Page 48 of Hooded

“You are my worlds, Fern,” he murmurs, gazing down at me. “I thought my life would always be violence, but it is not. It is you. My heart is yours until the end of time.”

KLYNN

My little mate sleeps soundly in my nest. I have been watching her for some nova-hours, her chest gently rising and falling under the soft coverings I found to match the rest of the nest. Her long hair is spread out over the comfortable cushions I procured. Her eyelashes are dark against her pale skin. Occasionally her eyeballs twitch under her eyelids. I’m not sure why they do this, but I love it. I want to see it happen more.

My heart twitches in my chest as I gaze on her. Now I know it’s because of my mate, I have no further fear. My heart should do things for her. It should beat faster, differently, better because of her.

I am not the same male from the dome, not with her, not captured by her. Here in my nest, I can be the male I want to be.

Her little creature comes barreling into the nest. It’s no respecter of boundaries whatsoever. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what to make of the thing, but its tenacity and complete lack of fear are impressive. It is also wholly devoted to my mate, so we have that in common.

The vidra snuffles up to the bed, eyeing what I have obtained for my mate.

“These are for her, creature,” I intone. “She must always be kept fed and safe, understand?”

It makes a melodious humming noise. I toss it a scrap which it grabs and consumes noisily.

“Klynn?” A pair of beautiful eyes are on me.

“Good nova-morning, myeregri,” I rasp. “I have these for you.”

I lift the tray I prepared from the floor and place it next to her. She blinks at me, her little brow furrowed as she rubs her finger into her eye.

“How long have you been awake?” she asks.

“A while.” I nudge the tray to draw her attention back to it. “I’ve been watching you.”

“Watching me?”

“Watching you.” I smile.

Fern pushes herself up on her elbows, glancing between the tray and me.

“For you,” I say. “For my mate.”

She shuffles her bottom (I try not to think about the sweet globes too much or my cocks will arise) up the bed and lifts the tray onto her lap. I feel my breath stalling in my chest as she lifts off the covering.

“These are…” Her head swings between the contents of the tray and me. “Croissants?”

“The Fenere tell me they are called gelgy. I am assured they are very good.”

Fern picks one up. “They’re warm!” she exclaims.

“Best served warm. Eat,” I exhort.

She bites into one, and the groan which escapes her sends my cocks from half hard to fully hard.

“They taste amazing,” she murmurs through flakes of the baked goods. “Not quite croissant, but close enough.”

She looks at me and water hovers in her eyes. My heart spins in my chest, but I’m not sure if this time it is an illness or my desire for her. I put my hand there, just in case.

“Don’t…”

“I’m happy, Klynn. I can’t believe you did this for me. No one has ever…” Her voice halts for an instant. “Thank you,” she whispers.

“I will always do things for you, little fury. You should always have gelgy in bed and my cocks in your pussy.”

Fern splutters, the water in her eyes running away and the flakes of the gelgy dropping everywhere.

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