Page 54 of Nansar
"The Elder has summoned you both," he announced, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Eat quickly and dress."
Nansar's jaw tightened, a muscle ticking there, but he nodded curtly.
The warrior dipped his head in acknowledgment and withdrew, leaving us alone once more.
I looked at Nansar, then at the steaming breakfast on the tray, then back at him. "So much for a lazy morning," I muttered.
His thumb traced slow, maddening circles on the back of my hand, the touch both gentle and possessive. "Later," he promised, his voice low and full of dark intent that sent a delicious shiver racing down my spine.
"Later," I agreed breathlessly, though part of me worried what the Elder had planned for us today.
Still, we had time. Two more days, I reminded myself as my pulse quickened. Two more days to prove to the Elder—and to everyone else—that we were truly mates. That what burned between us was real enough to spare us from whatever fate awaited if we failed.
And honestly? We were off to a pretty good start.
Last night had been... I felt heat creep up my skin just thinking about it. The way Nansar had worshiped every inch of me with his hands and mouth, the way our bodies had moved together in perfect rhythm, the connection that had ignited between us like wildfire—it had felt more real than anything I'd ever experienced. Even if we hadn't crossed that final line, what we'd shared had been intimate in ways that left me breathless and aching for more.
We ate quickly, the food barely registering as I tried to push down the anxiety coiling in my chest. Nansar seemed calmer, more resigned, but I caught the tension radiating from his shoulders as he moved about the room gathering our clothes.
When I reached for the washbasin, his hand caught my wrist—gentle but unmistakably firm.
"Don't," he said softly, his dark eyes locking with mine. "We need to... the scent..."
Understanding crashed over me, and heat flooded my cheeks.
"Right," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nansar's expression softened into something tender and possessive all at once. He pressed a lingering kiss to my temple, his lips warm against my skin. "I know it feels strange. But if we carry each other's scent, even a little..." He trailed off, but the unspoken words hung heavy between us.
It might be enough. It might keep us alive.
We dressed carefully, deliberately. My skin still tingled where his mouth had been, where his hands had mapped every inch of my body. I could smell him on me—that intoxicating blend of warm spice that was uniquely Nansar—and something about it felt right. Comforting, even. Like I belonged to him in a way that transcended logic and reason.
As I pulled on my dress, I caught him watching. His nostrils flared slightly, and I realized with a thrill that he could smell himself on me too. The possessive satisfaction that flickered across his face sent heat spiraling through me all the way to my toes.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice rougher than usual, edged with barely restrained desire.
I nodded, smoothing down my clothes with trembling fingers. "Yeah. It's just... different."
"Different how?"
I hesitated, searching for the right words. With Declan—with any of my other boyfriends, really—it had always been about them. Their pleasure, their needs, their satisfaction. I'dbeen an afterthought at best, a convenience at worst. But with Nansar...
"With you, it's all about me," I said quietly, meeting his smoldering gaze. "The way you touch me, the way you look at me... like making me feel good is the only thing in the world that matters. I've never had that before."
Something passionate and tender blazed in his eyes, stealing my breath. He crossed to me in two powerful strides, cupping my face in his large hands with surprising gentleness. "Because itisthe only thing that matters," he said, his voice low and fervent, vibrating through me. "Your pleasure, your happiness—that's everything, Chloe. Everything."
My throat tightened with emotion, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I rose on my toes to kiss him, pouring everything I couldn't say—every fear, every hope, every impossible feeling blooming in my chest—into the press of our lips. He responded with equal intensity, his arms wrapping around me, holding me close like he'd never let go, like nothing in this world could tear us apart.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, hearts racing in tandem, he rested his forehead against mine.
"We should go," he murmured reluctantly, though his arms remained locked around me.
As we stepped into the morning light, Nansar's fingers found mine, threading together with an intimacy that sent warmth cascading through my chest. Despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, hope flickered inside me like a candle flame—fragile but persistent.
A guard materialized outside the cottage door, his expression impassive. He gestured for us to follow without uttering a word.
As we wound through the village, I cataloged every turn, every landmark. The well near the center, its stones wornsmooth by countless hands. The Elder's dwelling, larger and more ornate than the others. The storage buildings huddled on the eastern side like gossiping neighbors. I committed it all to memory, already planning to add to the map when we had privacy. Beside me, Nansar's eyes tracked our route with the same quiet calculation. I wanted to trust the Elder's word, but survival meant having an escape plan. I knew that better than most.
