Page 51 of Own To Obsess

Kardos smiled at her. “I come here to visit them, so for me, they live here. But they're not my family.”

“Oh,” Shaya said frowning.

“My family is just about to arrive,” Kardos said, sitting up straight and glancing at something above their heads.

Shaya became alert and nerves bundled in her stomach as Kardos fixed her in his lap, her back against his chest as they both faced forward, directly looking at the smooth waterfall.

Shaya suddenly realized that the cavern had become so warm, Kardos had undressed her until she was only wearing her tunic. “Do I need to put some more layers on,” she whispered.

Kardos shook his head, and glanced above their heads again. “No. Just keep looking straight ahead.”

Shaya kept watching the waterfall and as the sun shifted, filtering through new rocks above their heads, it hit the sheen of water at an angle. Slowly, a luminous reflection of her and Kardos appeared, swaying in the running water.

“There,” Kardos rumbled softly in her ear. “That is my family. You and me.”

Shaya blinked in surprise and a lump formed in her throat.

“Before you bit me, it was just me.” Through their reflection, she saw him tilt his head to look at her, and there it was again… that look she had seen on his face during her Haze. Her nose stung as her eyes teared.

“I’ve been used to being a family of one,” he continued. “When I was younger, I had few friends. I came here, to my own temple, and I could feel the presence of Az Eshra. They let me know that I’m on the right path. As I proved myself, I became part of the families of Tribe Nyek—and I love that, but I still feel that here is where I am home.” He leaned in to brush her ear with his lips. “And I told myself that when I had a mate, I would bring her here and would bite her here.”

Shaya couldn’t speak. Her throat had closed up and it ached as she swallowed.

“But what happened was better, Shaya. You bit me, and when I had the urge to bite you back, it was in the main temple. I couldn’t honor Az Eshra any better.”

“So I didn’t spoil your plans to mate with another?” Shaya forced herself to ask. “You’re not disappointed I—”

Kardos cut her off with a soft growl. “Look at us, Shaya.”

There was something fascinating about their reflection. He was so huge, fierce and hulking, he surrounded her, but there was something deeper about him. Something in his eyes that she couldn’t tear her gaze away from.

“We are opposites. You are Omega, I am Alpha. You are dark, I am light. You are perfection. I am… imperfect. Why would I be disappointed?”

Shaya twisted to look at him. “You think you are imperfect?”

Kardos held her gaze. “I have many talents, skills, and abilities, Shaya. But I am still imperfect by the standards of my people. I will always be, I have come to terms with that.” He looked down at his arm around her waist, and she followed his gaze. Her small arm rested on his large one; hazel against ivory. “But you are perfect by all standards, little bird. And you’re mine.”

Shaya scrambled to get onto her knees, turning to face him and threading her arms around his neck, her heart almost bursting for him. There were no words she could say because her throat ached with the sobs that threatened to come. So instead she pressed her lips against his, capturing him in a kiss that told him that he was hers too.

CHAPTER NINE

KARDOS

“I cannot see how you can win now, my shinno.” Zolt said the words softly, as if he was almost afraid to utter them.

Kardos stared down at the swill paper listing all the activities the other shinnos had been doing over the last few weeks while he spent time with Shaya.

The other shinnos and tribes had been making efforts to build up their achievements since the Year of Selection was condensed and restarted, but Kardos hadn’t been worried. He already had ideas about how to solve the problems that the Isles would face preparing for the oncoming blizzards, prior to suggesting it at the hearing. When Shaya was attacked, however, he stopped implementing his ideas to look after her. It had been necessary, but there was a cost.

“As you can see, Rhaad is now the shinno with the most achievements,” Zolt said, pointing at the paper. “He had some ideas that he’s already put in place. The other shinnos are trying to catch up, but with only two weeks left, I don't know whether it's possible for anyone to catch up with him.”

Kardos clenched his fists let out a growl, turning away from the table and pacing to the other side of his study. “Rhaad is not suitable to be the next high chief,” he bit out. “The man is sneaky, underhanded, and devious. At least Gergo and Sethol speak their minds openly and let their thoughts be known clearly. Rhaad calculates and manipulates. He didn't even step in against me until he had to; he let Gergo and Sethol take the lead.”

Zolt nodded. “I agree with you, my shinno, but I cannot see how his win can be avoided. He has made significant progress in each area stipulated by the high chief.”

“Find out how.” Kardos turned to face Zolt, his glare deadly. “Tribe Obari does not have as much resources as the other two tribes. Find out how he is managing to make such significant progress.”

A worried frown embraced Zolt's face. “If I interfere, that could disqualify us completely,” he pointed out. “Do you want to risk it?”

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