I dismissed NAID and pushed the appropriate button. It was time I actually spoke to him, because at the end of all of this, I wanted him and I very much doubted that would ever change.
When I reached his quarters, I didn’t hesitate or ring the chime, but rather stepped inside. Cincin looked up from her tree and let out a quiet meow in welcome. She jumped down, waddling even more than usual, but she did not come and see me. No, she went straight to the round dish next to her elaborate fountain and sat down before giving me a clear look.
Cincin wished to be fed. I patted her head, but I didn’t feed her, even though I felt guilty when she cried rather pitifully. I turned toward the bedroom, ignoring her sad meows and the rattling bowl. Monqilcolnen’s door was closed, which was unusual, and I paused outside when I heard a noise.
What if he has someone in there?I wondered.
Anger and possessiveness burned deep within me like lava coursing through my veins. No one else was allowed to touch Monqilcolnen. No one.
Forcing myself to take a deep breath in an effort to calm myself, I tried to think about it logically. Monqilcolnen had agreed to not fuck anyone else, and I trusted him. He wouldn’t do that to me.
The door slid open, and Monqilcolnen’s back faced me and his uniform was laid out on the bed like he’d just changed. He was alone, of course. I’d been foolish thinking that for even a moment, and yet it clarified my emotions for me.
Monqilcolnen was mine… or rather I wanted him to be one day. We were headed there. I would never willingly surrender him. I was keeping him. Not for a little while. Not for a couple years. No. I was keeping him for the rest of my life.
Without hesitation, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his trim waist. Mine. All mine.
I smoothed my black tunic down my frame. I personally had very little opinion on what I wore, but I looked well in black. And I needed that today.
Four days had passed without me even catching a glimpse of Wyn. I was attempting to give him space and time to process what I’d told him, but his absence had made me a hollow shell of myself—only he could make me whole once more.
I planned to seek him out and hope he was willing to at least speak to me, but I wasn’t sure if he would be or not. Nevertheless, I had to attempt it. I needed Wyn, and part of me was certain he was missing me almost as much as I was him.
Arms tugged me against another form, and I growled, muscles tightening. But a tail curled around mine, and I knew who it was with a single touch, allowing me to relax.
“Wyn,” I breathed, relaxing into him.
His face pressed into my back. I groaned at the feeling of him against me. I dragged my claws over his scales, loving the way his scales looked against mine. Wyn yanked me tighter to him, and I didn’t fight. Why would I? This was where I wanted to be. No, where I belonged.
“Wyn. Peace. You’re here.”
“I missed you,” he whispered.
My eyes slammed shut as liquid heat filled me. “I missed you.”
Wyn didn’t say anything more and simply held me. I remained silent as well, basking in his presence. Yes, we needed to talk, but we needed this closeness as well. I couldn’t even begin to guess how long we stood there in my bedroom, snuggling, before Wyn pulled back.
I turned around, needing to lay eyes on him. He looked the same as he always did, with a neat braid down the center of his head, white trousers, and a gray shirt. I cupped his elbows, rubbing my palms over the backs of his arms.
“We should talk,” I commented.
“Yes.”
“Do you want to sit?” I gestured to the bed, and he lifted his eyebrows with a small smile playing on his lips. It was perhaps not thebestplace to have a serious conversation. However, I didn’t want to wander out of my bedroom when I loathed to move from our current position.
“I’m not mad anymore, Monqilcolnen.”
“That’s nice,” I replied, unsure of what to say, which was new for me.
“I can understand why you did what you did. You were protecting me from yourself.”
“Yes.” I practically floated off the ground with the weight lifting off my shoulders. He understood.
“I’m not going to ask you to apologize.”
I appreciated that, because I wasn’t going to apologize. I was positive I’d done the right thing all those cycles ago.
“But I don’t agree with you or the choice you made, at all,” he said.
