Page 252 of Halfblood Deceived

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Aella finished showering first.

Zeydan found her curled on her side in her bed, dressed in a fluffy cardigan and leggings. The soft blue light of a night lamp near the floor made her look paler than he would have liked, but she was still gorgeous. Her room was clean and tidy. There was a small desk next to her dresser, where she had two laptops. Including the one Evan had gifted her. On her nightstand, she had the picture Evan had taken of them both during her birthday party in a silver frame. Zeydan smiled. He really looked smitten as fuck, but so did Aella.

“My PJs look good on you,” Aella said with a smile.

Zeydan chuckled, looking down at the gray sweats and white shirt Aella had lent him. Despite being oversized for her, the sweats were a couple inches too short, and the t-shirt barely reached the waistband.

His skin pricked pleasantly, and he realized Aella was staring at his abdomen.

She flushed when she realized she’d been caught. “I, um, is that a tattoo?”

“Yes, do you want to see it?”

Aella’s throat bobbed. “Yes.”

Zeydan removed the T-shirt and tossed it onto her desk chair.

Aella’s eyes widened. She inhaled sharply, gray eyes roaming his torso and abdomen with open appreciation. “I’ve been missing out.” She placed her hand over her mouth and groaned. “Oh, my gods. You broke my filter.”

Zeydan’s shoulders shook with laughter. “You’re welcome to stare and touch as much as you like. It’s only fair.” He turned slowly so she could see the way the tattoo expanded onto his back.

“It’s a wolf made of flourishes and runes!” Aella exclaimed.

Zeydan stayed put for a minute to let her have a good look and then sat on the bed. “Asilda, one of Mother’s wives, did it for me when Gabby and I stayed with them for a while some decades ago.”

Aella reached out a hand tentatively.

Zeydan placed her hand on his hip.

She bit her lip and trailed the curves of the tattoo up to his side. Tingles spread over his skin, and he tilted his head back reflexively.

“You are beautiful,” Aella said.

Zeydan’s lips flickered. “Thank you. May I get in the bed?”

She nodded.

He lay on his stomach, turning his head to watch Aella watch him.

Lip caught between her teeth, she traced the contours of the tattoo with gentle fingers. Her brow furrowed when she felt the bevel and depressions of the scars the artful ink concealed.

“What happened to you?” Aella whispered.

Zeydan took a bracing breath. “Ju-long commanded his enforcers, Gabby and me included, to slaughter an entire village. Most had no qualms about committing mass murder, but Gabby and I couldn’t stomach it. We got Astrid, my mother, out of Ju-long’s domain, and then we defended the village from Ju-long’s assassins while the people escaped.” He closed his eyes for a moment, screams echoed in his head. He could see the bodies of those he killed and those he couldn’t save, and smell their blood.

Aella ran her palm soothingly up and down his back.

Zeydan swallowed hard and met those beautiful, sad eyes again. “We lost. I shifted and tore apart many of his enforcers, the males I’d known all my life, but I wasn’t as powerful as Ju-long back then. I’m not sure I am now, to be honest. Gabby is a fierce warrior. But she was too young. We both were. We fell, and we were dragged back to Ju-long’s domain. Gabby and I were resigned to torture and death at first, but then we realized Ju-long had found my mom.” Zeydan’s stomach twisted.

Aella’s eyes widened with horror. She carded her fingers through his hair and caressed his spine with her knuckles in long, soothing motions.

Zeydan gulped. “He tortured her in front of us, and then us in front of her. I was convinced we’d die. I nearly lost my mind. But then Kamilla and Kerian arrived. They saved us.”

“I’m glad,” Aella said. “I’m so glad that Gabby, your mom, and you survived. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t met you.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “No, that’s not true. I can imagine. It would be miserable.” She wrinkled her freckled nose. “That sounds selfish, doesn’t it?”

Zeydan placed a lock of damp hair behind her ear. “Not to me. I am glad that you survived. That you have the spirit of a true warrior. And that you have a brave, huge heart that led you to want to protect my family and me despite our less-than-ideal first encounter. I can also envision my life without you, but I like it a thousand times better with you in it.”

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