Our eyes remained locked as I projected as much reassurance and understanding as I could through our mental connection, trying to soothe the storm of thoughts that raged within her.
“Breathe,”I urged her telepathically, my mental voice gentle and soothing.“You’re safe with me, Isla. I accept your offer. Just focus on your breath, let the panic subside. When you’re ready, I will take you as mine.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
ISLA
I swallowed, my throat dry. “Yours?”
I struggled to grasp the enormity of his statement. What on Earth had I inadvertently offered him, and why did he seem to claim me as his own?
Ky’rn nodded in response, those mesmerizing, glowing amber eyes of his fixating intently on my neck. They bore into me, causing a shiver to run down my spine. Panic surged within me. My swimsuit clung to my body like a second skin, restricting my breath and making me acutely aware of his proximity.
Ky’rn’s brows furrowed, sensing my unease, but his gaze remained locked on my neck, taking in the frantic pulse beating there. He probed my thoughts once more, his mental voice dripping with concern.“What’s wrong?”
“When you say ‘yours’…” I touched my throat reflexively, suddenly hyper-aware of my racing heartbeat and the vulnerable expanse of skin exposed by the collar of my suit.“What does that mean in your world? In your culture?”
Sensing my unease, his eyes searched mine.“Isla, I won’t…I don’t wish to harm or scare you.”Ky’rn shook his head. He seemed to be taking in every nuance of my expression, every shadow that crossed my face.
He moved closer with a predatory grace, like a skilled hunter closing in on its prey. His piercing gaze bored into me with an intensity that made my heart race. He halted abruptly, as though fighting against his own primal desires and scaring me away.The warmth of his breath brushed against my cheek, while his body emanated a chilling aura. But even in his moment of hesitation, there was a palpable chemistry between us, drawing us closer together.
“In my culture, when someone offers another live food the way you did, it means they show interest in that person and consider them fit to be a potential mate. I accepted your offer, but now, I am afraid I’ve done something wrong.”
“I…didn’t realize that,”I confessed, my cheeks growing warm.“In our culture, offering food can be a gesture of kindness, hospitality, or affection. But it’s not explicitly tied to courtship.”
Ky’rn studied me, the intensity in his glowing amber eyes making me feel like he could see through me—and perhaps he could read me like an open book through telepathic connection.“Yet, in your world, don’t many relationships start over shared meals, over the act of dining together?”
“They do…”I nodded, drawing parallels to human customs. Animals often displayed their worthiness to potential mates through various courtship rituals, and humans weren’t all that different, often exchanging gifts or tokens of affection on a first date.“So are you saying I unknowingly engaged in a courting ritual with you?”
“Yes,”he confirmed, his gaze unwavering.“You see, the Makezu are a solitary species. We seldom touch one another due to our natural instincts. This prevents misinterpretation, and it’s also a form of defense. So by offering food, we’re essentially asking if we’re worthy enough to touch.”
His explanation shed some light on his species’ customs, making me realize that despite our differences, there were similarities in the way we sought connection and intimacy.
I bit my lip, considering.“It’s true that human dates often involve meals, and there’s something inherently intimate about sharing food. It’s a chance to talk, to get to know one another. But,”I paused, searching for the right words,“it doesn’t have the same…direct implications as in your culture.”
He bowed his head, his shoulders dropping slightly as he took in my words.“Do you regret offering me food?”
Ky’rn’s question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of what had transpired in the past day. My mind raced through the whirlwind of events—my grandfather’s unsettling gift, essentially getting auctioned off in an arranged marriage at dinner, my business conversation with Roman, and the shocking revelations about my grandfather’s intentions.
As I pondered his question, I couldn’t help but question myself. Did I regret offering him that fish?
Fate had thrust us together, not just once but twice, and I couldn’t deny the inexplicable connection that had formed between us. It was strange, almost surreal, to feel so at ease with an alien male who resembled a shark. By all natural human instincts, he should have sent me fleeing in fear.
Yet, I felt safe in his arms, even in this expansive aquarium.
Was it because he’d saved me from the edge of death before?
“Do I regret it? I…”My words trailed off, and I sighed softly, my eyes still locked with his.“I don’t know. But I do know that I appreciate you asking me. It’s something I haven’t had much of lately—control over my own fate.
“But how are we supposed to do this, whatever this is?”I voiced the question that had been gnawing at me.“You’re an aquatic species, and I’m a land-dwelling human. You’re trapped in here…and I’m trying to free you. What will happen to the both of us once you’re free?”
The challenges ahead seemed immense, yet the bond we shared was undeniable.
Besides, I was now more or less engaged. I was supposed to marry Roman in a month. Even though we had both agreed it was a business transaction, not a romantic relationship, I still felt guilty.
I shouldn’t be here, in this alien male’s arms, when it was my obligation to keep him safe until I was able to release him.
There wasn’t room for me to become attached to him, to give in to whatever was forming between us, because we were beings from two separate worlds. It would never work.
