Page 18 of Naga Healer's Mate

Islae slipped into the small chamber, her mind whirling.The narrow bed pressed against the rough stone wall, barely wide enough for one person, let alone someone of Nirrn’s size.She sat on its edge, running her fingers over the worn blanket.

Everything had changed so fast.Her clinic, her life’s work, was reduced to nothing this morning.Yet somehow having Nirrn by her side through it all today, she didn’t feel as devastated as she should.His presence had become an anchor, his unwavering support filling a void she hadn’t known existed.

The soft scrape of scales against stone announced his arrival.He ducked his head to enter the low doorway, his large form filling the small space.

“Are you feeling better?”His golden eyes searched her face.“I can return to the city if you need more time alone.”

Islae shook her head.“Stay.You need rest, too.”

He hesitated for a moment, his tail coiling with uncertainty as he glanced at the narrow bed.“The bed is small.”

“We’ll manage.”She shifted toward the wall, making space for him.

His massive form settled beside her, his scales gleaming in the dim lamplight.The mattress dipped under his weight, forcing her closer to the wall.Heat radiated from his body, and his unique scent—something like sun-warmed stone and healing herbs—wrapped around her.

She lay on her side, facing the wall, hyper-aware of every movement behind her.His tail curled carefully around the bed’s edge, and she felt his warm breath against her neck.Her muscles tensed at his proximity.

“I won’t hurt you,” he murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion.

“I know.”And she did know, with a certainty that should have frightened her.

As minutes passed, Nirrn’s breathing deepened and evened out.The steady rhythm seeped into her bones, melting away her tension.His presence at her back felt like a shield against the world, and since losing her family, a true peace settled over her.She let her eyes drift closed, surrendering to the unexpected comfort of having someone to lean on.

Islae jerked awake, her heart pounding in her chest.The screams from her nightmare still echoed in her mind—her mother’s desperate plea, her father’s final shout, her little sister’s terrified cry.The memory of that night fifteen years ago ripped through her with savage clarity: the Jorvlen raiders breaking down their door, the flash of weapons, and the spray of blood.

Her chest heaved as she fought for breath in the darkness.The rough stone walls of their refuge chamber pressed in around her and sweat dampened her shirt.She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the images, but they kept coming—her sister’s small hand going limp in hers, her mother’s eyes glazing over, and her father’s body crumpled on the floor.

A warm hand pressed against her back, solid and real, anchoring her to the present.

“You are safe,” Nirrn murmured, his deep voice cutting through the remnants of her nightmare.He shifted closer, his scaled chest pressing against her back.The heat of his body seeped through her thin shirt, chasing away the cold sweat of fear.

Instead of pulling away as she usually did when anyone got too close, Islae turned to face him.His golden eyes gleamed with concern.Without thinking, she pressed her forehead against his chest, where smooth skin met iridescent scales.His heartbeat thundered, steady and strong, against her skin.

“I couldn’t save them,” she whispered into his chest.The words she’d never spoken aloud tumbled out.“I wanted to fight back, but I was too weak.Too small.”

Nirrn’s strong arms wrapped around her, one hand cradling the back of her head while his tail wrapped protectively around their shared bed.“You were only a child,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.“The fault lies with the monsters who murdered them, not with you.”

Her fingers curled against his chest as tears finally broke free after fifteen years of holding them back.His scales were smooth beneath her fingertips, warm and alive, so different from the cold memories haunting her.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured into her hair.“You’re not alone now.”

For the first time since that terrible night, Islae let herself break.She let someone else shoulder some of her pain, let someone else be strong while she crumbled.And Nirrn held her through it all, his body wrapped around hers like armor protecting her from anything that dared to harm her.

Her tears gradually subsided, leaving behind a peculiar sense of calmness.His arms remained wrapped around her, his scaled chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that somehow matched her own heartbeat.The warmth radiating from his body chased away the lingering chill of her recurring nightmare.

His tail shifted slightly, coiling more securely around her feet, and she found herself tracing the pattern of scales along his biceps with her fingertips.The texture fascinated her—smooth and warm where scales met skin.

“Sleep,” he murmured, his deep voice vibrating through his chest against her cheek.“You’re safe.”

She should have protested at his protective tone, should have insisted she didn’t need a guardian.Instead, she pressed closer, breathing in his unique scent.

“Why does this feel so…” She struggled to find the right words, her voice barely a whisper.“So familiar?”

His hand stroked her back, the gesture both protective and possessive.“Because some things are written in our souls.”

The thought should have terrified her, but instead it sent a warm flutter through her chest.She had spent so long building walls, determined to never need anyone again.Yet here she was, curled against a Niri male she’d known for barely a day, feeling more at home than she had in fifteen years.

He shifted, his scales gleaming in the faint light as he adjusted his position to better shelter her.The raw power in his movements contrasted sharply with the gentle way he cradled her.

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