Relief rushed past her lips in a quiet sigh, the tension releasing from her shoulders at Vulcan’s words. It hadn’t entirely been a wasteful day.
Almost too quietly for the others to hear, Vulcan spoke again. "This is not the last ti we speak. I am sure, Electa."
Nova’s breath caught, her heart pounding. What did he an by that? They just spoke of peace, surely he didn’t an to try and kidnap her again...? Exhaustion and the heaviness of the day pinned her tongue from speaking.
Vulcan smirked like he’d read her mind. Could everyone by this point? Was she that terrible at concealing her emotions? Nova narrowed her eyes at him slightly. His smirk grew, enjoying her reaction.
Aiyana laid a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. "We’re done here," she murmured.
The three of them turned to leave just as a blur of movent dropped in front of them. Nova was crushed against a chest instantly within seconds. She didn’t even need to inhale his scent or look up to know who it was.
"Took your ti," Atia mused from behind the couple.
The flock still stood by, weapons raised once more at the newcor until Vulcan lifted his hand, commanding them to lower them.
"Nova," Yoa whispered her na along her head, relief flashing through him and crashing into the bond. He hadn’t bothered to look around him, his presence alone warding others off.
The warriors gave them more space, taking a step back while still guarding their new chief.
Yoa pulled back, his eyes scanning over Nova’s injuries. The red of his eyes bled into the gold, darkening as he took in the state of his mate. "I cannot believe you travelled here in this condition," he scolded, then dropped his tone at the weary expression on Nova’s face.
"This needed to be done..." Nova drew her attention back to Ixana’s body, and Yoa followed it, his scowl deepening.
His grip on her shoulders tightened as he instinctively drew her closer, his glare fixed on Vulcan and his flock. "So, it may seem." Turning back to her, his hand cupped her cheek with a tenderness befitting a doll made out of glass. "Let us return ho and tend to these wounds." He let the word ho ring louder, a pointed reminder to Vulcan that she belonged with him and would be leaving at his side.
Nova didn’t care; she only wanted to return ho and curl into him before Tayun demanded her to return to the caves and finish what she started. Yet before she let him carry her away, she stepped back and looked him over, aware that her mate had just been through his own battles today.
His skin was streaked with soot and sweat, the edges of his dark hair damp and curling where the heat had caught him. Faint smudges of ash clung to his jaw and chest, giving him a fierce, untad look, though his golden eyes still burned brighter than the flas he had just faced. His shoulders rose and fell with the weight of exertion, every line of his body radiating raw strength and the lingering scent of smoke and earth.
Nova had to bite her lip. He looked so damn fine.
Yoa smirked at her assessnt and inner thoughts.
"Ho?" His smirk grew as his eyes smouldered down at her, molten with amusent.
"Please," she whispered, reaching her arms up, used to Yoa’s possessive handling whenever another male was nearby, especially one that had already stolen her away before.
Yoa bent over and lifted Nova up with ease, holding her in a bridal carry for once, and not her usual seat on his forearm. She didn’t mind one bit as her head flopped to the side, resting on his chest. Exhaustion and pain pulsed through her body.
"Vulcan," Yoa gave him a curt nod, acknowledging him without warmth or further comntary. His beast flashed montarily in his eyes, reminding Vulcan of his misdeed. He still hadn’t forgiven him, and doubt he ever would, but he could neither avoid Vulcan forever. His bloodlust had cooled, and there was no longer the urge to kill him.
They would have to face each other in the future as Chief and Yiska, and now would be the first step into achieving the uneasy cooperation Tayun demanded of them.
"Yohuali," Vulan curtly nodded back, his gaze lowering to Nova in Yoa’s arms. "Nova."
Yoa’s growl ripped past his lips before he could stop himself. Nova lifted up and stroked his jawline, turning until those golden-red eyes fell onto hers. "Take ho, my Serakai," she whispered, holding his entire attention, smiling softly as his growl rumbled into a purr and he started walking away without another glance in Vulcan’s direction.
She pressed her lips to his, ignoring the weight of Vulcan’s gaze even as the shadows of trees closed in around them.
The jungle swallowed them whole as Yoa carried her, his purr continuing with every step, pleased his attention had been snagged by his mate and not Vulcan. Nova let herself sink into his warmth, her body still aching from Ixana’s talons and the fight she endured.
Yet her mind refused to rest. The bond humd between them, soothing yet restless, as if even Yoa’s beast could sense the storm that lingered ahead. One more day without the final pieces of Tayun’s weaking state being sealed together.
It made her anxious. But what could she do? Her body felt beaten, and for now, she allowed herself to rest against her mate, and recuperate as he carried her ho.
By the ti the treehouse ca into view with the soft magical glow pulsing high above, exhaustion had claid her body. She barely rembered the climb, only the way his arms never faltered, the way his scent, wild, spicy and comforting, wrapped her in safety.
When Yoa finally set her down on the their bedding, she blinked and found him already crouched over a small clay jar, scooping out a dark green paste that slled faintly like goo she used on him all those months ago.
"You don’t need to—" she began, but stopped as his eyes lifted to hers, molten and unwavering.
"I do," he rumbled, dipping his fingers into the salve. "For . Not just you."
She didn’t argue with that.
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