Page 110 of A Soul to Guide

And she knew he didn’t want to harm her, at least not anymore.

He was too considerate of her. He’d fixed her cane and now it was even more comfortable than the one she had at home – although she bet this one was ugly in comparison. It was the thought that counted, especially from someone who could just be cruel to her.

Merikh had the opportunity to treat her as nothing but a captive, some kind of prisoner, but he didn’t.

Considering he had a dick and could experience desire like any other male, there was truly nothing stopping him from attempting to use her in a perverted manner. If he wanted to, he could force her to please him just because she was there, alone and vulnerable, with no one to save her.

Raewyn threw basil and garlic into the frying pan and then stirred everything with her cheeks heating.

She wasn’t against that, so long as her consent could be given and adhered to.

Then she paused.Maybe he doesn’t see me that way?If she looked back on both times they’d touched, Raewyn had instigated it in some way.

He said he likes the way I smell.The prickle of shame caused the hairs on her nape to lift. Did his kind react fiercely to pheromones, and he’d gotten caught up for that reason?

Unsure of the truth, Raewyn dug her nails into her loose curls and scratched the side of her head.I could always ask him.

Gosh, that conversation was too embarrassing!

“Hey, Merikh. Are you interested in me sexually, or have I been taking advantage of you by accident?”Yeah... that wasnota conversation she wanted to have.

She would be more conscious in the future. He was intelligent, which made the whole thing confusing.

She was used to being around people who didn’t succumb to the more animalistic urges like heats and ruts, but there were some species of Elves that did.

TheTaihee clan were, for instance, a species of Elf affected by periods of uncontrollable desire. It was almost like their bodies were a perfect blend of humanoid and animal, and each subclan was different.

A few chief representatives had briefly come to Nyl’theria before the Demons arrived. There had been an adult male who had a feline face with a humanoid body, yet his legs were digitigrade, since he’d walked on paws. There had also been a female with a giant flock of feathers and a beak.

Her parents had been the ones to study their DNA to find they were half-Elf, just like the Bansu clans who were basically half plant.

I hope Merikh didn’t just get caught up in my pheromones.Self-consciously, her shoulders turned inwards. She liked Merikh for a bunch of different reasons, and not all of them were physical.

He was her friend, and she hoped he felt the same way. She found his companionship easy, since she didn’t need to hide any part of who she was.

It was hypocritical of her, but she was pretty intolerant of others, and she hated anyone who talked over her. She didn’t like competing for the spotlight. It probably came from Raewyn’s intelligence as a scientist, and the self-assuredness in her position on the council.

It was why she’d chosen to separate herself from normal society and focus on her career. She couldn’t offend or upset anyone if she was too busy working on the next breakthrough. The other councilmembers had their own issues they had to battle as well – none of them were perfect.

Whatever. If he won’t come to me, then I’ll go to him.

Once Raewyn was finished cooking a delightful vegetarian meal, if she did say so herself, she scooped herself a plate. With her hand supporting the underside of it, her cutlery in her other hand with her cane, she left the cave.

Once the cane tip encountered the roughness of grass in comparison to the smoothness of stone, she knew she’d made it to the entrance. With the lack of warmth, it must have been late into the night.

Now, where is he?

Wandering the area was a terrible idea, especially if she didn’t want to throw her food to the ground by accident.

“Merikh?” she said loudly.

“Over here,” he called back.

“Stay there.” Raewyn headed to where she thought the three boulders and two trees were next to the lake.

When she got halfway, her ears twitched at whatever noise it was that indicated his location. She followed it, and it got softer before the tip of her cane hit the boulder he was sitting upon. She hit one foot but not the second, so she figured he had one folded up.

“Do you need something?” he asked with a gentleness, making Raewyn’s lips pull into a small smile.

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