Page 61 of Imbalance
I chuckled quietly and said, "I can't pop them out when I'm sitting. They're too large."
"Well, get up then!" she commanded, making me roll my eyes in mock annoyance.
I held her to me and stood, enjoying the way she wrapped her legs around my waist with the motion. Letting my wings unfurl from under my skin, I felt the moment they were out completely as the bottoms scraped gently against the ground.
Her eyes lit up as she reached for them and cooed, "Oh my devil, they're so soft!"
I cleared my throat as her stroking my wings brought on a strong desire to sink my cock into her. I hadn't realized it would feel like this if she touched them, and it wasn't my intention to take things that far tonight. One day soon, but not now. At this moment, I just wanted to hold her to me and show her that I was serious about us.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she held me tightly and asked, "Can we go lie down together and get some sleep? We have a long day ahead of us."
I ran my free hand down the back of her hair and asked, "Can I hold you while we sleep?"
Her head nuzzled into my neck as if already settling in to sleep and she murmured, "I'd hit you in the face with my wing if you didn't."
Folding my wings back into myself, I had to stifle the laugh that threatened to burst from me so that I didn't wake everyone as I walked us back to the tent.
She was perfect for me, and I was never letting her go.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Ama
My entire body was both sore and satisfied as I opened my eyes the next morning, feeling Colt's massive chest behind me and hearing the slow inhale and exhale he was taking. I stretched against him, his heavy arm tightening around me slightly but staying relatively relaxed and heavy, indicating that he was, in fact, still asleep.
The tent was dark and comfortable, the sounds of even breathing and familiar scents making me smile. Despite wanting to stay curled up, I was beyond thirsty, so I squirmed out of Colt's grip and made my way towards the small table, where there was a pitcher of water. I silently poured myself a glass and drank it down, my eyes moving over each bed before it landed on Nico's...which was empty.
I frowned, wondering where he was, and decided to go find him. While I got dressed for the day, I tried to establish why I felt so different this morning. Other than the fact that Colt and I had broken through a major barrier last night, and Adrien and I had taken things to the next level physically, I felt like I'd gotten a night of deep, heavy sleep, completely interrupted by my normal...dreams. That was what was different.
I hadn't dreamt of my imaginary friend. Why was I both disappointed and uncomfortable with that fact? A weird sense of concern invaded my chest, paired with a warning ringing in my head that something was very wrong.
A sense of dread pooled within my chest, making it feel like it was suddenly hard to breathe.
I couldn't tell you what that something was, but it made me feel ten times more focused on trying to find Nico. If something was going on, I wanted to know where all my mates were and account for their safety.
When I walked out of the tent, I immediately came to a stop, finding the man in question sitting on the ground, looking out towards the mountains, his dark eyes on the horizon ahead.
"Nico?" I spoke softly, seeing his back tense as he looked back at me. Immediately, I could see something was wrong, so I came to sit next to him, hoping that I was welcome to some extent. The sunrise coming from the east made his skin look almost true gold, and when his eyes met mine, they were filled with shadows and frustrations—a stark contrast to his glimmering appearance.
"What's wrong?" I asked. I honestly didn't expect him to answer.
"What do I have left?" he asked seriously, his voice distant. "We are going back to the capital, back to a kingdom that has been betrayed by my own parents, severed by their actions and greed. What happens when we win? What am I left with? I have no family. I want nothing to do with my own house. Hell, I don't want anything to do with myself most days. So what do I have left, Ama?"
Woah.Okay, someone had clearly been up for a while thinking.
I answered with the first thoughts that came to my mind, "You have me, Nico. You have us. You know that. Even if we are having problems, this entire situation has changed everything in our lives, and while I know it's hard, we’ll all get through this together. While I know you’ve lost, don't forget that you’ve also gained."
My fingers went out to tentatively touch the top of his hand and his eyes filled with liquid gold and warmth, which had me feeling almost out of breath. I made a surprised sound as the man shifted us quickly, my back against the ground and his body above me. He watched me with almost a predatory light in his gaze.Oh, devil.This was a new side to Nico.
"What, exactly, have I gained from you?" he asked softly, his eyes moving down my face to my lips and then my neck, where he brushed his fingers against my collarbone.
"A mate," I swallowed as my skin flushed and everything lit up under his touch, a small smirk playing on his lips as if amused by my reaction.
"Have I?" he asked, his eyes hardening into amber as he met my gaze. "I feel as though I've instead gained one-seventh of a mate, Amare."
My temper flared, "That's bullshit."
He blinked, “Why? We have to share you, don't we?"
