Page 67 of Diamond

I just don't know how to bring it up.

35

Kuret

Nasrin is lost in her thoughts, but her face doesn't look as upset as she did when I pointed out the silver patterns on her lovely skin.

I take it as a good sign she doesn't seem to hate these new traits, especially since they are from me. Still, she isn't pleased, either. As much as I want to tell her how much I loved touching her, there is a space between us now and I don't know how to close it.

Instead, I focus back on her ears.

Every inch of hers is asking for piercings; I wonder how much smaller each design would need to be for her dainty ears.

While she always looked beautiful to me before, now I find her stunning beyond all measure. I'm careful not to say too much so she doesn't become self-conscious and begin to cover up again.

Instead, I pick a neutral topic. "Does your species not have jewelry?"

She glances up at me, then to my ornaments. "We do, yes. I just never pierced mine. And I'm not used to seeing piercings on males, since it isn't allowed."

I touch one before I can stop myself. Does that mean she doesn't like them? It's hard to imagine something so important being forbidden.

Is any topic with her truly neutral? I grip the reins tighter, annoyed with myself.

"That sounded violent," she adds, noticing my expression. "I'm sorry. Wait. Violent? I'm trying to say something else, and it won't translate. What I mean is, I think your jewelry is really interesting, I'm just not used to seeing it. There's so many, all with different designs. Do they have a special meaning?"

My hands loosen on the reins. It's hard to stay upset when she doesn't even know what they represent. Odd, but understandable.

"They do." I turn my head and touch the rolled pattern near the top of my ear. "This one shows I am a cloister guardian. This is from my first kill. That one is the mark of my bond brother, Samke. That—"

She interrupts me. "Bond brother?"

"Our chosen brother."

She lets out a mysterious noise. "That must be nice. Getting to choose."

Before I can respond, her small finger lightly touches my ear, and everything narrows to that one sensation.

"What about this one? It's beautiful. I've never seen metal like that."

It takes me a moment to remember; the shiver makes its way down my body. And I have to clear my throat before speaking.

"That's for surviving my testing to be an adult."

"Surviving?" she says, her voice rough. I glance over and notice that the skin on her cheeks is darker than usual. "I just reached a certain age to gain adulthood."

"No test of strength? No time spent in the desert?"

"No, definitely none of that. Though, I suppose being called an adult didn't make me in more control of my life. So maybe it didn't mean all that much."

"Well, if you weren't tested then—"

She's back to touching my ear and I don't remember what I was about to say anymore. Her finger trails from the bottom tip up to the middle one, then up to the top.

"Why aren't these pierced?"

"I haven't earned them."

I open my mouth to tell her about the donor hoop and mentor cuff, but realize there is no one to grant them to me here. Or even make them. I suppose I just… earned one?

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