Page 62 of Einar

Amblingover to my mate,Ipause.

“Whichcrate is yours, littleStarshine?Iwill carry it back to our quarters for you.”

Shepoints to the one on the left andIlift it into my arms with ease.Rowanwaves toHeatherandBambias we, too, take our leave.

“Bye!I’llsee you all tomorrow morning at breakfast!Thankyou for today!”

Withouta doubt, this is the happiest and most relaxedRowanhas been since she arrived on theZenith.Itpains my hearts that she is so at ease with the other females and so leery of me.Shefalls quiet, almost contemplative, as we head toward our quarters, andIwonder what thoughts occupy her.

Andthey areour quarters.AllthatIhave belongs to her now, not that she knows that, or would even want me to tell her.Enteringour chamber,Iput her crate down just inside the closet, stumbling a bit asIdo so, a wave of weakness hitting me.Bracingmy hand on the wall for a tic,Iget my bearings.

Whatthe frack?

Straightening,Iturn and motion to the closet.

“Youare welcome to store your things in here.Thatway, you do not have to deal with creasing or diving in and out of a box for your outfits.”

“Einar, are you alright?Youlook a little pale.”

“Allis well,Rowan.Worrynot.”

Eyeingme speculatively, she heads into the closet and starts putting away her things.OnceIam sure she is completely occupied,Ienter the refreshing chamber and look into the viewer.

Frack,IthoughtIwould have more time.Ishould have had more time than this.Ruarcisn’t showing any signs of mating sickness.

Mymating collar is fading.Afew risings ago, it was the darkest of blacks and now it is a middling shade of gray.Itis a significant change in such a short amount of time, and it must be because of the genes theAynarspliced into me.Thewave of weakness earlier must have been when it lightened, or else my brothers would have said something about the change when we were all together.

Rubbingmy fingers against the slightly raised flesh,Itry to think if there is anything in any of the lore thatIcan do to give me more time with my mate.Desperately,Iwrack my mind for the limited information about the beings onAtraxiaand come up with very little.

Allthat is known is that they have fated mate bonds just like my people, but other than that,Iknow nothing.

Frackinghell.

Somethingis wrong withEinar.

Inour albeit short time together,I’venever seen him stumble or exhibit any sign of weakness.Itdidn’t take me long to put my clothes away, soI’msitting here waiting for him to get out of the bathroom.

Theother women had no reason to lie to me when they told me about howEinar, and the others have treated them since arriving on theZenith.IfEinarcan pleasure me without losing control, surely, he can sleep next to me, andI’llbe safe.Hisbig body doesn’t fit on that couch he’s been sleeping on, but he’s refused to switch with me.Thedark circles under his eyes tell me he isn’t resting properly, and it’s making me feel guilty as all get out.

Hedeserves to sleep in his own bed and if he won’t swap with me, we will just share.

It’llbe fine because with every fiber of my being,IknowEinaris a good man.Heis not a monster, no matter the fact that he’s green and has horns.Itmust surprise him to see me sitting at the table waiting for him, because he stops just outside the bathroom.

“Doyou need something, my mate?”

Deepinside, my lonely heart thaws at his words. “Idon’t want you sleeping on that couch anymore.You’retoo big for it andIcan tell that it’s not comfortable for you.”

“Rowan, we have been over this.Iwill not permit you to sleep on anything other than my sleeping platform.Itis unacceptable to me.”

Wrinklingmy nose at the first high-handed comment that’s left his mouth,Iroll my eyes at him in exasperation. “Weshould share the bed, uh, sleeping platform.Thereis plenty of room for the both of us.”

Hisjaw drops andIhave to bite back a giggle at his incredulous expression.

“Youwould permit me to sleep with you?”

Hoppingdown from the chair,Iclimb up my stool and slide into bed, flipping the covers back on his side in invitation.

Actionsspeak louder than words, after all.

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