“I know where to find you.” She smiled at him. “Go. Do your clan leader things.”
His hand lightly brushed her shoulder and then he was gone, his massive frame disappearing around the curve of the corridor.
She watched him go for a moment longer than was strictly necessary.
“You’re smiling.”
She turned. Tess was sitting up in bed, wrapped in furs, and watching her with sharp, suspicious eyes.
“Am I?”
“You look different today.” Tess studied her as she crossed the room and settled into the chair next to the bed. “Lighter. Less wound up.”
“I’m not usually wound up.”
“You usually look like you’re waiting for something to jump out of a wall.”
“Nothing has jumped out of a wall yet.”
“Exactly. Your vigilance is working.”
She laughed despite herself, and Tess’s eyes narrowed.
“Something happened.”
“Maybe,” she said.
“Not maybe. You’re practically glowing.” Tess glanced towards the entrance Njkall had just disappeared through. “It’s him.”
She felt the color rushing to her cheeks and Tess gave a satisfied grunt.
“Thought so.”
“Nothing happened.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
Polly glared at her.
“Is he your mate?” Tess asked, and she froze.
Mate.
Last night she had lain beneath Njkall’s hands and asked him to touch her. She had given herself over to pleasure and woken this morning without fear.
But this was different. A mate was permanent. A mate was a bond that couldn’t be undone. A promise that didn’t end when you changed your mind or wanted something different or simply needed to walk away. She knew with absolute certainty that Njkall would sooner cut off his own arm than keep her against her will. He’d proven it every night for a year, holding still, letting her set every single pace. But there was still a small animal part of her that heardmateand thoughtcage.Her chest tightened in a sudden wave of panic.
“No,” she said quickly. “We’re not… no.”
Tess’s brows rose. “No? You sleep in his bed, you live in his quarters, you look at him like he hung the stars, and after whatever happened between you last night, he’s still not your mate?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.” She pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. She knew it was a defensive posture but she couldn’t help it.
“Then what is he?”
