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But I did not like that other male’s scent on her.The one that had smelt very human and possessive.

His orbs turned green – a dark green – at just the thought of any kind of seed scent on her that wasn’t his own. Although he and Aleron were one being, they were two separate creatures. He liked having his kindred’s scent on his body, but it had been comforting and brought security in its familiarity. He would like that on Emerie, but he could already tell he wouldn’t like a sexual marking on her.

“What is it called when you want something that someone else has?” he asked, still holding his beak and keeping his gaze on the grass instead of her.

“Jealousy.”

Ah. So the emotion he’d been feeling since the first time she touched him, and he remembered her having another’s sexual marking on her... was jealousy.

He hadn’t liked how that felt, how it hurt and made him feel lonely at the same time. His orbs had turnedbrightgreen because of it.

“What about when something is yours and someone tries to take it from you?”

“Possessive.”

No wonder the marking felt possessive then, and he now understood that they were the two emotions warring inside him. He would be jealous if Aleron was to lay that claim on her, which meant the idea of Emerie touching him and bringing him release brought on a deeper, enraging pit of it in his gut.

His hand curled around her side tighter, as the word“mine”rumbled in his thoughts – towards Aleron.

“Ow!” Emerie winced, jumping forward to escape, only to be brought back to exactly where she’d been. He wouldn’t let her go.

“Stay,”he warned, wanting to keep her near as aggression flared within. He did, however, loosen his grip so it wasn’t hurting her. “We will find Aleron his own Emerie,” he decided. Then he nodded, agreeing with himself wholeheartedly. “We will not share you. Not like this.”

“Ingram,” she huffed out in exasperation, like what he said didn’t appease whatever objections she had.

Now that he’d placated his own concerns, joy filled him once more at Aleron learning all about pleasure, but with someone else. Yes, that would please him, and then there would be... four of them.

More companions, more people sharing their bond.

His tail tip tapped against the ground as he pictured it. One of his fondest memories with Aleron was sitting on a hill just like this one and staring up at the night sky, wondering what those twinkling dots were – Emerie had told him they were called stars. Doing so again, but with this little female and his kindred, sounded like bliss.

It would be even better if there were more butterflies in her hair, like the many that had latched on now.

He lifted his skull to the sky as tenderness bloomed at the picture he conjured. His tail curled so hard it turned into multiple rings halfway down to the base. A fluffy, pleasant feeling sprouted in his torso.

When the image was gone, but not the lingering emotions, he looked upon her. With a chuckle, feeling lighter than he had since his kindred left him, he fully wrapped his arm around Emerie. Then he laid back against the grass and pulled her to his side until she was lying against him as well.

A swarm of butterflies lifted off and fled from him and the surrounding area.

She tried to sit up, but he tugged her back down.

“What are you doing?” Her body tensed in his grasp.

“I am supposed to be sleeping. I wish to rest now.”

He’d like to relax with this warmth in his chest, something he’d only ever experienced within Aleron’s feathery wings.

“Yeah, but I need to stay awake and watch out for danger.”

He lifted his hand to gesture to the sky. “The sun is bright, Emerie. No Demons will come while it shields us. Sleep, enjoy its heat.”

She lifted onto her elbows, since he wouldn’t let her go any higher. She pursed her lips at him. “If I have a nap, I won’t sleep properly tonight.”

“Then don’t sleep,” he stated, lifting his skull so he could tilt it at her. “I prefer carrying you while you are awake.”

She nibbled at her bottom lip, catching his attention. He remembered them being soft against his neck, and how they’d whispered little brushes against his scales.

“Okay, fine,” she grumbled, lying back down and turning to her side with her forehead pressing against him. She stroked his side, petting him like she often did. “This area really is lovely, and the sun does feel cosy.”