Page 31 of Bred By Zyros
The mating.
Okay. So, is it a reaction to his seed? Is this normal for his people? I take the canteen, my hands shaking as I gulp it down in a few giant swigs, my throat and tongue properly wet for the first time in— “How long was I asleep?”
“A week.”
“A week?!” I try to calm my breathing. “Is this normal?”
His grip on me tightens, so I sink into him, my chest loosening an itch with his touch. It’s then that I put substance to the odd feeling in my chest. Itfeelslikehim.
It’s okay, he’s got me. I’m okay.
“Melody…it is not my seed that made you sick, it was my venom.”
“You bit me.” It’s not a question or an accusation, just…recognition. I remember now, it had hurt for a second, then it felt…God, it felt unbelievable. I’d bit him too, although I’m not venomous.
“Come, you need to rest, to eat. I’ve been so worried.”
All the breath whooshes from my lungs. “No, I want you to explain to me what’s happening to me.” I push away from him, not to get away, but to show him how freaked out I am, to let him know I’m being serious. The look in his eyes sinks my heart into my stomach.
“I recognized you as my mate that very first day. It was faint, but it was there. I thought I could ignore—”
“Your mate.” I echo, cutting him off, disbelief clear in my voice. Goosebumps break over my flesh, butterflies filling my gnawing, empty stomach.
“I-I am sorry the universe matched you to me.”
I rear back like he’s slapped me. The next words that leave my mouth shock us both. “There is no one better.” I don’t try to say it, but I mean it. It feels so right, my bones strengthen at the pure thought as I take a deep breath, my clothing smelling a little damp and musty but clean. He’s cared for me all this time. His tail guides me as I take a few steps, trying to calm myself. A silly, goofy smile threatens to overwhelm my face. “Okay, so what now? I mean, this changes things, right?”Oh god, why am I so happy about that?Fuck, my head hurts so bad.
My cheeks heat, my heart finally having permission to feel…everything. “So, do we…I mean…we can work this out? It’s notlike…can I extend my contract? Oh! Only if you want. If not, I totally—”
“Sssaryth…” He cuts off my rambling, making me stop my wobbly pacing. He’s risen from the ground, but his face is…grave. Severe. Lead weighs down the butterflies, their wings weakening. “You cannot leave.”
“Well, yeah…I mean, this is unexpected, but I’m happy. I mean I knew it was always a risk. I want to make it work—”
“Listen to me, female. Youcannotleave me.”
I stare at him, not understanding.
When he swallows hard, the butterflies continue to wither under the weight, slowly at first, then all of a sudden, he levels his moon burst slitted eyes on mine. “I bit you. My people, we call it venom-touched. My kind recognizes mates, but we rarely act on it. Mates are ignored, or killed.” His hands clench, his claws digging into his palms so hard I wish I could unravel them, but I don’t move. “Or they are venom-touched, it…bindsus.” He meets my eyes again. When I don’t respond, he continues, and each word makes a knot build around my heart, squeezing it like a vice. “Mates cannot separate or they will suffer withdrawal.Younow require my venom to stay alive, and I requireyou. If you separate from me, it will kill us both.”
I stare at him, my mind reeling as a new feeling builds in my stomach, like I’ve been punched, as I catch up. "You knew the whole time, but you didn’t bite me until the ceremony.”
“Sssaryth…”
“You chose this…for us?”
“Melody, there are things—”
“Could. You. Help. It?”
“Yes,” he hisses. “With mates, the compulsion is strong but…not impossible to ignore.”
I nod. A sudden ringing fills my ears. My legs are shaky as I walk past him, stepping over his tail as I head into my chamber.My stomach gnaws with hunger, my body weak and…changed as I stumble around searching for the Zytheron crystal. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not going to use it. But the weight of this feels heavier than I can grasp at the moment. My body is on autopilot.
“Female…” he warns as I slip past him, back into the main chamber.
I whirl, almost making myself fall. It’s only then that I feel the tears streaming down my cheeks, my voice breaking on a sob. “You willnotfollow me.”
The look in his eyes nearly makes me falter. “Venom-touched or not, I willalwaysfollow you.”
