mine, I nod my agreement. I know he probably thought all bets were off between the two of us because I got Borak punished. My new beau is real quick to set him straight about that.
His face looks he just sucked on a lemon, but he does take a step back. “Enjoy your meal. I have other matters to attend to this day.” He takes another step back and then another, as if he is backing away from actual royalty. It leaves me more confused than ever. I don’t know if Kryos is just being weird or I’m missing some important aspect of their social interaction. Then again, maybe I’m just overthinking everything.
Borak brings a bit of food to my lips, and I eat. “He wishes to be selected for mating by you.”
Anger spikes in my gut. “Look, I know he’s your friend and all, but I’m having a hard time navigating a relationship with one male. I don’t need two to worry about. If you’re thinking there’s a chance the three of us are going to live happily ever after, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
Borak makes a noise that seems like strained wry laughter. “You know nothing of old blood warriors if you think we would share a keep, much less a mate.”
I relax a little, glad that option is off the table. “He’s been really persistent about talking to me.”
“I will fix that. Do you mind if I asked what happened in the five days I lay sleeping that focused his attention upon you?”
I begin eating again, thinking it over. “The morning after your punishment I took Miss Amber to the old temple to retrieve the rest of the harmonics. We were attacked by the Sonarians. Long story short, our prisoner and the shifter came barreling through the place. Once they found out we weren’t their enemy and they had a Sonarian queen on the way to take possession of them, they just kind of laid around arguing amongst themselves. It was really weird, but I don’t know much about their species so maybe that’s normal. They weren’t in as bad a shape as the ones we encountered, so maybe their thought processes were more organized.”
Borak looks like he’s about to blow a gasket, and I can guess why. I hold out one hand in a placating gesture. “Trust me, it sounds a lot more dangerous than it actually was. Anyway, Kryos was commanding the troops that came to back us up. I teamed up with him to investigate where the Sonarians were being held. The Moltan base was a total loss, because the Sonarians had managed to escape, and in their half-starved condition, they unleashed their rage on their captors, eating most of them. It was a little traumatic, and he’s been hovering ever since. I didn’t accept any of the dozen or so gifts he tried to give me because I didn’t want to send him mixed messages.”
Borak sighs and takes a long drink of his sim-caffeine before speaking. “You have done nothing wrong. My warrior’s pride is stung to realize you faced danger without me at your side. I know you are a capable warrior in your own right, so I have no cause to feel this way. If you are drawn to danger in the future, I would consider it an honor if you asked me to join you.”
“I’ve told you repeatedly that I don’t need a protector.” It’s hard not to feel some kind of way about this conversation.
“This I well know. The problem is, you are in my heart and I need to protect you in order to feel good about myself.”
A slow smile spreads over my face. “That’s messed up, but I understand. I still worry over Chantel although I know she can handle herself in a fight.”
His hand reaches out to mine. “I thank you for understanding. This need to protect was built into our DNA, and try as I might, I cannot chase it away.”
We eat up the last of his fine food, working together with our pinchers to tear the berry pancakes into bite-sized pieces. It’s relaxing to spend time with Borak. He’s got a nice manner about him. I’m drawn to his sense of humor and his inner peace.
When we stand to leave, I can tell he’s feeling all kinds of possessive of me. Although I suspect he wants to, Borak doesn’t dare wrap me under his wing like his son does Chantel. I meet him halfway