Page 9 of Naga Healer's Mate

The silence stretched between them like a living thing.His tail coiled and uncoiled restlessly as he watched her small hands sort through his medical supplies, still refusing to meet his gaze.Something protective and possessive stirred in his chest at the sight of her touching his tools, accepting his offering even while denying his presence.

“You are not alone in this, Islae,” he said softly, letting his voice drop to a gentle rumble.“Please, let me help you with your operation.”

She stiffened but kept working, her fingers trembling slightly as she arranged bottles on a shelf.The scent of her anxiety filled the air, mixing with determination and something else—something that made his scales tingle with awareness.His tail shifted closer unconsciously, drawn to her despite her silence.

The weight of unspoken words hung heavily in the air between them as he waited for her response, his eyes fixed on her rigid form.His instincts shouted at him to stay, to protect, and to prove himself worthy of her trust.He wouldn’t leave—couldn’t leave—until she gave him an answer.

Her shoulders suddenly dropped, the tension leaving her delicate frame.“Fine.I’ll accept your help with my operation.”She raised a finger.“But I won’t be responsible if you lose everything because of it.”

Relief flooded through Nirrn’s body, his scales rippling with pleasure.His tail relaxed its tight coil against the stone floor.The prospect of working alongside her, of protecting her while she helped others, made his heart race.He’d never felt such certainty about anything in his life.

“My choices are my own,” he said, his voice gentle.“I would never hold you accountable for the risks I choose to take.”

Something in her expression softened.Her eyes drifted to his injured shoulder, where dried blood had crusted around the tear in his shirt.

“Let me look at that,” Islae said, her voice softer than before.She gestured to a wooden stool.“Sit.”

He curled his tail around the stool, lowering himself to her eye level.The lamp cast warm light across her pale face as she gathered supplies.Her movements were calculated and methodical—a healer’s grace he recognized in himself.

“Remove your shirt,” she instructed, not meeting his eyes as she prepared the antiseptic.

He complied, carefully pulling the torn fabric away from his wound.His scales gleamed in the lamplight, shimmering gold where they tapered down his chest.

She stepped closer, her small hands hovering over his injured shoulder.“This might sting.”

The moment her fingers touched his scales, a jolt of lightning shot through his body.His tail coiled tightly against the floor, every muscle tensing as awareness exploded through his nervous system.The world narrowed to the points where her skin met his scales, and something deep within his soul clicked into place with devastating finality.

Mate.

The recognition hit him like a physical blow.All these years of searching, of feeling incomplete, and she had been here in the shadows of Jorvla.His golden eyes fixed on Islae’s pale face as she worked, memorizing every detail—the slight furrow between her brows as she concentrated, the way she bit her bottom lip between her teeth.

“You’re very tense,” she murmured, dabbing antiseptic along the cut.“Try to relax.”

He forced his muscles to unclench, though every cell in his body screamed to pull her closer, to wrap his tail around her and never let go.The mate bond hummed between them, a symphony she couldn’t hear yet.His scales rippled involuntarily under her touch.

“Sorry,” she said, misinterpreting his reaction.“I know my hands are cold.”

“No,” he managed, his voice rougher than intended.“Your hands are perfect.”

She paused, her brown eyes flicking to his face before quickly looking away.A slight blush colored her cheeks as she reached for the bandages.The sight made his heart stutter.

His mate.His healer.His fierce, independent human who risked everything to help others.Pride and possessiveness warred in his chest as she finished dressing his wound.

Chapter 6

Islae

Islaesecuredthelastbandage over Nirrn’s shoulder wound.Her fingers lingered a little longer than necessary against his smooth orange scales.The contrast between his powerful frame and her small hands made her breath hitch slightly.His bare chest rose and fell steadily, rippling muscles beneath scales that faded to exposed skin at his abdomen.

She turned quickly and busied herself cleaning up the bloodied gauze, trying to ignore how her skin tingled where she’d touched him.The medical supplies he’d brought were spread across her work table—more than she’d seen in months.Top-grade stuff that would cost her a fortune.

“Thank you,” Nirrn said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

She kept her eyes on her task, gathering used supplies.“You’re welcome.”

Why was he here, really?A respected Niri healer from the central surrogacy clinic, risking everything to help her with her illegal operation.It made no sense at all.

But when he had offered to help her after the Jorvlen bounty hunters attacked, something had clicked into place.Like recognizing a piece of herself in him—that same drive to protect and to heal.Her fingers trembled as she dropped the bloodied gauze into the disposal bin.

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