not trapped anymore, are we? You can fly us out of here!”
“That was my intention,” Noro said with a smile.
My heart buzzed. Not only was my good friend here, but his presence meant I had a means of escaping the gryphon’s keep.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I inched closer to Noro, like his body was a crutch. I leaned on him, absorbing his warmth and letting it wash over me. He slowly wrapped his arms around me and held me to his chest.
In that moment, I realized something. His arms holding me… it felt right. It felt pleasant and good in a way that only mates made me feel.
But Noro wasn’t one of my mates.
I backed away, feeling strange.
“What’s wrong?” Noro asked gently.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I… I don’t know how to feel right now.”
“How so?”
I didn’t reply, staring at the floor.
“I think I might know what this is about,” Noro said mildly. “It’s your feelings towards me. Isn’t it?”
I caught his gaze, feeling a bit guilty, and nodded.
Noro sighed. “I didn’t want to bring it up until I felt you were ready, and with everything going on, it never seemed like a good time. But I suppose this is as good a time as it ever will be.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked softly.
Noro’s eyes met mine, gentle and warm like the sun’s rays on bare skin. When he spoke his voice was quiet and filled with emotion. “I have feelings for you. I suspect I have for some time now.”
Hearing him say it out loud made me pause. A warm feeling filled my chest, affectionate and easy. That’s what it was--being with Noro waseasy,like being with the rest of my mates.
But Noro wasn’t one of them.
I hesitated, trying to hold back the feelings in my chest, but it was like trying to hold water. They fell through my grip and pooled in a warm sensation.
