Page 135 of The Ashpaw: Part One

She was working on her needlepoint while Darion read a book on the history of a war Fern had never heard of.

Fern looked around for another chair, but none was to be found.

“Um…”

“Hm?” Kyntha said, glancing up. “Oh, there’s a spot for you here.”

She pointed with her toe towards a cushion on the floor beside Darion’s feet.

Fern looked at Darion, whose focus was still on the book.

“You… really mean to have me sit on the floor?”

Kyntha sighed, putting down her hoop and sticking the needle in the fabric so as not to lose it. “There is no room for you on the divan, obviously. And I would not have you on my bed.”

She looked at Darion again, pleading silently.

“Don’t be difficult, just sit,” he finally said to Fern, turning a page.

Sucking in a breath, she steeled herself for the humiliating solution Katreena had proposed.

Fern would not be in isolation as she had been before. She was allowed to eat with the clan, but only on the opposite end of the table from Darion and Kyntha. She could also move about the castle to pre-approved locations, so long as she had an escort who could take her back if Darion or Kyntha decided they required the space.

And, for one hour every evening, she would spend time with Darion and Kyntha, in Kyntha’s room. He could touch her, but only for comfort.

This would ensure Fern’s scent and needs would never overpower his future mate’s.

She’d rather have the isolation.

Fern lowered herself, sitting on the cushion and bringing her knees up to her chest, holding them and looking into the fire.

There was nothing to occupy herself with, but she had plenty of practice retreating into her mind.

She’d just about gotten into the headspace she needed to untether herself from reality when Darion’s hand on her head whipped her right back.

Fern wanted his touch, even though it felt forced—less like a lover’s caress and more like someone trying to pet a dog for the first time.

But it kept her grounded in a way that made it difficult to shut off her mind the way she wanted it to.

Her skin felt itchy, and she shifted on her cushion, trying to find a comfortable position. But no matter how she moved, it felt like there was always a pebble right under her.

Sitting with her legs straight out didn’t work. Curling up only made her knees ache.

Her hands… What should she do with her hands?

And then Darion began to purr, and her whole body melted.

She leaned back to rest against the divan, and her cheek fell on his leg.

He patted her again, and when he started to massage her scalp, and all hope of maintaining any dignity was lost that evening as she let loose the softest, most contented-sounding whimper she’d ever made.

Did Eidan and Reinn tell him this was her weakness?

She was about to close her eyes and submit to the bliss when Kyntha spoke, her voice harsh. “That seems excessive.”

Darion paused for a moment, causing Fern to want to whine. She even almost rubbed against his leg to beg him to continue.

And then he resumed. “This is the bare minimum as it is, my love.”