Page 11 of Healing His Mate

Images of the past several days flip through my mind, following Elle-noor’s suggestions to attempt a different approach each time I delivered Nalba’s meals: me with my mane down and freshly combed, me wearing a pair of Varrek’s significantly tighter pants, telling Nalba how lovely her mane looks, telling her I had a strange dream about her running naked past my home and describing it in vivid detail, offering bottles of ale that I hand-selected to complement the meal, and the most humiliating of all, bumping into her with a mug of water in hand and pretending to accidentally pour it all over my tunic.

Elle-noor was certain that would work. It did not. I wince at the memory of how Nalba looked at me––soaking wet inside her shop, pressing the fabric into my stomach muscles––like I was a complete fool.

Elle-noor crosses her arms over her chest in a huff. “You can’t just be like, ‘Nalba, I wanna kiss the crap out of your face. Let’s give this a shot’?”

“No,” I reply. “I cannot.”

“Why?”

“I just . . . cannot,” I reply. I do not tell Elle-noor about the day, many years ago on Trovilia, when I baked my firstveergahsaon my own.My mother had been teaching me every dish she knew how to prepare when I returned home between warrior training sessions. We took the veergahsa to the market to see if the local baker would be interested in selling it at his stall.

He agreed and said he would split the credits with me. I was elated. The battlefield did not settle my soul, but the kitchen did. Being able to prepare meals and bake sweet treats between missions with Varrek’s crew kept me going until the next time I returned to the kitchen. Longer missions with the crew kept me from my passion, and eventually, I was far too engrossed in the friction between King Muryk and Varrek to cook anything at all.

As we were leaving the market that day, long ago, I spotted Nalba. She was following Yignnuf, her mentor, along with his other apprentices. He was a cold man. Arrogant. Miserable and intent on making those around him miserable as well. I never liked him.

Brilliance means nothing if your soul is a twisted heap of rot.

Yignnuf was buying food at another stall when he stopped to describe the techniques Trovilia’s farmers use to grow their crops, and how our local cooks turned the crops into delicious meals for us to eat. One of his apprentices, I am not sure which, asked if cooking was considered a respectable trade. Yignnuf laughed, and loudly proclaimed, “If you lack intelligence, it is.”

His apprentices laughed and wholeheartedly agreed. All of them. Nalba too.

That exchange has not dampened my desire for her, but I have not forgotten it.

“I am starting to wonder if it is time to put an end to these foolish games,” I say as my gaze lands on the table of six human females Queen Ekoya sent to us. They laugh together as they eat their meals. One of them even waves hello to me when she catches me staring. Ann-ah, I think her name is.

A part of me was terrified to lay my eyes upon them in the chance that one of them was my inara. I did not want confirmation that what I feel for Nalba is a wasted fantasy. Another part of me, however, hoped to feel the tether for one of the humans. Then, my problems would be solved. My focus would shift entirely to wooing one of them, and over time, perhaps they would return my love. I wipe my hands on the rag I keep wrapped around my belt during mealtimes, and say, “I have tried everything to hold her attention. It is done.”

Perhaps it is time to give up.

“I am here to assist with middle meal,” Krahn says as he enters the food hall. He has assisted me with each meal shift since I began my pursuit of Nalba and has enjoyed it immensely.

“I thank you, Krahn, but you are not needed for this meal,” I tell him as the Hexrins and the elders get in line for food.

His face falls at my words, and I feel horrid. He is set to leave shortly for a hunting trip, but if I still require his help, he would be allowed to stay. I know that is what he desires.

“Why don’t you try one more time?” Elle-noor suggests as she dries her hands and appears ready to leave her station. “Really pay attention to how she responds. See if she gives you any signals at all that she’s interested. If not, then you can move on.”

“I do not understand what Elle-noor speaks of, but I agree,” Krahn adds, so he can stay and avoid his hunting trip.

I chuckle and pat him on the back as I reach for a plate to fill for Nalba. “Very well. I will try once more,” I tell them.

Elle-noor slaps her palm against mine and wishes me luck as she heads toward the falls.

Krahn and I work in companionable silence as we feed the rest of the clan, tuck the remaining servings into the cold box beneath the back counter, and prepare the space for final meal. Taking a moment to wipe the cooking powder and viiki spread off my hands, and also my neck––how did that get there?––I make my way to Nalba’s shop with a plate piled high with her favorite snack.

I find two large tr’gory pups sitting outside the front door––one of them Stahn-lee and the other’s name I cannot recall––which means Elle-noor is here, and maybe Bruvix as well. There is shouting inside, but it does not deter me.

“Greetings! I have food!” I say, entering with a smile. Striding through the room full of people, I keep my eyes trained on Nalba. “Your favorite, Nalba. Junasii bread with herbs baked in and sweet viiki spread for dipping.”

Her cheeks are streaked with tears, but at the sight of food, her expression brightens. She steps toward me and takes a bite, then moans with her eyes pinched shut. The sound jolts my cock to attention, setting my skin ablaze with need.

The moment she swallows, her eyes fly open. “Wait!” she yells, dropping the rest of the bread back onto the plate I am still holding in my hands. She rushes to the metal table behind Cloh-ee and begins digging through a basket beneath it. “I remember. I remember!” she shouts. She pulls out an item that has a curled hook at the bottom of a long wooden handle and grabs Cloh-ee’s arm. “Everyone out! Cloh-ee, I need you to note this finding.”

She remembered something. Because of . . . me. Because of the food I made. My chest puffs with pride at what I have given her.

Elle-noor, Bruvix, Aye-vah, and Kaiva attempt to leave in a hurry when Cloh-ee says, “Hold up! I’m afraid I can’t stay. I have to check on Vahla.” She looks pleadingly at Bruvix and Elle-noor. “But perhaps one of you cou–”

“I shall stay,” I offer before Cloh-ee can finish speaking. Putting down the plate of bread, I pull out my screen pad. “It would be an honor . . . to provide assistance, Nalba,” I add, a new plan taking shape in my head.

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