Page 265 of His White Moonlight
Miranda made a sound beside me.“Now that’s a fine specimen there.”
I knew she wasn’t talking about Bennett, but Konni.
“He’s single,” I said, “and will steal my man soon for inappropriate things we’re not allowed to talk about.”
Bennett was close enough to hear me despite the loud music and frowned as he closed the distance.Konni flushed.Feeling guilty, I stood and hugged him before I hugged Bennett.
“No hard feelings,” I said.“I’ll loan him out to you whenever you need, as long as there aren’t any women involved.Unless you need me to witness whatever it is you two do.”
I pulled back and arched a brow at him, thinking I was being funny.However, the look in Konni’s eyes wasn’t amused.He was looking a lot like Bennett had when I’d first come home.Intense, expanded pupils, and barely in control.
“Who were you with?”he asked, his voice rough.
Bennett had me out of Konni’s arms and in his a second later.
“You need to calm down, Konni,” he said.“You’re going to scare Wrenly.”
He wasn’t scaring me, but I didn’t correct Bennett.Instead, I watched Konni take a slow breath and close his eyes.
“I’m sorry.The scent on you is…confusing.”
Bennett leaned in and smelled me.
“Her friend, Sophia, a male I haven’t met, and Miranda.That’s all I smell.”
“Ooh!Me!Pick me!”Miranda said, popping up from her place on the sofa.She pulled her hair aside to expose the long line of her neck and the Zellon’s necklace resting there.“You can sniff me right here.”
Konni glanced at her and shook his head slightly.“It’s not you.I’m sorry.”
And he did sound sorry.
“It’s all right,” Miranda said with a shrug.“My knight will come along someday.But if you’re not interested in me, that means you're either interested in the man on the dance floor or a woman who was just talking about gender transitioning.Good luck.”She patted his arm as she walked by him on her way out.
Konni looked at Bennett.
“She wasn’t lying,” Bennett confirmed.
“Wait, can’t Konni smell lies?”I asked.
“His nose is good, but he has a harder time with the subtleties emotions can cause in someone’s scent.Is your friend actually thinking about a gender transition?”
I thought of Sophia’s stance on committed relationships.Her parents had divorced when she was younger, and she’d confided that marriage had ruined her mom in ways she never wanted to experience herself.Loss of self-worth.Fear of men.Questioning herself on every decision she made, no matter how small it was.
Any man who approached Sophia with the intent of a serious relationship was always met with rejection.She told me she would never make herself smaller for a man to feel bigger.
Knowing what Konni was, I understood that his interest in Sophia was exactly the kind she was trying to avoid.So I answered like a best friend should.
“She’s not thinking about it; she’s already talked to several people about it.”
Konni nodded, but his eyes had lost their focus.I knew he was thinking, but about what?
“She’s been through a lot, Konni, and just wants to be free to be whoever she wants to be.”
“I understand.”He looked at Bennett.“Thanks for the drink.Enjoy your night.”
I watched him walk away and felt a tinge of guilt.I knew what it meant for their kind to find a mate, but I also knew how Sophia felt.
“It’s not your problem,” Bennett said, kissing my temple.“He’ll be fine.Are you ready to go home?”
