“Cidro made it for you. It will help your recovery.”
I make a face. “It looks like it’s made of vegetables. Are you sure I need it?”
“Yes. Drink it, Delphie, or I’ll hold you down and make you.”
His gruff, dominant words send a wave of heat over me that settles between my legs. I can tell he scents it, too, because his nostrils flare in my peripheral vision. He wasn’t trying to be sexy—it was supposed to be a threat! But I can’t get the image of him pinning me in the furs to have his way with me out of my head.
I can’t even look at him as I uncap the medicine and down it in one swallow. It tastes just as horrible as I thought it would, so I quickly chug the rest of my nomo to wash it down.
“Good girl,” he says approvingly, and I have to squeeze my thighs together. I have teased my friends mercilessly about how thirsty they were for their alien kings, and this is my payback. Pretty much everything he does makes me want to jump him. I know we have some other shit to work out first, though. We’re barely back at the “eating dinner together” phase of our relationship.
“Delphie,” he hisses, his claws extending, clicking against his cup.
“I know, sorry. My body is really into you. Not trying to make you uncomfortable. We can just...eat. Talk.”
He grimaces and adjusts himself in his trousers with his free hand. Maybe his mind went the same places mine did. I wouldn’t be surprised. We seem in sync about certain things. Maybethat’s the goddess at work, maybe some good chemistry, maybe both. I’m not going to examine it too closely, but it makes me feel...shiny inside. Hopeful that we can work through this. We have forever in front of us.
I pick up a tili wafer and crunch into it. “Did you talk to the Eye again?”
“Gemeri sent our terms for the hostage exchange, but I haven’t heard back.” He drains his nomo and takes a bowl of stew from the tray, adding a sprinkle of green leaves to the top. He adds casually, like it’s an afterthought, “I’m inviting a mind-healer to Usuri.”
My heart leaps. “You are?!”
He nods, and if he wasn’t holding a bowl of hot stew, I’d fling my arms around him. That’s going to help the people here so much. It’s going to helphimso much.
“That’s awesome, Nik. I’m so glad.” I fill my own bowl, skipping the greens, and dig in, moaning at the depth of flavor. It’s so good, especially after my twenty-four-hour “nap” that has left my stomach hollow.
The corner of his mouth turns up briefly. “It won’t happen until after. But it will happen.”
He means after the hostage exchange. My guts do a little twist that makes me put down my bowl of stew. I’ve been trying not to think about it, but I’m nervous about what part I’m going to play in that. I know the priests won’t hurt me as long as Nik cooperates, but it’s still scary. Worth it, but I can’t deny I’m nervous as hell.
“What’s wrong?” There’s an edge to his voice. “I thought you would be pleased.”
“Oh, I am! It’s great. Really. It’ll help so many people. It’s just what Usuri needs.”
“What I need, you mean.” His shoulders hunch a little as he pay more attention to his food than required.
He’s trying to self-deprecate, but I won’t let him. “Everyone needs it. I mean that. There’s not a person on Earth—or anywhere in the galaxy—who doesn’t benefit from some mind-healing now and then. It takes some bravery to admit it. I don’t think you’re weak, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
His eyes snap to mine. “How did you guess?”
“It’s a common fear.”
“What areyouafraid of?” he asks. Now it’s my turn to be surprised. He lifts his brows. “Your scent changed, earlier, when I mentioned bringing the mind-healer here.”
“I don’t want to tell you,” I confess with a shaky laugh. “I think you might go nuts on me.”
“Nuts?” he asks, frowning. “The kind that grow on trees?”
I giggle. “No, sorry. Nuts is a word we use to mean crazy. I don’t want you to do anything drastic just because I’m having some fears. I’ll deal with it. It’ll be fine.”
“Lesson One.”
I blink at him, confused. He wants to make out? Right now? He isn’t making a move though, and I realize he means something different. “Trust?”
He nods. “Trust me to stay calm. To listen without judgment. You have taught me that.”
I take a deep breath and blow it out. “Okay. When you mentioned bringing the healer here ‘after,’ I was thinking about the hostage exchange. I’m afraid of going to the Eye. I know the High Priest won’t hurt me as long as he thinks he has you in his pocket, but it’s just...scary. All those guys with weapons. Being locked in a room where I can’t even go outside. I’m nervous, even though I know it’s the right thing to do.”
