His head had been too full of sensorial memories, his nose too full of her scent.Enket at inan, she was just as soft and sweet as he’d imagined.
Halfway through his sleepless night, he’d taken his aching cock in hand, if only to press the lingering trace of her touch into his skin. But it wasn’t the same. His rough paw pads were nothing to Maeve’s sweet grasp, the way her lithe fingers curled around him and stroked him into oblivion. Soren hadn’t evenbothered, his cock staying up with the rest of him throughout the night.
He was just as useless that morning, wandering around Danann without aim. He stood for a long time at the central communal fire, where many took a morning mug of grog and chatted as the sun peeked through the trees.
Briseis, the usual maker and distributor of the grog, looked at him with concern as she handed him his mug. “Are you all right?” she asked.
“She likes you, Soren. It’s plain to see.”
Maeve’s words echoed in his mind, and he couldn’t look at the dragoness.Ibás, he’d suspected that was true, had even nurtured his own affection for Briseis, but now…
You don’t have to be alone, you choose to be.
He suspected Maeve might be right about that, too, but he didn’t quite want to believe it.
Well, not all of him.
Histurukwas thrilled. And smug.
She is a fine mate,it crowed.She likes us very much.
The moment Maeve had stared down histuruk, Soren knew he’d follow her anywhere that night. She didn’t cower or quiver; instead, took him in hand, bold as could be.
He shouldn’t have expected anything less from someone as confident as Maeve.
Although, he didn’t think it entirely ridiculous for him to doubt she’d want him in return. She was still closer in age to Kiri than Soren; she was still assured, beautiful, and ambitious; she still planned to leave.
That soured histuruk’s mood.
Well, good. You ought not forget.
Make her stay!theturukdemanded.
I can’t. I won’t.Soren would never force his ownkigarato sacrifice for him, couldn’t dream of burdening her with lostdreams and himself with the guilt of it.
Convince her.Theturukwas adamant. It’d had a taste and now wanted more.
An addiction. That’s what this feels like.
Convince her to stay,theturukgrowled again, undeterred, unsympathetic.
I wouldn’t know how.He wasn’t even sure how he’d managed to receive her touch last night. Even though he’d gone through the memories of every word, every breath a dozen times already, he was still hazy in how exactly her mood had turned.
He wasn’t convinced it hadn’t been a dream, conjured by his increasingly desperateturuk. That would certainly make more sense.
Something waved in front of Soren’s face, and he startled, blinking as if he’d just come awake. Balar stood before him, waving his paw in Soren’s face, a concerned Briseis standing behind him.
“He’s been like this all morning,” the dragoness said.
Balar nodded gravely. “I’m glad you sent for me. This is strange indeed.”
Cup still in hand, Soren was hustled back to his cabin, where he found his brothers and Imogen crowded inside, preparing…luncheon.Kud, was it really afternoon already?
“At least he can still walk,” Akila teased.
“People were starting to place bets on how long he’d stay standing there,” said Diar.
“Be nice,” Imogen scolded. “He’s clearly ill.”
