“Well?” Zenith said with a perturbed look. “Are you going to let her get away?”
Apodis tried to swallow the dryness in his throat.
“What?”
“She’s getting away!” Zenith yelled, bounding after the human without looking back.
Apodis grumbled, but soon gave chase, trying to ignore the way it electrified his blood, his mating tentacles undulating wildly behind him. This was just what he needed, to frighten her further by chasing her through the dark forest, but he couldn’t leave Zenith alone out here.
Despite his apparent bravery, he was still a city caerulian who didn’t know his way around the woods.
As Apodis tore through the dense branches, he heard someone speak, slowing to a stop and waiting.
“Hello.”
Zenith.
“H-Hello?”
It was a soft, feminine voice, out of breath and slightly raspy.
“I think I sprained my ankle,” the female said with a tremor of fear.
Apodis let out a deep sigh, raking his handsthrough his silvery hair before stepping out into the clearing.
The human was sitting on the ground, grabbing her ankle. A bitter scent filled the air, threatening to overpower the delicate floral aroma that emanated from her.
Pain. She was in pain.
Definitely at least a sprain, if not something worse. And it was technicallyhisfault for being a creep and spying on her.
Zenith was standing just out of reach of the female, though his head was leaning forward, like he was trying to get a gauge on her without getting too close.
Apodis held his arms up when he approached, another lance of anxiety stabbing through him, the air thick with frightened pheromones.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, then internally scolded himself.
That’s exactly what someone whodidwant to hurt a female would say.
Her eyes were wide, and she tried to shuffle backward, wincing as she did so.
Apodis stopped, keeping his voice as gentle as possible.
“I can help you. My name’s Apodis, and I live close to here. You’re in my territory. That’s Zenith,” he said, gesturing at the curious caerulian.
Z bowed his head, and the female nodded back, clearly trying to hide her fear.
“I’m Gemini,” she said quietly, staring up at him with moss-colored eyes.
Control. Stay in control. Don’t act like a freak.
“Sorry for trespassing,” she continued. “I’m on a research trip not far from here, but… I got a little distracted. We’re here to see theLumaria vitellusbloom. I’m a xenobotanist.”
“You research at night?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
It was too early in the season to witness the orb glows, and besides, wandering around the forest in the darkness didn’t seem like a great idea.
Especiallyalone.
