“Your trousers will get wet,” Raven says, as if I do not already know this is what will happen.
“Then they will be clean.” Two birds, one pool.
Laurel grabs for my belt. “I will wash them for you.”
I clutch the buckle before she can unfasten it. “No. Thank you.”
Fawn chuckles. “Give him a moment to breathe. Otherwise, you will scare him away. My apologies, Mad-dox. We have many females who are anxious for mating.”
There is only one female with whom I wish to mate, and she is not in this room.
I turn to find Raven staring openly at me, not even bothering to hide the hunger in her gaze. “Did you ask Fern to feed Nia?” I do not wish for my Seelie to go hungry.
“Who is Nia?” Laurel asks.
“Is there another male with you?” one says with such obvious hope on her face, her hands clasped beneath her chin as if praying to the gods.
Raven’s expression darkens. “Mad-dox was traveling with a Seelie female.”
Their faces fall.
“Why is this?” Laurel demands.
“You cannot mate with a Seelie,” Fawn scoffs.
Raven nods as if this is fact. “There is no fear of this. Nia is too old for mating.”
What is this nonsense? “She has only been alive twenty-four years.”
“If this is true, then why is her hair white?”
“White hair,” someone giggles.
I love Nia’s hair, especially the way her wild curls feel against my skin when she is in my arms.
“Regardless, her womb is not strong enough to bear an Unseelie child. She is a twig that will snap in half.” Raven holds out her hands, mimicking said snapping.
Nia is not a twig.
She is thin, yes, but she is strong. Her strength has only grown during our time in the canyon.
We have not discussed mating, but I will forever cling to my hope.
Regardless, their opinions do not matter. They do not know what I know. Do not feel what I feel. These females simply do not understand what it is to be in love.
“How are your wounds?” Fawn asks.
I turn my arm, thankful the pain has receded to a dull throb. My shoulder looks better as well.
“No more than scars.” Now it is time for me to return to Nia. I slip from the water. A towel is handed to me, followed by a pair of wool trousers that look as if they should fit.
Nakedness has never bothered me before; I have disrobed in front of our entire clan many times. Still, the thought of changing into these clothes with so many prying eyes watching makes me feel uneasy.
Especially when the females have lined up at the edge of the pool, their arms folded on the stone shore, dark gazes locked on where I stand. Smiles on lips. Fire in eyes.
Who knew a room full of females could be more frightening than facing a wolf?
I clutch the offerings to my dripping chest. “I would like to return to Nia now.”
