Page 14 of The Highseer's Mate

She purses her lips. “I do not know.”

That makes no sense. Magic? Is it something in the air?

The woman smirks a little bit and hesitantly reaches up to touch my forehead again, spreading more of the poultice on the gash. It instantly eases the soreness and after finally getting some sleep, I have a bit of my strength back.

“What’s your name?” I ask her.

“Selvara.”

“Selvara,” I repeat her name, practicing the syllables. “I’m Paige.”

The woman smiles as she finishes with my cut. “Leave that on your skin. It will help with healing.”

“Okay.”

She wipes her hand off the inside of an animal hide, placing the jar of luminescent poultice back into a pouch around her waist. Her clothes are similar to Varek’s, leathers wrap around her torso into a dress that leads down to her knees. Maybe she’s some kind of healer. Maybe she can help me escape this place.

“So, I was brought here against my will,” I say softly, eyeing the entry arch to Varek’s quarters. I half expect him to come bursting through at any moment. But as of right now, Selvara is the only one who can understand me. She’s my only hope. “Can you lead me out of here? I need to get back to my ship.”

Selvara stills.

“I mean, I don’t even know where I am but I don’t belong here. I just want to go home.”

She slowly shakes her head. “This is your home now.”

I hold back a scoff, biting the inside of my cheek to play nice. “No. It’s not. I don’t even know what planet this is and you guys definitely are not my people.”

“This is Nyxara and we are your people now.”

“Why?” I snap back at her. “Because one of your males kidnapped me and dragged me here? That’s a crime where I’m from. He doesn’t just get to keep me!”

Selvara stands, her hands squeezing tight around the pouch of her supplies. She frowns down at me as if I’m being a petulant child and my blood boils.

“Please. I don’t belong here. Can you just point me in the right direction? I’ll find my way out.”

“No. And I suggest you do not ask this of anyone else.”

Selvara turns to leave me alone but I stand, feeling restless to get out of these four rock walls. Suddenly, I can’t breathe and I need answers. “Why?” I call out after her.

Just before she dips below the leathers forming the door to the room, she sighs. “You will have to ask Varek. It is his place to tell you.”

And then, she’s gone.

“What?” I whisper to myself. What the fuck is going on in this place? Am I still dreaming?

Will I even be able to understand him?

A second later, Varek is ducking inside, his shoulders sagging as he looks for me. The second our eyes meet his chest and upper arms light up bright green.

He takes a step in my direction but I back up. “Don’t come near me.”

Varek’s brows knit and his lips part.

Oh no, did he…

“Say something else,” he commands in the deepest, most delicious voice I have ever heard. A flutter settles low in my belly.

I do understand him.

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