I sigh, my shoulders dropping. “It’s not.” I run a hand through my hair. “I suppose I exaggerated a little. She just rubs me the wrong way—but that’s my own issue.”
“Is it?” Moe asks, turning slightly in my arms to look at me, one brow arched. There’s a teasing glint in her eyes now. “Or is itbecause she’s so strong?” A small smile tugs at her lips. “She did look quite dashing when she saved us.”
“Now, Moe, I can accept a lot of things but calling someone else dashing?” I say half-jokingly. The other half is quite serious and quite…jealous. I justdon’tlike Lis’s interest in my Moe. She said she only saved us for Moe, too. So what does she want with her?”
“She’s a female, Nyk. And I don’t mean it in that way, you know it.”
“I don’t care. I want to be theonlyone that’sdashingin your eyes. In fact,” I pause as I nibble on her exposed neck. “I want to be the only one you see inanyway.”
“You’re being a tad extreme,” she murmurs softly. “You already know my feelings for you.”
“Maybe. But I’m finding out I’m not a very nice male, Moe, because I’m not satisfied withjustthat. I want everything when it comes to you. I want you to only ever look at me, to only ever be with me, to only ever praise me.”
“You’re impossible.” She slaps my hands playfully but she doesn’t move.
“Am I? Don’t you want the same? For me to only look at you? To only ever see you and no other?”
She nods, and I note the blush on her cheeks. “I do,” she whispers. “I love that I’m your first kiss—youronlykiss. Youronlyeverything. I love that I don’t have to share you with anyone.”
I continue peppering her skin with kisses. “You’ll never have to. That I can vow to you, Moe. You’ll be the only female I take as my own in this life and every one that follows. You’ll always be the one for me.”
She grabs my hands and pulls them off her long enough to turn around and face me. Placing her arms around my neck, shelooks into my eyes. “I vow the same. You are the first male I gave myself to, the only, and the last.”
Her words awake something primal inside of me. My heart beats faster, louder, until everything fades away but this moment.
Her.
“My mate,” I murmur and lay a kiss on her lips. “When we get out of here, I want us to have a small pledging ceremony.”
Her eyes widen. “You…” She licks her lips. “You’d do that for me?”
“If you want, we can have the most lavish wedding you’ve ever seen. But you’ll have to give me some time since we’re not exactly swimming in funds—especially after we lost those mythical beast parts.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t care about any of that. I don’t want a big wedding. Who would I even invite? My family who thinks I’m a whore and betrayer? No. We’ll do a small ceremony just for ourselves.”
I nod. “As you wish. Everything asyouwish.”
“Then… Would you mind giving Lis a chance? We can be careful with her, but I really have a good feeling about her Nyk. I feel safe with her.”
I make a low sound in my throat. “Alright.” I end up saying. “If that makes you happy, I will try to give her a chance.”
She gives me a brilliant smile—for that alone I would have promised her anything.
“Good. Now let’s go make something sweet.”
She takes my hand, tugging me along with quiet excitement, and after grabbing a few pots and pans, we head outside to cook—well, she cooks, and I linger nearby, offering entirely unhelpful encouragement.
“To the left,” I say, gesturing vaguely as she stirs. “I feel like it needs more… something.”
Moe snorts, not even looking up. “More something? That’s very helpful, Nyk,” she replies dryly, though there’s a hint of amusement in her voice.
I grin, leaning against a rock. “I’m here for moral support.”
“To eat everything, you mean,” she shoots back, casting me a knowing glance over her shoulder.
To my surprise, her cake-making skills have improved significantly—and I make quick work of proving it, devouring most of the sweet treat the moment it’s done.
“Hey!” she protests, swatting my hand lightly when I reach for another piece. “Not all of it.”
