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Not for her people, not to kill those who harmed her, but because she wanted to of her own volition. He refused to accept her soul as a bargain. The only cost for it would be her love; that’s what he wanted in exchange for it.

I will try for her.

He wouldn’t completely disregard taking her to her people, but he needed to know it wouldn’t matter where he took her.

He wanted her to love him enough that she could forgive any transgression he might make because of his ill mind. Enough that she would be understanding if her people drove them away,and wouldn’t resent him for it. Enough that it didn’t matter where she was, only that she felt at home and at peace within the wrappings of his tail.

Only when Linh willingly chose him, andonlyhim, would Nathairtryto gift her all the things she wanted.

These were thoughts for when the day came that she chose. For now, he tucked her wet undergarments in her lantern for her to carry before diving back into the water to grab a gift for her.

By the time they were passing the exit to the beach, the day was late.

She appeared a little paler and drained than normal, but she was securely tucked into a bridal position within his arms. When he offered to take her into the early afternoon sun, she just shook her head, stating she was tired and hungry.

I really did not think she would offer her body to me while in the quartz cave.If he’d known, he may have brought food with them.

He’d just wanted to swim with her without her whining and shivering. Nathair was aquatic and preferred beinginthe water. It felt like a hug, no matter its temperature, once it filled his gills.

That cave, despite its beauty, had not been pleasant in the corner of his heart. Now it was, and if they went back there, he’d like to do it all again... but with food, so she didn’t make them leave.We can spend days there fucking, feeding her, and in between she can sleep upon my chest.

The idea brought him immense joy.

He eyed the quartz prism she held in her delicate hand. He’d gone back to collect a thick shard so she could have a pillar of memory in the main cave.I hope her face goes all cute every time she looks upon it.

It sparkled, so he was rather content to add it to his treasures – unlike her ugly shells.

When they returned, she laid it on the ledge of his nest where a stream of sunlight would hit it. A ripple cascaded down his spine at her adding to his nest like this. He also liked that she’d been here so long her scent had greeted them upon entry.

My home smells like peaches, vanilla, and female.

Linh walked over to her bag, and Nathair came to crowd her as he often did. He observed her food resources were getting low.

Nathair dipped low to get into her peripheral. “You have eaten all your plums,” he signed. “I am sure I can find the tree quickly on my own and return to you before dusk arrives.”

Her lips lost some of their thoughtful pout.

If only I could find peaches.

“Can we look at the stars again tonight?” she asked, a small yet tired smile filling her features. “I don’t feel like doing much else today.”

If Nathair was honest, her face was all swollen.She is an ugly crier.Her eyes were the worst affected, as were her puffed lips, as if the salt of her tears had abraded them. He adored her even more for it, as it showed they were real, and that she trusted sharing her tears with him.

“We can do whatever you wish,” he answered. “I will go hunt for you, so rest.”

He’d rather hunt fish, but so be it.

The moment he entered the lake, it was like a coldness rushed over his very mind, as much as his scales. He shuddered when a voice screamed in the back of his mind, but he merely shook his skull to remove it before it could stick to his consciousness.

Yet, rather than leaving immediately, he leaned on the ledge of rock with straightened arms. Most of him remained submerged except for his torso. He waited for her to notice, as she’d been eating the weird berries that turned their tongues blue.

When she did, she came over to him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked with a small furrow of her brows.

Since his arms weren’t as long as most Mavka, as he didn’t need them to walk in a four-legged position, he only came to her breast height. Nathair nudged his head up, bouncing it to obtain her attention. When she didn’t understand, he came ever closer, waiting for her to figure it out.

The left side of her lips quirked, and she leaned down to give him what he wanted. She pressed those puffy, soft lips against the centre of his maw, and he swallowed thickly at the feel of their warmth moulding around his bone.