Page 15 of Naga Healer's Mate

Nirrn’s eyes swept the tiny room, his scaled shoulder brushing against the wall as he moved in the cramped space.His tail dragged across the wooden floor, leaving intricate patterns in the dust.

Islae pressed herself against the far wall, her heart hammering.This was too much—too many people, too small a space, too close to this Niri healer who’d turned her life upside down in a matter of a day.She watched his tail coil protectively near the door, effectively blocking any escape route she had.

Joseph cleared his throat.“I’ll leave you to get settled.”The door clicked shut behind him.

The silence stretched between her and Nirrn, thick with unspoken words.She wrapped her arms around herself, still smelling smoke in her hair and on her clothes.Everything she had managed to build, everything she had fought so hard for, gone in a single day.And now she was here, sharing a cramped room with a Niri she barely knew, surrounded by strangers in an underground sanctuary city.

“You need more rest,” he finally said, breaking the silence.“You’re safe here.”

The word “safe” sparked something inside her.All the grief, confusion, and exhaustion of the past day ignited into white-hot anger.

“Safe?”She clenched her hands at her sides.“My clinic is gone.The Jorvlens are after me.And now I’m in some strange underground city with complete strangers and—” Her voice cracked just as she was about to say something hurtful to him.She took a deep breath.“Look, I don’t need you or anyone else to keep me safe.I can take care of myself just fine.I’ve been doing it for quite a long time.”

Nirrn’s tail shifted, but he didn’t back down from her outburst.Instead, he moved closer.“You do not have to fight alone anymore.”His voice dropped lower, more intense.“I vow to stand by you and protect you.”

The sincerity in his words made her stomach flip.She pressed her back against the cool stone wall, trying to put distance between them in the cramped space.His presence overwhelmed her senses—the subtle shine of his scales, the raw power in his movements, the way his human-like torso tapered into that magnificent tail.

“This room is barely big enough for one person,” she muttered, desperate to change the subject.

“Then I’ll give you some space.”He straightened to his full height, his head nearly brushing the ceiling.“I’ll find you some fresh clothes and food.”His tail whispered against the floor as he turned toward the door.“Get some rest, Islae.I’ll return soon.”

She watched him slip through the narrow doorway, his powerful form somehow managing to move gracefully despite the tight quarters.The door clicked shut behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Her fingers traced the stone wall as she sank onto the small bed.Why did his presence affect her so strongly?And why did part of her wish he had stayed and lay down beside her?

Chapter 9

Nirrn

Nirrnfinallyreturnedtothe small chamber that he and Islae were sharing.He slithered quietly across the worn wooden floor, carrying a bundle of fresh clothes and a basket of food for Islae.He set it down on the small table in the corner and turned to face her.The flickering lamplight cast dancing shadows across the cold stone walls, making the tiny space feel even more confining.

Islae sat cross-legged on the narrow bed, her shoulders tight with tension.The scent of smoke still clung to her, a harsh reminder of everything she had lost today.

“I brought you some clean clothes,” he said softly.“And food.You need to eat something.”

“Thank you.”Her voice was barely a whisper.

His chest tightened at the defeat in her tone.He arranged the food between them—fresh bread, dried meat, and some fruit.His tail curled around the bed as he settled on the thin mattress.

“The bread is still warm,” he said, tearing off a piece and offering it to her.

She took it, but didn’t eat right away.“I keep thinking about my patients.Where will they go now?”

“We’ll find a way to help them.”Nirrn watched her pick at the bread.“You’re not alone in this anymore, Islae.”

“I’ve always worked alone.It’s safer and easier that way.”

His scales rustled as he leaned in closer.“And look where that got you.Sometimes we need others, whether we want to admit it or not.”

She shot him a sharp look, but there was less fire in it than before.

“When you’re ready,” he said, “I can show you around Haven.There’s more here than you might expect.”

Islae took a small bite of bread, chewing slowly.“Maybe in a little bit.I’m not… I’m not ready to face everyone yet.”

Nirrn nodded, understanding her need for space while his instincts screamed to wrap her in his coils and keep her safe.The mate bond hummed between them, though she didn’t realize it yet.He watched her eat another piece of bread, fighting the urge to brush her hair away from her face.

“You’re safe here with me,” he said softly.“I can promise you that.”

---