Page 47 of Healing His Mate

My body protests the moment I start walking away from her, but I ignore it. I must do this.

Until Nalba is willing to let go of her past and see me as a key part of her future, there is nothing left to say.

I arrive at the food hall to find Krahn and Ann-ah in a state of chaos––struggling to keep up with the long line of clan members eager to eat. They seem to be making progress running things, but unless they arrive long before each meal to prep the food, they fall behind. Elle-noor stands off to the side at her dish station, cleaning the dishes as quickly as they are dropped into her bin. Stepping between Krahn and Ann-ah, I help them get through the rush, reminding them of the incredible job they are doing. “This will all be solved soon. You have my word.”

“Really appreciate your help,” Ann-ah says, wiping the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand.

Krahn and I discuss the menu for the next handful of days, adjusting the measurements according to our current roster of people. Once Krahn is comfortable with the methods of preparing each dish, I thank him and grab a piece of petal paper from the stack next to the center fire pit and begin writing notes on it. Then I head off to my next destination.

“Morrivikka, Kaiva,” I greet upon entering the med room. “I have come to see if these bandages are still necessary.”

“Come, come, sweet child,” she says, ushering me to one of the beds.

Aye-vah strides over as Kaiva takes off the last remaining bandage on my neck, and sucks in a breath at the sight of my skin. “It’s healed so much already! That’s amazing!”

“It is indeed,” Kaiva agrees. “You do not need to keep the skin covered any longer. It will be good for the burns to be exposed to the air.”

Precisely as I had hoped. “That is joyous news.”

“You should be totally healed within a day. Maybe two, at most,” Aye-vah adds.

“I thank you for your assistance,” I call over my shoulder as I head for the door.

Bruvix and Vye-let are stepping out the front door of Varrek’s home as I leave Kaiva’s med room. “Ah, Waldric. You are ready to depart?” Bruvix asks.

Vye-let gasps at the sight of my skin. “Holy shit, are you okay? What happened?” But before I can answer, she’s shaking her head and covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. That’s the opposite of how a person should react, and it’s none of my business.”

I stop her before she can continue her guilty babbling. “It is fine, Vye-let,” I assure her. “Your concern is appreciated. My skin was burned in an explosion. I am healing, and these shall disappear soon.”

She visibly relaxes and offers me a warm smile. “I’m glad.”

“Where are your things?” Bruvix asks at the sight of my empty hands.

“I must admit, I am not quite ready. It will take me no time at all to pack, however.” I gesture toward the break in the trees at the edge of the path. “Go to the ship. I shall meet you there shortly.”

“Very well,” Bruvix replies, guiding Vye-let in the right direction.

I race home and do not stop until I reach my bedroom. Pulling a few tunics and pairs of pants from my stack, I toss them in a soft, rectangular sack and swing it over my shoulder. When I get back downstairs, Lahkzo’s eyes meet mine as he leans against the front door.

“I am sorry for the pain I have caused you, brother,” he says, more emotion in his voice than I have ever heard. “I did not know your heart beats for Nalba. Had I known, I would not have continued mating with her.”

“It is fine,” I say. “I understand your arrangement with her was limited to physical release. I hold no grudge toward you.”

He huffs a breath, leaning his head against the door. “That is delightful to my ears.” Then his head snaps up with haste. “She is not your inara, correct?”

“No, Lahkzo. She is not.” I stride toward him, lowering my voice to a growl. “If she were, and you allowed her into your room without alerting me to her drunken state, your cock would be lying on the floor,” I point to the spot next to my foot, “right there, surrounded by a pool of blood––severed cleanly from your body.”

“Understood,” he replies, following an audible gulp. “It is what I would do as well . . . if I had an inara.”

Lahkzo? With an inara? I am not convinced he is capable of that kind of intense love.

We exchange nods, a sign of peace between us, and he steps aside as I leave.

Lahkzo’s apology sticks in my mind as I make one final stop. Perhaps he is more than I give him credit for. Perhaps he is not the only one I underestimate.

Hope surges in my chest at the latter. However, I do not have time for hope. I must get going. I continue to stand outside Nalba’s shop, my hand hovering over the door handle as I summon the courage to enter.

No matter how much I long to see her face, to dry the tears that fell earlier and hold her in my arms, offering her my utmost devotion for the rest of my days, I cannot bring myself to open the door.

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