Page 74 of When Eden Falls

He held his arm out and I took it, shocked by the bulk of muscle laying beneath the material, reminding me how strong hewas. My throat ached at the memory of his hands around it, squeezing. Suddenly preferring to create a tiny amount of distance between us, I dropped my hold on his arm. But he snatched my hand up in his and held it there.

He led me around the edge of the crowd, over to the middle section of the balcony wall. I hadn’t realised this part was segregated off by a couple of shallow steps and a line of more giant, potted plants. It created a space to sit and talk. And judging by the couple in the corner getting rather familiar with each other, it was a place to be intimate.

As we crossed the space, I glanced at the couple, who clearly hadn’t noticed us. Their lips devouring each other’s, their hands roaming freely. I noticed the female’s wrist. Her claiming bracelet was already glistening with at least a dozen gems. All different shades and sizes. She was obviously quite a catch.

As we reached the opposite side, Dybgo took a seat on the low balcony wall. I remained standing, flicking my eyes behind me. The sun had almost disappeared beyond the horizon casting dark shadows across the veranda. Blue lanterns hanging from the trees, plants, and walls were illuminated, but it was difficult to make out faces. I’d lost sight of Zamya completely. I wondered if she’d seen me leave with Dybgo. The distance I’d just put between me and my crewmates was unnerving, maybe a little irresponsible. Rooke had said not to wander off alone.

“Please sit with me?”

I looked back at Dybgo. His large form silhouetted against the nearly extinguished sun, yet I could see the planes of his face, the gleam of the lanterns in his eye. He tapped the wall next to him and I reluctantly stepped forward, obeying him.

Whilst adjusting my skirt modestly around my legs, I waited for Dybgo to talk. I could feel his eyes on me, assessing. Nux, he was making me nervous. “Dybgo, I’m here, please say something…”

“Why won’t you look at me?”

His comment was not what I expected. I swallowed hard, fighting the urge.

I felt him shift in his seat. “Eden? Please look at me.”

I forced my eyes to meet his. I could barely make out the colour, but I knew they were crystal blue. I’d seen them enough times haunting my dreams. His gaze trailed down my face, landing on the choker around my neck. I saw it then, the remorse flooding his thoughts; the mortification Yuska had assured me he’d feel. That was why he wanted to talk. I owed him that.

I touched my neck. “It’s healing. I’m fine.”

“It’s notfine. I hurt you.” He dropped his gaze and mumbled a string of words in Akquarian. “It doesn’t happen to me. Since my adolescence, it’s never happened.”

“Dybgo, you really don’t have to explain.”

“I do.” He leant forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Sorry isn’t a strong enough word. Nothing can erase what I did to you. What I could’ve done to you.”

I didn’t know what to say. Had I forgiven him already? It wasn’t him who haunted my thoughts, but the male with his face consumed by Tektrasc.

“I know why it happened,” he said. “My episode of Tektrasc. It came…it came about because…of my attraction for you.” His sudden spout of words were soft as a whisper, laced with what sounded like shame and suffering. For some reason I didn’t feel shocked by his confession. He’d always been attentive. Subconsciously, I’d always known there was a deeper meaning hidden in his gaze. But it didn’t stop a dreaded revelation from dawning on me whilst I listened on.

“It’s unusual for my kind to feel so drawn to one person. I suppose we’re kept away from the females to ensure that remains the case. But with you…” he glanced back at me, “I was assigned to be your protector.” He looked down at his hands, now clasped together. “I tried to push any thoughts of you away. Tried to deny the impact you were having on me, mentally and physically. I thought I was in control. But then you caught bluepox. You were struggling. Your body wasn’t fighting it, and I felt useless. The next thing I knew, I was chaperoning your commander while he tended to you. Watching him openly show his affection while you lay there writhing and screaming, lost in fever driven dreams, I…I started to feel the pull of insanity, the rise of jealousy and possessiveness. It was when I woke and found you both laying on the outdoor lounger, entwined in each other’s arms that tipped me over the edge. Visions of breaking every bone in his body consumed my every thought. I was grateful Yuska appeared before I’d lost the resistance to move.”

I sucked in a breath, replaying that morning in my mind. That was why Yuska had been angry at me. She’d sent Dybgo away because she’d sensed the change in him. I had caused Dybgo to fall into the insanity of Tektrasc. Me! What would’ve happened if Yuska hadn’t appeared in time? I’d put Rooke at risk without the slightest notion.

“I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you in the corridor that day. I wasn’t supposed to be out of my room. The detainment was driving me mad. I went for a walk. It was only supposed to be a solitary walk…” He held his head and shook it several times, as if trying to shake the memory away.

I shifted forward, aiming to reach for his hand in a comforting gesture, but I stopped myself. What if my touch was something he resented? I’d caused this. I didn’t want to make things worse.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I know that much.” I gently placed my hand in between his board shoulders. He looked back at me with something that symbolised hope. “I’ll be gone soon,” I said. “I think this situation has proven the sooner the better.”

He sat back, scrunching his eyebrows together. His large body suddenly felt imposingly close, so I stood, creating some distance. “I should get back to the others.”

“No.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me closer as he stood up. The pace of my heart increased tenfold, and for a moment I felt scared. Dybgo must have sensed it. Releasing my hand, he created a small space between us. “I need to give you something.”

His intense gaze did not leave my face as he reached for theleft cuff of his jacket. Before I could react, he took my left hand and clipped a yellow-gold stone onto my claiming bracelet. Anxiety filled me, uncertain of what this action truly meant.

“You can’t do that. I’m…I’m not Akquarian.”

“You and I are not very different.”

“We’re a different species, Dybgo. I don’t even know if what you’re suggesting is possible.”

“It is.” How did he know that? “But that’s not why I’m claiming you.”