Page 347 of Halfblood Deceived

“And are you delighted?” Aella asked.

Zeydan gently took her hands in his. “I am. Cheesy as it may sound, we are stronger together as one clan. One family.”

Aella nodded and cleared her throat. “Good. Yeah, I agree.”

He tilted his head. “What has got you so nervous? Is everything alright?”

She bit her lip. “Yeah. I just—I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yes?” he prompted.

Aella opened her mouth, then closed it. “Would you… um…” Nope. I can’t do it. I can’t. I’m such a prude. She groaned, placing her forehead against Zeydan’s shoulder. “Why is this harder than fighting over a dozen gargoyles all by myself?”

Zeydan ran his palm up and down her spine soothingly. “No idea. You can ask me anything you want.” He drew idle circles with his thumb over her pulse point. “Anything.”

Aella swallowed hard and pulled back to meet his gaze. “You know what I want to ask, don’t you? You tease.”

He grinned. “I wouldn’t dare presume.”

“Uh-huh.”

He grew serious, cradling her face with one hand. “We don’t have to rush. I want you to have no regrets or second thoughts. I need you to let me know what you’re comfortable with. And we’ll stop whenever you want to stop.”

She sighed. Her tension melted away at his reassurance. “Or if you want to stop.”

“Doubtful.” He winked. “But yes, of course.”

Aella licked her lips. “But, erm, do you want to… you know?” You know? You know?! Somebody kill me now.

Zeydan chuckled. “Still unconvinced? I think I’m going to have to do better, then. If having my head between your legs twice hasn’t persuaded you yet—”

A low, needy growl reverberated in Aella’s throat. She had her arms around his neck and her mouth on his in a blink.

Zeydan smiled against her lips and kissed back, pressing her closer to his body.

How could I ever be afraid of this? She wondered. Of him? Of us? Nothing has ever felt so right. Nothing.

“I love it when you pounce on me,” he said when they paused to breathe.

Aella sank her fingers into his silky hair, kissing his cheeks, the edge of his jaw, and the corner of his mouth. “You are lucky I love you so much, you horrible tease.” Her eyes widened as she realized what had just come out of her mouth.

Zeydan examined her flushed face with jade eyes full of something awed, relieved, and utterly joyful. “You love me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Aella asked, genuinely curious.

He smiled. “I don’t like to assume things.”

She half shrugged. “Well, me neither.”

Zeydan brushed the tip of his nose against hers. “In that case, I love you, too. I’ve loved you for a long while now, my beautiful, fierce, adorable Amazon.”

Aella’s heart pumped faster. Her chest and throat were so full of joy. It spilled from her in a soft laughter full of relief. Her eyes prickled with happy tears. “How long is a long while?”

Zeydan hummed, kissing away a tear that ran down her cheek. “I admitted it aloud and to myself after that morning when you told me you wanted to be with me. But looking back, since that first time I carried you downstairs to share a meal with all of us. I didn’t want to let you go. You felt so perfect in my arms.”

Aella smiled, feeling warm from the inside out. “I was so confused. So lost and hurt, but I felt safe in your arms.”

He closed his eyes for a second, breathing deeply. “I feel safe in your arms too, Aella.”

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