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Story: A Soul to Protect

She dug her fingers into her forehead so hard her nails threatened to cut her flesh.Why did I have to get scared?

He probably wouldn’t have hurt her; that’s what she wanted to believe. Maybe if she’d just stayed still, he may have simply rubbed against her until he either came or woke up.

She... didn’t think she would have minded that, but her thoughts had just instantly twisted.

I feel so awful.He was probably so confused, and likely blaming himself.I feel like such a bad person.

She felt selfish because her response to everything was unusually severe. Then she’d spend hours feeling so regretful and guilty for her behaviour.

He’s so kind and patient.How could I suddenly just lose faith in him like that?

She sobbed into her hands.What’s wrong with me?

Nathair sat on the high ledge that overlooked the sunken small ship. He did so with his arms folded and a sickness in his chest.

Two Demons cowered from him in the shade, shaking and trembling with his watchful skull directed upon them. They avoided the sunlight by just a sliver, but he refused to allow themto seek refuge within his tunnels – which is where he’d found them.

Rather than going left to travel up what he considered the main path, they’d gone southwest and deeper within the cliff.

He had not taken Linh that way yet, although he’d like to at some point. There was a specific chamber he thought she’d adore, and would likely share a beguiling, awed expression. He would like to see it shine from her and knew it would be pure and sweet.

He didn’t know why he was putting off showing her, but he thought it was because he wanted it to be... special.

The path also needed to be safe, and he couldn’t guarantee that. These vermin hiding away were evidence of that.

But Nathair was already feeling rather guilty today, and these Demons hadn’t done anything wrong to him. Sure, they were in his territory knowingly, considering they hadn’t come sniffing after the human he had in his keeping. He’d let them be free by half-heartedly chasing them.

They look like forest Demons.They must have gotten trapped throughout the night by exploring the wide arc of beach and cliff wall.

He couldn’t use his voice to make them leave, but he knew his watchful gaze was telling.

His arms tightened across his chest when dark orange flared in his sight before the reddish pink of shame flickered.I cannot believe I attacked her.

This day was always likely to come, but he hadn’t thought his fucking cock would be jutting from him at the same time. He remembered what fragments had caused it. He could only imagine what he’d been doing to make her smash him from his trance, something he couldn’t even do, by hurling him into a bloodthirsty rage.

The embarrassment he felt for not having control of his own body. The shame that it’d happened. The guilt that he’d squeezed her throat so hard it looked red anddented. The anger at himself that he’d been a split second from envenoming her so she wouldn’t squirm while he ate her.

It all weighed on him.

The scent of her fear hadn’t been strong enough to make him act in swift aggression, but rather trickled through his already weakened mental state to make him move sluggishly. His prey had already been caught, and his starved gut had wanted tosavourher.

None of it was his fault, nor was it hers; they’d both reacted on instinct. It didn’t stop him from feeling like shit regardless.

She knows I am sorry.He didn’t doubt that. Like the day on the beach where he’d hurt her arm, she understood he couldn’t help it and would likely forgive him. She’d seen him fade into his trances multiple times.

Despite this, he was finding it difficult to face her.

A maelstrom of thunderous and aching emotions tumbled inside him. He needed space as much as she did.

He’d hurt someone he didn’t wish to harm, and he feared, truly feared, what would have happened if he hadn’t managed to snap out of it.How did I snap out of it?She couldn’t just erase her own fear... could she?

Fuck. I don’t know.He enjoyed holding this female while she slept like a cute little bunny on his chest. He didn’t wish for that to end simply because of this, but wouldn’t that be wiser? If they went back to before, where she slept wherever she wanted and he blocked the entry to his cave, he thought he’d find that hollowing.

He liked her warmth; it came with her pretty scent. She was so damn soft it was like she was made of dough, and he fit perfectlyaround her. Her breaths were calming, her heart lulling, and her voice decadent.

Nathair let out a sigh and dipped his head to the side.

I wish I could ask Weldir for advice.His father had been with his mother for over three hundred and forty years, if not more.

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