Page 7

Nirrn

Nirrn slithered slowly through the streets of Jorvla, his vibrant orange scales catching the faint light of the rising suns.

Islae’s words echoed in his mind, each syllable a fresh wound.

The phantom sensation of her touch on his shoulder burned, a cruel reminder of the mate bond that had sparked between them—a bond she didn’t even know existed.

His tail dragged slightly against the ground, lacking its usual fluid grace.

The morning air felt thick and oppressive, matching the weight in his chest. He’d spent the entire night guarding her clinic door, alert to every sound, every shadow that might have meant danger.

And for what? To be dismissed like a common intruder.

“This is my clinic. My life. You can’t just slither in here and take over!”

Her words had struck deep. But his response to her had been measured and controlled, despite the turmoil raging inside him. “Very well. If that’s what you wish.”

“It is.”

Her two simple words had shattered something fundamental within him.

His house soon came into view, a modest dwelling on the outskirts of the market district.

He entered through his front door sluggishly, the familiar surroundings offering no comfort.

The space felt emptier than usual, darker somehow.

His scales rasped against the wooden floor as he moved through the rooms, eventually reaching his bedroom.

He coiled himself onto the bed, but sleep remained elusive. “All this time,” he muttered to the ceiling. “All this time searching, only to find her like this.”

The mate bond pulsed weakly inside him, a reminder of what he’d found and lost in the span of a day. His eyes closed, but Islae’s face remained—fierce, determined, and beautiful. How could he walk away now? The very thought of never seeing her again made his chest tighten.

But he wasn’t like other Niri males. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—force himself into her life, demand her attention, and claim her against her will. That wasn’t who he was. His fingers traced the scales on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath them.

“What am I supposed to do now?” The question hung in the air, unanswered.

Sleep finally came, but it brought no peace. His body remained tense, his tail coiled tightly, trying to protect himself against an enemy he couldn’t fight—rejection from the one person who was meant to be his other half.

The acrid stench of smoke jolted Nirrn from his restless sleep. His eyes snapped open, his scales bristling along his broad shoulders as he lifted his head. Through the cracked window of his bedroom, wisps of dark smoke curled against the late morning sky.

Something pulled at him—an instinct deeper than thought. The mate bond thrummed with warning, drawing him toward the source of the smoke. His tail uncurled from its sleeping position as he slithered to the window, his muscles tensing at what he saw.

Black smoke billowed up from the market, precisely where Islae’s clinic lay hidden. His heart stopped.

“No.” The word escaped in a harsh whisper as he burst through his front door.

His powerful tail propelled him through the streets, his orange scales flashing in the sunlight as he wove between startled pedestrians.

The smoke grew thicker, burning his eyes and throat.

The mate bond pulled harder, urgent now, leading him to the gap between buildings where Islae’s clinic entrance lay concealed.

Heat blasted his face as he descended the stairs. Flames licked up the wooden support beams, turning the underground space into an inferno. Medical supplies melted and bubbled on shelves, releasing toxic fumes into the air.

“Islae!” His deep voice boomed through the crackling flames.

The smoke stung his eyes as he searched, his height allowing him to see over the flames. Movement caught his attention—a stumbling figure through the haze. Islae emerged from the back room, doubled over and coughing violently.

His protective instincts surged. He lunged forward, his tail pushing off the ground with explosive force. His arms wrapped around her just as a support beam groaned overhead. He pulled her against his chest, shielding her with his body as the tunnel began to collapse.

The mate bond sang at the contact, even as debris rained down around them. His tail coiled and sprang, launching them both toward the exit. Heat seared his scales, but he kept Islae tucked safely against him, using his larger frame to protect her from the flames.

They burst out of the stairwell into clean air just as the entrance collapsed behind them with a thunderous crash. His chest heaved as he held Islae close, his eyes scanning her for injuries while smoke curled off his scorched scales.

A cut above her eyebrow oozed blood, and angry red welts marked her arms where embers had struck. She still coughed violently, her small frame shaking against his scaled chest.

Her eyes met his, blazing with a mix of fury and devastation that made his protective instincts surge even further. The mate bond throbbed painfully as he absorbed her grief.

“Everything I built…” Her voice cracked. “All those people who needed help…”

“Islae.” He tightened his hold on her, his tail coiling restlessly beneath him. “You’re coming with me.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but another coughing fit racked her body. His scales bristled at the raw sound of it.

“The Jorvlens won’t stop.” His voice remained steady despite the anger coursing through him. “They meant to destroy everything you built, and they won’t hesitate to destroy you, too.”

Behind them, the flames consumed what remained of her clinic. The acrid smell of burning medicine and melting supplies filled the air. His own burns stung, but he barely noticed them through his focus on her.

“I can’t just leave,” she whispered, but the fight had drained from her voice.

“You can’t help anyone if you’re dead.” His tail shifted, preparing to move. “Let me protect you.”

She slumped against him, her exhaustion finally winning out.

The simple act of trust made his chest tight.

Without waiting for further protest, he began moving through the winding back alleys of Jorvla, keeping to the shadows.

His orange scales, usually so striking, helped them blend with the russet walls in the late morning light.

Each time Islae coughed, his arms tightened fractionally around her. The mate bond urged him to stop, to check her over properly, but he knew they needed distance first. His tail propelled them through the streets, his movements quick and deliberate despite his precious cargo.

“Your scales,” she murmured, touching a scorched patch on his shoulder. “They’re burned.”

“I’ll be fine.” He kept his voice low, focusing on navigating the quickest route to his house. The late morning crowd had begun to fill the main streets, their chatter providing cover for his movements through the alleyways.

A patrol of Jorvlen guards passed nearby. Nirrn pressed back against a wall, curling his tail around them both as he held perfectly still. Islae’s breath hitched, but she remained quiet, her face pressed against his chest.

The patrol’s footsteps echoed off the narrow alley walls.

His tail coiled tighter around Islae, his scales tingling where her breath ghosted across them.

Her small frame fit perfectly against the planes of his chest, as if she had been made specifically to nestle there.

His heartbeat quickened, and he fought to keep his breathing steady.

Once the danger passed, he navigated through the winding streets until they reached his modest dwelling. Once inside, he carefully set Islae down on his couch, his hands lingering a little longer than necessary.

“Let me tend to those wounds.” He retrieved his spare healer’s kit, settling beside her.

“I can do it myself,” she protested weakly, but another cough interrupted her.

“Please.” His voice softened. “Allow me this.”

She remained still as he cleaned the cut above her eye, his movements precise and gentle. The wound wasn’t deep, but it made his scales bristle with protective anger. Her arms bore several burns and gashes that he treated with the same careful attention.

“Your scales need attention, too,” she murmured, reaching toward his shoulder where the fire had scorched him.

“They’ll heal.” He caught her hand, his thumb brushing across her knuckles. “You need to rest now. You’re safe here. The Jorvlens don’t know this place.”

She began to argue but exhaustion won out.

She lay down on the couch, her eyes drifting closed.

Her breathing evened out as sleep claimed her.

He watched over her, his tail curled protectively around the couch.

Something settled in his chest—a rightness he’d never known before.

Here was his mate, safe under his protection at last.

His eyes traced her features, memorizing every detail.

The mate bond hummed contentedly within him, even as worry for her safety gnawed at his thoughts.

He’d never felt such a strong need to protect anyone before, but then, he’d never had a mate before.

The very concept still stunned him. This fierce human was his other half, whether she knew it yet or not.

“Sleep well,” he whispered, his tail tightening slightly around the couch. “I’ll keep you safe as long as I live.”

Nirrn’s tail twitched as Islae stirred on his couch, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks. He’d spent the last few hours watching over her, memorizing the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the way her brown hair spilled across his cushions.

“How long was I asleep?” She pushed herself up, wincing as the movement pulled at her burns.

“Three hours.” His scales rippled with concern as he noticed her discomfort. “The medicine should have helped with the pain.”

“It did.” She touched the bandage above her eye. “Thank you.”

The simple words caused his chest to tighten. He slithered closer, his tail curling restlessly. “We can’t stay here.”

Her eyes snapped to his. “What?”

“The Jorvlens will connect me to you soon enough. This place won’t be safe.” His eyes met hers. “I’ve heard whispers from my patients about an underground refuge. A place where humans hide from Jorvlen persecution.”

“And you want us to go there?” Her voice held a note of skepticism.

“You think I’m letting you face this alone?”

She crossed her arms. “I don’t need—”

“Someone burned down your clinic.” His voice remained steady, but his tail coiled dangerously tight. “They tried to kill you, Islae. This isn’t about what you need anymore. It’s about keeping you alive.”

The mate bond pulsed inside him as she stood, swaying slightly. His hands shot out to steady her, the contact sending sparks through his scales.

“Why are you doing this?” she whispered. “I still don’t understand why you would risk everything to help me. First with my clinic, now with my safety.”

Because you’re mine , he wanted to say. Because every fiber of my being exists to protect you . Instead, he said, “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

She studied him for a long moment and then nodded. “Where is this refuge?”

“The old mining district.” He moved toward his medical supplies, gathering what they might need. “We’ll have to be careful. The streets will be closely watched.”

“I know how to move unseen.”

“So do I.” His tail twitched restlessly as he finished packing. “Just stay close to me.”

She stepped closer to him, and his body responded instinctively, his scales shifting toward her presence. “Then lead the way.”

His hand found her waist as they moved toward the door, his protective instincts flaring at the contact. Whatever came next, he would keep her safe. The mate bond demanded nothing less.