Page 86

He shook his head, as if trying to shake it of sleep. He’d never really shook it so hard or fast before, so when she heard the quietest rattle of bones, it took her aback.

“How long have I been out?”he asked, removing his hand so he could stare down at his palm and claws.“I cannot believe her voice and scent made me fall asleep. Why? I know she doesn’t have any magic.”

“You’ve been asleep for about a day,” she answered, as a mischievous grin formed.

“A fucking day? That’s it? No wonder I’m still so tired.”He snorted out an annoyed huff as he pushed himself higher and shuffled his tail underneath himself to support his torso.“I thought when I finally slept, I’d pass out for years. All I get is a day? At least the fragments are gone.”

A sort of giddiness fluttered in her belly.Did my singing heal him of his trances?

“The memories aren’t returning?”

Nathair looked up before tilting his head up at the ceiling.“I... don’t think so.”

“I’m glad I could be of help then,” she answered. She kind of liked that she had this magical power – although she didn’t really think magic had anything to do with it.Unless...

“Little female, you have no idea.”She heard the sincerity of that, but also how his voice had been slightly louder than before. It quietened once more as he said,“I’m tempted to start calling her a siren.”

“I think a siren is a bit much,” she stated with a laugh.

He chuckled along with her until it abruptly cut short.

His head darted down and then twisted so hard it almost went upside down. His orbs morphed to dark yellow.“Wait... did she just respond to me?”

“I did.” Her brows drew together as she tilted her own head. “Did you not know you were talking?”

“What?”He leapt back from her before halting. He cupped the end of his snout. “I’m talking?Am I really?” Once more, Linh noted that his voice changed. It didn’t change in tone or bass, but was either softer or louder. He lowered his hands. “Can... you really hear me?”

“Yes,” she giggled.

He cupped his snout in a thoughtful gesture.“Why now, though? Is it because the voices are gone?”

She raised a brow since she’d been expecting him to be overjoyed. “I don’t know, but isn’t it a good thing they’re gone?”

“Well, yes, but–” His head reared back, as if with surprise. “Wait, did you hear my question?”

“Well, yeah. Did you not mean to ask me?”He’s being really weird.“I didn’t expect you to be this chatty,” she said with an awkward laugh.

White flickered in his orbs.“Can you hear this?”

“Yes?”

She didn’t expect him to suck in a loud gasp, or for him to suddenly cup both sides of his head like the world was ending.His muscles bunched, as if with tension, while a curt whine escaped him.

“Fuck! She can hear my damn thoughts!”

Linh, surprised by the horrified tone, fell back from kneeling to land on her backside. “I can?”

“No!”Nathair clawed down his skull, seeming to fret under the power of this realisation.“I don’t want her to hear my damn thoughts. She probably heard that, and that. Shit. Shut up. Shut up!”

“I-it’s okay, Nathair,” Linh reassured, reaching out to comfortingly palm his biceps.

He darted away from her. “No, it’s not. You have no idea the kind of thoughts I have.”

“It’ll be fine,” she offered, her brows furrowing. “Now that I know you’re not meaning to say them, I’ll try not to take them seriously.”

With a soft growl, Nathair ducked closer until the tip of his snout was less than an inch from her nose. “You do notwantto know the kind of thoughts I have, little female. I am a Mavka, and we are not pure creatures.And my thoughts about you are wildly perverse and impure. You would not be able to handle knowing what I really want to do to...” His orbs flashed a reddish pink.“Shit.”

“At least it makes you honest?” she attempted to joke, while trying to not let what he said, or ratherthought,make her eyes widen.