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Wraythe nodded. "Well, I figure this is a perfect time for you to get to know him. I dunno, make out with the fucker a little." A cruel little smile flickered over his lips, but it was gone just as fast.
"I was mostly worried that I should tell you about that night I snuck out. And how things went."
"Later," he told me. "I want to know, and I have a ton of questions, but probably not the ones you expect. If you're asking if I'm mad, I'm not. I knew I would never get to be with you, baby. I chose the wrong Path for that. I'm still ok with this. I'm also going to keep you safe too." He turned his arm, making his bicep flex with the motion. "All these lines? That's Obligation, and it's not for Ela."
"So he told you that? Did we all talk to Zeal?"
"Yeah. Ela's been curious about that. Shalsa told him she didn't hear anything on her Choosing night, yet all ofusdid? And not just heard! I was tested, Nari. I stuck my arm into the pool, just to check if my lace would grow, and it did. As far as the water touched, the lines appeared, and I thought it meant Obligation, so I asked. Zeal told me I was supposed to watch over Eladehl, destined to chase him, always a step behind. Then I asked about you, and we kinda made a deal. He told me the marks on my arm are for you." He kissed my fingers again. "You are my Obligation, but Ela's my ward."
"Seems we all asked to be kept together."
He rolled a little more, until he was facing me. Then, he pulled his knees higher. "But when it comes to your guy? I suggest you spend the next few days talking. Go sit with him, just like this. Find out what kind of food he likes, or things like that. Justtalkto him, Nari, because he needs someone to take care of him, and that's you now."
"But what do Idowith him?" I asked.
He grunted in disapproval. "It is not your job to manage him. Just find out why Zeal thinks he belongs with you."
"Because I fucked him," I hissed. "Zeal told me to go to that inn so I could figure things out, and I did, and I met him there, and then I slept with him. Zeal told me that did him a favor, and Talin said he wasn't going to come back, but I made him rethink the necessity of temptation. That's why he's with me."
"Give a god a little more credit," Wraythe said. "He had to know you'd get along with him. Shit, you liked him enough to let him put his dick in you. I mean, he was allowed, right?"
"Yes, he was." I ducked my head. "And he's funny, charming, maybe even witty. It's just kinda weird to be around him now. I mean, since we did that."
"Fucked," Wraythe corrected. "Had sex? It's ok to say it. You are going to have sex with a lot of people on this Path. Sometimes with Ela, sometimes not. It's never been a secret, and if you're holding back because you think you need to make sure we know we're the favorites, then stop. We know. We also know that you deserve a guardian who is as devoted to you as Jamik is to Amerlee, ok? I want that man to love you until his fucking heart bleeds. I want you to feel as safe with him as you do me, because I'm not always going to be there. This duty doesn't work like that."
I was chewing on my lower lip. "Can I hug you, Wraythe?"
"No leaning over the junk, and no cuddling," he said, but a smile was finally visible. It wasn't much of one, but I'd take it.
So I crawled closer on the mattress and pressed my head against his massive chest. "Thank you. I won't come over again until Eladehl says it's ok, but I had to see you. I had to know that you didn't regret your Path. I was hoping this would be easier, but it isn't, so I'll be patient. I just love you. I feel like you're missing when it's just the two of us together."
"You going to sleep with him?" Wraythe asked, the question feeling like it came out of the blue.
"Who?"
He laughed once, bouncing my head. "Eladehl. Pretty sure the other option has a metal ring on his dick with teeth that cut like a bitch. You willnotbe fucking him. I just know that Ela's kinda waiting. He wants to, but he's nervous about it. He even considered hooking up with some guy so he'd see your side of it. You know, receiving? I just think you two probably need to talk, because you curling up with him at night is kinda driving him crazy."
"I think you've had too much time on your hands." I lifted myself up to see his face. "If he makes a move, I'm ready. I just don't want to pressure him."
He wrapped his arm around my back and pulled me against him again. "I'll make sure he knows. Now, when you kiss me in a second, you're going to do it nicely, right? Maybe just a peck? Nothing all hot and steamy?"
I stretched up to press my mouth against his. "Get better fast? Even if it's just enough to come see our place?"
"Heard all the pink is gone. Ela calls it dickhead pink."
"Pussy pink," I corrected, "and it was so bad. I bought us a rug with the coins I had. It's a cheap one, but it's red, and a bit softer than the floor. We made the bedroom tolerable. We have some really comfortable couches, though. The kind that you could sit on and hang out. I promise we'll both be good, and if you want to just wrap a blanket around you, that's fine."
"Ok," he said. "As soon as I can stand, I'll come over." Then he sobered. "It'll still be a few days. Jamik said I've got a few things going against me, but I'm learning how to meditate. He's going to be an amazing mentor, you know?"
I nodded. "He's family. They all are."
"Now go finish unpacking your boxes. I know you have at least three. And if you happen to put Puppy on the bed, that would be perfect. Maybe even cuddle with him."
"Can I bring you Bunny?" I asked.
"Yeah. I'd kinda like that. I mean, I might roll on him, drop him on the floor, and treat him like a rag doll, but I bet he smells like you."
I kissed him again, this time on his cheek. "Then I'll send him with Eladehl this evening. Try to sleep a little for me?"
