Page 19

Though Rhaego still burned with embarrassment, he set it aside. Last night he’d marked Aurora with his scent, and even that hadn’t been enough for his greedy fever. He’d tossed and turned with unresolved urges until he’d finally broken down and allowed himself to mark their territory.

It wasn’t uncommon. As the heat approached a male was often compelled to mark his borders with his scent, scraping his horns against rough bark and grating his teeth against the painful yet pleasurable bite as his scent glands emptied and his warning musk told anyone nearby that a virile male ready to defend his holdings lived here.

But similarly to rubbing one’s scent on a female, marking territory was often not done without permission. Not only had Rhaego marked Aurora, but shamefully, he’d marked their territory as well. And she’d caught him purple-horned.

She’d looked confused when she’d spotted him lurking outside her window. But then her eyes had turned wide and she’d vanished. He’d spent the rest of the morning fretting over what she must think of him, what possible conclusion she must have reached after seeing him in such a state.

It was lucky that he had valid reasons to avoid her, burying himself under calls with Verakko and Atolicy , who’d updated him on Marsol and Maxu’s progress.

No doubt she’d eventually ask him what he’d been doing, and he’d be compelled to explain what his scent glands were. He just hoped it didn’t color her view of him and paint him as a male not in control of his baser instincts. Either way, he felt he’d successfully pushed off the conversation until later.

He guided Aurora to the door, sneaking glances of her slow deliberate breaths. Calming breaths. His anxiety spiked for her. She was smart and resourceful, and he could see the determination in her expression. But to gather enough intel to reveal which dens the other two humans occupied, without being overheard, would be a tricky task.

“Eyes will be on you. My people have a penchant for gossip, and as outsiders you will undoubtably be their subject of interest,” he told her again. Though he didn’t want to put more pressure on her, he couldn’t understate how closely she was about to be watched. “And our hearing is excellent. Just because you are alone, don’t think they can’t hear you. Be cognizant.”

Aurora nodded, throat bobbing repeatedly as though she couldn’t stop swallowing. “I didn’t mean to…but I heard a snippet of your conversation earlier.” She chanced a glance at him, her gaze guilty. “How is Marsol?”

Rhaego stomach soured. “Signs of deprivation have begun, though they’re subtle.” When Aurora peered at the floor and began chewing on her lip, he added, “But he’s alright for now. They’re taking good care of him, and progress in Zentithro is being made. A noble house was raided based on our planted intel. They staged a near escape, and by all accounts the Queen was pleased. She thinks she’s getting close to catching us.”

Aurora forced a tight smile, then peered vacantly at the floor, scratching the back of her hand.

Though he’d gone over rules of Tuvastan etiquette during their hike back yesterday, some mannerisms were ingrained in Aurora, and he worried she’d be judged harshly for them. She bared her teeth when smiling without realizing it. She absently pushed her horns when deep in thought, like now. She wasn’t demanding in her requests, which would be seen as passive and confusing to many.

Rhaego could have spent his time correcting her whenever she made these errors, but he’d decided against it. She was perfect just as she was, and he refused to alter the natural rhythm in which she moved through the world. He wouldn’t have her fretting over nonsensical manners. Not for the sake of a city they’d soon be free of. But he still worried about how she would be treated.

“And no cruiser yet, right?” she asked.

Rhaego smothered his growl of frustration. “Tuva is comprised of overlapping security fields that shift at random. There are spots in more rural areas where there are fewer fields to contend with and our tech expert is focusing his efforts there, but it means we’ll have to hike to the extraction point, which will take some time. He’s close, but the fields shift so often that he still hasn’t discovered how to bypass the cruiser validation system for long enough to give us time to get to it.”

Aurora listened with parted lips and a wrinkled forehead. “I understood some of that…I think.”

Rhaego smiled. “Not yet. Soon.”

The lines in her forehead relaxed with her answering smile. “Got it.”

They reached the door, and Aurora brushed her hair over her shoulder. Their blended scents hit him like a punch. His cock swelled.

Hurry, Verakko, he silently begged. Another few days wouldn’t be Marsol’s undoing. But it might be Rhaego’s.

The indication light flashed across the ceiling, a sharper trill rang through the space. Phirdo was growing impatient. He swung the front door open.

“Good morn,” Phirdo announced, a sour curl twisting his lips into what was meant to be a polite smile.

“Good morning,” Aurora and Rhaego said in unison.

“I’m g—” Phirdo paused, his brows drawing in as his nostrils flared. He studied Aurora, eyes trailing across her features. He glanced at Rhaego next, and Rhaego flushed.

Within a few moments, he’d scented Rhaego’s mark. The musk hadn’t disappeared in the night, though by some miracle he’d hoped it would. He braced himself against whatever comment Phirdo would choose to make. If he were truly polite, he’d say nothing, but Rhaego would bet his left horn that before their carriage reached the city, the whole of Tuva would know that the blight had succeeded in marking his human bride.

Goddess, he hoped no one mentioned it to her.

Despite his anxiety, Rhaego still felt a little swell of satisfaction at Phirdo’s surprise.

“W-well,” he sputtered. “I’m here early as instructed. Are you ready to be off?”

“Early?” Aurora asked as they followed him toward their carriage.

Phirdo shot a quizzical glance back at Rhaego. He knew what the critical look meant. It would be uncommon for any change in schedule to occur without the wife’s knowledge. “Did she not request the earlier departure?”

Rhaego ignored Phirdo, focusing on Aurora. What he had to say next would only twist Phirdo into a state of utter confusion. “I thought you might want to accompany me to do the shopping.” Aurora’s steps halted, and she blinked at him. His heart dropped. Had he miscalculated? Rhaego made the mistake of glancing at Phirdo and found his mouth wide in open disgust. “Since you’re so intrigued by our foods, I thought you might enjoy seeing the stores and choosing some ingredients for yourself.”

“My lady,” Phirdo chimed in, stepping forward with an expanded chest as though coming to his bride’s rescue. Rhaego growled, halting his approach before he strayed too close. Phirdo frowned at him but stopped. He peered at Aurora with the first hint of kindness Rhaego had seen on the male’s face. “You do not need to worry yourself with such chores. It’s beneath you.” He side-eyed Rhaego and continued in a hushed tone. “I see you aren’t satisfied with the jewelry your husband has provided. How about I escort you to the jewelers instead so you can pick out some items that meet your standards?”

Rhaego bristled, locking his hands behind his rigid spine.

Her hand absently lifted to her bare neck. It was true she’d not yet worn any of the gems he’d selected. “No…I…” She glanced between the two men, clearly confused by the exchange but working hard to understand. She gazed at Rhaego with unblinking eyes. “Going grocery shopping would be excellent, but…do we have time for that?” Her question was full of hidden meaning, yet he saw hopefulness undercutting her words.

A smile rose to his lips. “We do.”

“Really?” she breathed, an excited glimmer making her blue eyes sparkle. “I would love that!”

Her teeth flashed into view as she beamed at him. His thoughts melted into a warm fuzzy puddle and his fangs peeked through his own wide smile.

An odd energy pulsed nearby, and both Aurora and Rhaego seemed to sense it at the same time.

They glanced at Phirdo. His narrowed gaze bounced between them like he was wrestling with the most intricate riddle before he finally gave up, sighed, and grumbled, “Very well, then.”

An uncouth slouch to his shoulders, Phirdo turned on his heel and marched to the carriage. Aurora flashed him another quick smile before hurrying after their flustered aid. Internally Rhaego gloated. It’d been a risk to ask his bride to do chores with him, but he’d made the cocky assumption that he was beginning to sense her wants and needs even when they conflicted with his own training on what a female expected out of their partner. Her smile had made the risk worth it.

Aurora slowed when she approached the carriage, and a wafting scent of fear had him jogging to reach her. Her eyes were fixed at the cerulean water far below, her face a paler shade than it had been a moment ago.

Rhaego extended his hand. Unlike last time, when she’d tentatively allowed his support while holding back tears, this time she gave him a small nervous grin, muttered “Thanks,” and slipped her hand into his without a second thought.

His purr rose, his heart pattering like a lovesick buckling. She released him when they sat, and his fingers curled, mourning the loss. He nearly tripped over his own feet when she scooted to the edge of the bench and smiled at him expectantly as though waiting for him to sit next to her. He did so, though he would have stood again if she’d wished it.

The juxtaposition of this carriage ride versus the last was stark. It might have been a trick of his mind, but he thought she might have shifted closer to him while peering over the side of the carriage, as though absently seeking him for safety.

Phirdo noticed it as well, continuing to study them in somewhat of a stupor from the front of the carriage.

With a haughty lift of his brow, Rhaego drawled, “Your staring is quite rude, steward. Have you forgotten yourself?”

His admonition had the desired effect. Phirdo flinched and a rusty shade flared across his forehead. Without another word, his mouth snapped shut and he spun toward the helm. He did a double take when he recalled he’d forgotten to ask for their prints and turned back, even rustier than before.

“Your hands, please,” he requested through nearly gritted teeth.

“Our prints,” Rhaego prompted gently when Aurora’s brows furrowed.

“Oh, right,” she said, lifting her hand at once.

Any reason for their skin to connect sent Rhaego’s fever bubbling. He kept his throat tight, anticipating the rising purr as he placed his palm atop hers.

Their scans cleared, and as the carriage departed from the dock and floated into the air, Aurora huddled even closer, her widened gaze darting toward the water. Rhaego extended his arm across the back edge of their seat, providing a barrier, however unnecessary, to help ease her worry.

As they crept closer to the city center, Aurora displayed a wonder she hadn’t shown on their first carriage ride, shifting in her seat every time she caught sight of something interesting. She talked to herself often, he realized, commenting on the water or a bird soaring in the distance. The little involuntary mutterings made his lips curl.

Perfectly content to float through the sunny fjord and hear her sigh at the rolling mist being slowly heated by the warming sun, he scowled when the dock came into view. Today might change things.

They’d been isolated before. She’d never really seen him in front of others, had never seen how his people tended to treat him. What if they infected her with their bitterness?

Aurora had begun looking at him with trust, with the beginning hints of affection, even. Was that about to change?