Page 9

Nirrn

Nirrn finally returned to the small chamber that he and Islae were sharing.

He slithered quietly across the worn wooden floor, carrying a bundle of fresh clothes and a basket of food for Islae.

He set it down on the small table in the corner and turned to face her.

The flickering lamplight cast dancing shadows across the cold stone walls, making the tiny space feel even more confining.

Islae sat cross-legged on the narrow bed, her shoulders tight with tension. The scent of smoke still clung to her, a harsh reminder of everything she had lost today.

“I brought you some clean clothes,” he said softly. “And food. You need to eat something.”

“Thank you.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

His chest tightened at the defeat in her tone. He arranged the food between them—fresh bread, dried meat, and some fruit. His tail curled around the bed as he settled on the thin mattress.

“The bread is still warm,” he said, tearing off a piece and offering it to her.

She took it, but didn’t eat right away. “I keep thinking about my patients. Where will they go now?”

“We’ll find a way to help them.” Nirrn watched her pick at the bread. “You’re not alone in this anymore, Islae.”

“I’ve always worked alone. It’s safer and easier that way.”

His scales rustled as he leaned in closer. “And look where that got you. Sometimes we need others, whether we want to admit it or not.”

She shot him a sharp look, but there was less fire in it than before.

“When you’re ready,” he said, “I can show you around Haven. There’s more here than you might expect.”

Islae took a small bite of bread, chewing slowly. “Maybe in a little bit. I’m not… I’m not ready to face everyone yet.”

Nirrn nodded, understanding her need for space while his instincts screamed to wrap her in his coils and keep her safe. The mate bond hummed between them, though she didn’t realize it yet. He watched her eat another piece of bread, fighting the urge to brush her hair away from her face.

“You’re safe here with me,” he said softly. “I can promise you that.”

Nirrn soon slipped out of their shared quarters, his tail rustling softly on the wooden floor. The mate bond tugged at him, urging him to stay close to Islae. Instead, he forced himself to move away. She needed her space, and he would give it to her, no matter how his instincts protested.

The underground sanctuary of Haven spread before him like a hidden jewel.

Carved pathways wound through the rock, leading to various chambers and alcoves.

Small market stalls lined the wider tunnels, their wares illuminated by hanging lanterns that cast warm light across the rough-hewn walls.

The orange glow caught on his scales as he moved past vendors selling everything from dried herbs to handwoven blankets.

His eyes tracked the movement of humans going about their daily lives. Children ran along the pathways while their parents procured their goods. The scent of cooking food wafted from somewhere deeper in the complex.

In a large central cavern, dozens of people gathered around a communal fire pit. The flames cast dancing shadows on the ceiling, and the sound of quiet conversation echoed off the walls. His scales rippled with appreciation for this hidden community.

“Settling in all right?” Joseph approached, his face creased with concern.

Nirrn’s tail curled slightly as he turned. “As well as can be expected. Islae needs time to process everything.”

“The clinic must’ve meant everything to her.” Joseph nodded. “We’ve all lost something to the Jorvlens. She’ll find her footing here.”

“The kindness I’ve seen here…” Nirrn’s gaze swept across the cavern. “It gives me hope.”

“We look after our own.” Joseph paused as he met Nirrn’s gaze. “And those who protect us.”

“Thank you,” Nirrn said. “For giving us sanctuary.”

Joseph squeezed his shoulder and moved away, leaving Nirrn to watch the flames dance and think of the fierce human woman who had captured his heart without even trying.

The mate bond pulsed beneath his scales. He wanted to tell Islae about the electric connection he felt with her. But she was dealing with too much already. The last thing she needed was a Niri male claiming her as his mate right now.

Nirrn soon slithered back to their shared chamber, his scales making a soft whisper against the smooth stone floor.

The mate bond pulled at him like a physical tether, drawing him back toward Islae.

When he entered, he found her standing near the small table, dressed in the fresh clothes he’d brought earlier.

The simple brown tunic hung loosely on her frame, but at least she’d shed the smoke-stained garments.

“Would you like to see Haven now?” he asked, keeping his voice as gentle as possible.

She turned, and his chest tightened at the shadows under her eyes. “I suppose I should learn where everything is.”

Nirrn led her through the winding tunnels, his tail creating smooth patterns in the dust. The underground city sprawled around them, a maze of carved passages and chambers lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls.

Merchants called out their wares, children darted around, and the scent of cooking food wafted through the air.

But Islae didn’t seem to take in any of it.

She paced beside him, her fingers twisting together and her gaze darting from shadow to shadow.

The restless energy rolled off her in waves that made his scales prickle with concern.

He’d seen this before—in warriors after battle, in mothers who’d lost children.

That raw, haunted look of someone whose world had been ripped away.

“This is the main gathering area,” he said, gesturing to a large cavern ahead. “The kitchens are through there, and—”

“How many injured are here?” Islae cut in, her voice tight. “Do they have proper medical supplies? Who treats them?”

His tail curled slightly. “Islae—”

“I need to know. I need to do something useful.” She ran her hand through her hair. “I can’t just sit here if people need help.”

He reached for her, his larger hand engulfing her restless fingers. “You need to rest and heal first.”

“I’m fine.” She tried to pull away, but he held firm.

“You’re not fine. You’re barely holding yourself together.” He drew her closer, fighting the urge to wrap his coils around her protectively. “The people here are safe. They have healers. Let yourself breathe.”

She stared up at him, and for a moment he thought she might argue. Then her shoulders slumped, just slightly. “I don’t know how.”

“Then let me help you learn,” he said, his voice low and comforting.

Nirrn guided Islae to the communal fire pit.

He curled his tail beneath him as he settled near the fire, watching Islae sink down beside him.

The flames cast a warm glow across her face, highlighting the exhaustion etched into her features.

His scales rippled with the urge to pull her closer to him, to wrap her tightly in his protective embrace, but he held back.

“Why do you stay here in Jorvla, Islae? Why risk so much?” The questions had burned in his mind since he first saw her working in those dangerous conditions of her clinic.

She drew her knees to her chest, staring into the flames. The silence stretched between the two of them, broken only by the crackling fire and distant voices echoing through the cavern. His tail shifted restlessly, waiting for her response.

“My father was a healer,” she finally said, her voice but a whisper.

“The best in our district. He treated everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.” She wrapped her arms tighter around her knees.

“The Jorvlens didn’t like that he was helping humans and taking away their profits. They came for us one night.”

Nirrn’s scales bristled at the pain in her voice. His protective instincts spiked, making his tail coil closer to her.

“They killed him. My mother, too. My little sister.” Her fingers dug into her arms. “I was fifteen. I managed to hide, but I watched…” She swallowed hard. “I watched them destroy everything I loved.”

“Islae.” He reached for her, but she shook her head, a tear escaping down her cheek.

“I promised myself I would continue his work. Help those who can’t help themselves.” Her chin lifted then, defiance blazing through her grief. “The clinic was my way of honoring him. Of making sure his legacy lived on.”

The mate bond thrummed between them as he absorbed her words. The fierce protectiveness he felt for her intensified, mixing with a deep admiration for her strength.

“That’s why I work alone,” she added softly. “I can’t… I can’t watch anyone else I care about die in front of me.”

His hand found hers in the firelight, his larger fingers entwining her smaller ones. She stiffened slightly but didn’t pull away. “You carry too much weight alone,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I don’t want you to have to do that anymore.”

The firelight danced across her face as she turned to look at him, vulnerability raw in her eyes. His tail curled closer, creating a protective circle around where she sat.

Nirrn’s muscles rippled with tension as her brown eyes searched his face. The mate bond thrummed, urging him to pull her close, to wrap his coils around her and never let go.

“Why do you care so much?” she whispered. “About me, about all of this?”

His tail shifted restlessly. The truth burned in his throat—that she was his mate, that every cell of his being recognized her as the other half of his soul. But the words wouldn’t come. Not yet. Not when she was still raw from losing everything.

Instead, he let out a slow breath. “On Nirum, there are expectations. Warriors are revered. Healers…” His scales rustled as he adjusted his position. “We’re respected, but not in the same way. My father wanted me to join the military, to be something I’m not.”

“But you chose healing instead.”

“It chose me.” His eyes reflected the firelight. “I could feel the energy flowing through bodies, could sense where the pain lived. Fighting never came naturally to me. Healing did.”

Her fingers on her free hand brushed against his scales, sending electricity through his body. “So you came here?”

“I thought working at the central surrogacy clinic would give my life purpose.” His tail coiled tightly around them both. “Help others build families, maybe find my own. But all I found was emptiness. Watching others move forward while I stayed still.”

The fire crackled between them as he gathered his thoughts. His hand wrapped tighter around hers, engulfing it completely.

“For so long, I believed my purpose was to use my healing for what others needed or wanted. But now, I have never felt more purpose than I do here—with you.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. His scales shimmered in the firelight as he watched her process his confession.