Page 24 of Naga General’s Mate (Nagas of Nirum #2)
Brivul
Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains of the luxury suite. Brivul watched the golden rays dance across Mila’s peaceful face as she slept curled against his chest. Her dark hair spilled across the silk pillows, and her steady breathing matched the rhythm of his heartbeat.
“Mine,” he whispered, running his fingers through her silken strands. The word felt right on his tongue.
He breathed in her sweet scent, memorizing every detail of this moment. The warmth of her pressed against his scales. The way her hand rested over his heart. The slight smile that curved her lips even in sleep.
His warrior’s instincts remained alert, but for the first time since leaving his post as general, he felt at peace. Complete. The emptiness that had haunted him vanished the moment she’d intimately accepted him.
A lock of hair fell across her face. Brivul brushed it back, his touch feather-light to avoid waking her. She deserved her rest after everything she’d been through. Everything they’d been through together.
“I’ll always keep you safe,” he promised in a low whisper.
The morning sun caught the birthmark on her temple, highlighting it like a crown. His fierce, brilliant mate who’d survived so much and still maintained her fire. Who challenged him and matched him step for step.
He tightened his hold on her ever so slightly, his protective instincts surging. The thought of anyone trying to take her from him now made his blood boil. But she wasn’t some damsel to be coddled. She was his equal, his partner.
A soft sigh escaped her lips as she snuggled closer in her sleep. Brivul smiled, his violet eyes soft as he watched over her. For the first time since that failed mission, he felt like himself again.
Mila soon stirred in his arms. The moment her eyes opened, she stiffened and pulled away slightly. Brivul’s chest tightened at her retreat.
“Good morning.” His voice came out rougher than intended.
“Morning.” She clutched the silk sheet to her chest, not meeting his gaze.
The distance between them felt like a physical wound. Had he misread everything? His instincts screamed at him to pull her back, to claim her properly, but he forced himself to remain still.
“Something troubles you.”
“I just…” She twisted the sheet between her fingers. “What happens now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Was this just…” Her voice cracked. “I know Niri need breeders. And I’m a human, so maybe you thought—”
A growl rumbled in his chest before he could stop it. The mere suggestion that he’d use her like that made his scales bristle.
“I’ve heard stories.” She raised her chin, that familiar fire sparking in her eyes despite her vulnerability. “About Niri taking human women just to breed them. Last night meant something to me, Brivul. It wasn’t just…” She swallowed hard. “It wasn’t just pleasure or convenience. And if that’s all it was to you—”
His muscles coiled with the need to show her exactly how wrong she was, but he held back.
“I gave myself to you because I wanted to. Because I felt…” She pressed her lips together, clearly struggling for words. “I felt safe. Special. Like I mattered beyond my usefulness.”
The raw honesty in her voice struck him like a physical blow. His fierce little mate, laying her heart bare despite her fears.
“I need to know if it meant anything to you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Or if I’m just another human to warm your bed until something better comes along.”
“You’re my mate.” The words burst out of Brivul’s mouth, his voice rough with emotion. “From the moment our hands touched in that market, my soul recognized yours.”
Mila’s eyes widened. “What?”
“A mate bond. The most sacred connection for my kind.” His fingers traced the curve of her cheek. “That’s why I couldn’t leave you with Kurg. Why every instinct screamed to protect you.”
“But I’m human.”
“The bond doesn’t care about biology. It’s deeper than that, a spiritual connection that can’t be forced or denied.” His thumb brushed across her lower lip. “When our hands touched, everything in me shifted. Like finding a piece of myself I never knew was missing.”
“Is that why you helped me?” Her voice trembled.
“I helped you because you deserved it. The mate bond just gave me the courage to finally act.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re not some breeder to me, Mila. You’re my equal. My partner. The other half of my soul.”
“So, what do mates mean to a Niri, traditionally speaking?”
“It means I’ll protect you with my life. Stand by your side through any battle.” His eyes blazed with intensity. “It means you’ll never be alone again.”
A smile curved her lips. “I felt something, too, that day in the market. Like I could trust you, even though everything in my life taught me not to trust anyone.”
His heart almost burst out of his chest. His clever mate had sensed their connection, even without knowing what it meant. He gathered her closer, his powerful tail curling around them both.
“The bond grows stronger over time,” he explained.
“That sounds absolutely wonderful and beautiful.” She traced patterns on his arms. “When did you plan to tell me?”
“I wanted to wait until you felt completely safe with me. Until you knew you could trust me without the bond influencing your choice.”
Mila leaned forward, her lips brushing against his with a tenderness that made his heart stutter. Brivul growled low in his throat, one hand sliding into her hair while the other pulled her closer against his chest.
The sweet taste of her nearly drove him mad. His mate. His to protect, to cherish, to love. Every protective instinct inside him roared to life as she melted into his embrace.
He deepened the kiss, claiming her mouth with passionate possession. Her fingers traced patterns along his scales, sending shivers down his spine. The mate bond hummed between them, a symphony of belonging and rightness.
“I’ll never let anyone harm you again,” he promised between kisses. His tail coiled tighter around them both, creating a protective cocoon.
She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her green eyes bright with emotion. “I know.”
Her fingers found the scar on his jaw, tracing it with gentle curiosity. The touch sent sparks through his entire body. He captured her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm.
“My warrior,” she whispered.
Yes, he was her warrior. And she was his mate. Nothing would ever change that.
Brivul rose from the bed, his form towering and commanding, yet he moved with a grace that belied his size. He extended a hand to Mila, his voice a deep rumble. “Join me in the shower?”
Her hand slipped into his, and the rightness of it made his heart clench. Her touch was electric, sending jolts of awareness up his arm and down his spine. Together, they padded across the plush carpet to the bathroom.
Soon under the cascade of water, Brivul looked at Mila, her curves slick and glistening. He reached for the washcloth, lathering it with the hotel’s scented soap—a blend of citrus and vanilla. Her breath hitched as he approached, her eyes locking on to his with an intensity that matched his own.
He began at her shoulders, the cloth gliding over her skin in slow, deliberate strokes. His movements were tender yet firm, a testament to his strength and his restraint. Every inch of her was a territory he was privileged to explore, to care for, and to know.
His hands traveled lower, washing her arms, her chest, her stomach, each pass a silent vow of protection and devotion.
When her fingers took the cloth from him, it was her turn to explore, to claim ownership over his body as he had done with hers. Her touch was light, tentative at first, but growing bolder as she traced the contours of his muscles, the ridges of his scales.
Brivul could hardly contain the rumble of satisfaction that built within him. To be touched by one’s mate was to be known, to be accepted without reservation. He had never anticipated such intimacy yet now could not live without.
Their eyes met, and in that shared gaze, they communicated without words. This was not the fiery passion of the night before but something deeper, a quiet communion of souls.