I tap it and straighten. “He’s scarred because he defended his sister from being mated to an A-hole after her mate died and then helped her escape to their family pack. He broke tradition to protect her. Zorin told me at dinner last night.”
Esrynne gives me a terse nod and opens the door. “Fine. Great. The brute is all floof. I get it. Now go.”
I glower at her. “He gave up being with his sister to keep her safe.”
Esrynne’s shoulders slump. “For Thelisoria’s sake, Tessi. I got the message. Now, please… Zorin is waiting.”
Zorin was polite over dinner, and gave me a night to sleep alone with Radar. But I think it was more because Marne pressed him heavily to get a night of sleep himself.
Zorin is a rush I didn’t expect to find at ABR. He holds my hand everywhere we walk, kisses my temple before he leaves me…every time. And he shields me protectively with out asecond of hesitation any time there’s a loud noise or a Luna Mindoran walks by.
Esrynne remains on patrol with Onidus, guarding me during the day, no matter what we’re doing.
During one of our breaks between activities, Zorin plays with Radar, shifting down into wolf form to chase balls I throw, and letting Radar capture a few even though he’s much smaller. Zorin is bonding with him, and Radar with Zorin. Radar jumps in his lap every time we return to my room. And yet, Zorin sleeps on the sofa that’s too small for him and gives Radar and me the bed.
We haven’t managed to sneak in another private moment. If Esrynne isn’t with us, trying to tuck a weapon of some kind inside my race suit, or Onidus with his persistent light, then Davarok and Kren are hovering close or Rorsar and Ignus. Everywhere we go, we have a pack. And after years of being alone, it’s the best feeling in the world.
Radar has also started bonding with the Shifters not on duty with us. They tend to stay in my room and just hang out with him, amazed that Radar can be three years old and still in furry form.
After breakfast and conversations about less intelligent things Zorin did with Azrim when they were young, he kicks ass in laser tag. He practically drags me through the grid of clear glass cubes that float up and down throughout the room. We almost make it to the end and the prized week vacation on Pearl de Gaia. But I get distracted by a crystal and end up winning a shopping spree on a spaceport market.
After lunch and the cooking classes that turn into more of an ingredient food fight than actual constructive lessons I really do want, Zorin takes me on his ship to the spaceport to pick up the formula I will need to care for Rhysan along with toys and other supplies.
It’s nice to have a day of peace without someone trying to hunt me down.
Friday is filled with kayaking the river, a picnic, and a cake fight, ending with a movie night and lying under the stars on the beach. It all moves too fast and reality creeps up on us again.
I lie back on Zorin’s chest, atop our beach towel. He’s not looking at the movie playing on the large screen by the river. He stares up at the stars overhead.
“What’s up?”
He adjusts his position and tucks a hand behind his head. “I’ve been in a suit out there in the void, shooting at Nebs and being shot at. I’m used to staring death in the face. But when your life was threatened, all of that confidence and numbness faded. I was so desperate and worried.”
“Now that you’ve had a chance to get to know me without your Shifter consuming you, do you still want me as a person? Or is it just…” I trail off when Zorin stops breathing.
“Tessi, I don’t think you understand how integrated we are. What my Shifter wants is what I want. He just takes it, reacts, lives on impulse and what he senses. But we are the same.”
“I know, but the scent-bond can make you want someone who’s deep down awful.”
“According to who?”
“Rorsar.”
Zorin wraps me up tightly in his arms. “Ah. Rorsar was scent-bonded to a Luna. She tried to kill him, our whole team actually.”
“What happened?”
His hands glide up and down my arms, and I sense his contentment through our touch. “She didn’t think the Nebulous Empire was a threat. She thought it was just Denarso. They were first to invade, first into war above our skies. She thought our mission was a joke.
“Her pack leader sent her to destroy us. A Neb soldier killed her as Rorsar was trying to stop her. So you’ll have to forgive his abrasiveness. He believes any rules we’re given are meant to prevent such things from happening again, and he’s right.”
“And you’re still here with me. Why?”
“Because I will follow you even if it is the death of me.”
“I would rather you live even if it means us being apart.”
His hands still. “Why would you say that?”
