“If you ever hurt him…” I swallowed the threat.
“I will not.”
“We shall see.” I met his steady gaze. “I have to believe you before I will even think of letting you meet him.”
Father smiled, chuckling. “You’re already protective of him, as you should be.”
“Indeed.”
“Rest now. You have told me. You have faced the fear. Sleep.”
I was about to end the session when I paused. “Did you know about Wyn?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Since when?”
He grinned, purple eyes glinting. “Since before I met Vyn.” He ended the session, and I stared at the dark screen in shock.
Chapter 20
Now.
Urgg walked on one side of me and Seth on the other. We were on Nastroyn, and the three of us had decided to make a day of it. Kalvoxrencol hadn’t been pleased, wanting to come himself or send Seth with a horde of guards, but Seth had simply told him no and handed Bobbinvoxlyn to him before leaving.
We’d already gone to more than one tavern and eatery. Urgg had figured if they couldn’t help me with my issue with Monqilcolnen and myfeelings, then they could at least help me forget for a while. It was a kind offer. One I’d accepted gratefully.
I giggled, and Seth hauled me closer, smiling, though it looked tense. He kept glancing at Urgg, who was continuously peeking at their screen. Neither of them had drunk much, which wasodd. They liked drinking, especially Urgg. They would normally drink more than ten people. Whereas I could only handle a couple of drinks before I grew tipsy, let alone all of the drinks they’d shoved toward me.
My foggy thoughts were having a hard time working through the different scenarios as to what was going on. It was… impossible. I let it go. Whatever their issues were, I was having fun and finally not thinking about Monqilcolnen. It was all I could do not to strangle Cencay every night when they returned from duty. On and on, they would prattle about Monqilcolnen, and stir up the roiling jealousy in my gut. How dare they talk aboutmyMonqilcolnen or call him attractive? I wanted to pluck their eyes out.
I stopped in the middle of the busy road, making someone behind me release a litany of profanity, but I didn’t care. Monqilcolnen was in front of me. He was talking to a Zarkyian female, who was native to the desert world of Nastroyn.
Zarkyi were a monosex species now. The males had all died off, and they’d all been clones of each other until the Drakcol Empire shared our breeding technology, allowing them to procreate. Now all of the zarkyi were known for being highly beautiful and sensuous.
This one was all soft curves and smiles, dressed in see-through clothes that did nothing to hide her ample assets. Her space-black hair hung down her back, shimmering with shoots of purple and green while her deep green skin glowed faintly in the bright sunlight. She looked even more lovely against the golden sand and under the pale green sky.
She and Monqilcolnen looked good together. I hated that.
“Let’s go,” Seth said, grabbing my arm.
I shook him off. How could I possibly leave when Monqilcolnen was right in front of me? Everything that hadmade me hesitate was gone, and my thoughts were as sharp as a knife.
When the zarkyi laid a hand on his chest, I raced forward to claim what belonged to me.
“I’m sure I could assist you for a price,” Xyi said, resting her hand on me.
A warning growl rumbled in my chest. If she wasn’t the sole person who could find me a glowing moon tablet from the Zarkyian religion, which I’d wanted for years, I wouldn’t have dealt with her. I had no issues with Zarkyians, but Xyi was quite loathsome.
I opened my mouth to tell her my person wasn’t available for negotiation, but I never got the chance. A warm tail coiled around mine, and my soul knew who it was the instant he touched me.
Wyn growled at her, “Mine.”
A dam cracked open inside of me at his claim.Now. Now. Now, my inner fire chanted. I closed my eyes, fighting tears. Finally.
He didn’t give me time to relish the moment before he stalked off, pulling me along. I didn’t fight his hold. Why would I? He was where I wished to be.
“Wyn,” I said, breathless.
