Page 53 of K'Vella

Helna runs off toward the sanctuary. Sloane wraps her fingers in mine and drags me through the rest of the clan. It's sweet of her to want to keep our minds off what's happening with Avery, even though we're all worried about her.

"I don't think we can go dancing until the males get here," Sloane says as she pushes through a crowd of people at the entrance to the great hall.

Helna wasn't joking when she said the place would be more crowded the closer we got to the run. Sounds of pleasure are already filling the air. As soon as we step inside, a female breaks apart. Everyone inside claps and cheers at the union.

When we look at where everyone else is looking, there's a female on her back on a table, a male between her thighs with his teeth sunk deep into her flesh. The female runs her fingers through his hair, her eyes bright and filled with joy as she looks down at him.

"I guess there'll be more claiming the closer it gets to the run," Sloane says, averting her eyes from the scene when everyone elsestarts to. "I bet they start scent matching like crazy when new people show up."

"Imagine life being that easy," Essa sighs as she leans against the wall near two chairs that she wants Sloane and me to sit in. "You go about your day minding your own business, maybe thinking about getting sex, and then bam! Your nose is in love with someone who's just as in love with you."

"I don't know," Sloane says, leaning her head back in her chair and looking around the room again to see if our males or Helna have joined us yet. "It takes away all the buildup of getting together with someone. Where's the angst of knowing if they want to be with you or the overthinking everything like you're somehow ruining it."

Essa and I exchange disgusted looks.

"If I could've known as soon as I saw Holoth that he was mine, I would've taken it. Let me be rid of these insecurities of not being enough and all of this worry that he'll scent someone on this planet. I don't want it."

"I think I feel the same. Let me see a male, decide he's mine, and be done with it. We can have fun in the bedroom. We don't need to pine over one another. No, thank you." Essa adds.

She looks down at the small comm she keeps strapped to her wrist and tilts her head to the side as she reads it. It feels like a surreal nightmare as her fangs elongate, her pupils constrict, and her jaw tenses.

"Sloane, I need you to take K'Vella to Helna's house," Essa says, her eyes still on her wrist as more messages come through. She lifts her eyes to us, fear coating my spine.

"Now."

Essa doesn't wait to make sure we follow her directions before stomping through the great hall and out the doors. A few Rytharians look at her departure, cringing when they see the anger on her face. Sloane pulls me from my chair, theworld growing hazy as my mind tries to piece together what's happened.

"It's going to be okay," Sloane tells me.

She rubs her hand over my forearm as she drags me the opposite way of where Essa ran off when she left the great hall. Essa ran back toward the ship, but why wouldn't she want us to go to the ship if there was an emergency? Unless the emergency was with the males. Maybe they're fighting.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Helna's shouting from behind us, and then she's beside us, out of breath, with a bruise forming on her face and a split lip. "I didn't know what she was planning. I'm sorry."

Helna grabs me around my waist and pulls me into a tight hug. I wrap my arms around her, shooting Sloane a confused look because I still don't know what's happening.

It isn't until I see the heartbreak on Sloane's face or how she keeps checking her wrist comm that it finally starts to register in my mind.

"Did he scent match someone?" I ask, the words sounding so far away even as I feel them on my lips.

My entire world seems to freeze as the reality of the life I thought I could have is ripped away from me. No, of course, it is. I don't deserve that happiness. I've never deserved it.

I nod, not needing either woman to confirm my fears when I can see it written plain as day on their faces. I nod again.

"Okay, well, it won't be the first time I'm cast aside. I doubt it'll be the last." I look down at Helna, feeling as though she needs the most comfort out of the three of us. "Would you mind making me some more tea for the babe? I think we need to be strong for what's to happen next."

"The babe?" Sloane's eyes go wide, and she starts shaking.

"Maybe some tea for my friend as well." I wrap an arm over Sloane and keep her close as I help guide the two women toward Jatha's house.

Whatever happens is meant to happen, and I won't stop Holoth from finding his happiness. One of us at least deserves that much.

nineteen

Holoth

Fifteen Minutes Earlier

Ifollow Phial back into the ship, hoping he's done with all these stupid ideas about checking on Avery. I understand it. I do.

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