needing to say it. He normally had no problems talking about sex with anyone, except for his own father, but this new information about Lilliana made him feel crass, an odd sensation.
“Andinna love sex. I know.” She gave him a wry smile. “Raised in a temple of Amonora, remember?”
“Yeah…”
“It’s not that I think sex is bad, I just never found anyone I wanted to have it with.”
“No one at all?” Rain repeated, wondering if she really meant that.
“Not a single person,” she confirmed, nodding. “People want sex out of their relationships, so if I can’t give them that…” She shrugged again. Rain found the gesture dismissive. “There’s no reason to think about something like love or marriage.”
Rain slowly nodded as her logic sank in, and he really began to understand this little female.
“Then Leria sent you here, where she expected you to…”
“Yes.” Lily crossed her arms, holding them to her chest as if she needed to fight off a chill. “It’s okay because while her behavior leaves something to be desired, you and Alchan have been very honorable and patient with me. Thank you. When this is all over, I’ll find a new home, and neither of you will be bothered by me again.”
“Do you have any family you want to go back to?” Rain asked, offering his arm again. “We can make sure you do.”
“I don’t have any family. I’m certain I’ve mentioned it, but I was raised in a temple…as an orphan. When they realized I was an ahren, my parents gave me up when I was a baby, and they never came back. Without their names, I don’t know who they are or if I have family left anywhere.” There was sad acceptance radiating from her.
No. No one should have to accept that.
Rain considered not saying anything, but it went against who he was. He hated seeing people alone. He had plenty of love in him and room in his heart to have a big family. It was a gift he could give freely.
This female, just like another he once met, had only known loneliness in her life.
No. No, I can’t let that continue.
“I’ll be your family.”
She stopped walking, and he stopped as well. She looked up, her eyes were wide with surprise.
“What?”
“I’ll be your family,” he said again. Realizing she was shocked and confused, he decided to tell her a quick story. “Once, I met a lonely female in Elliar. She had no one except the legacy of her parents and her own reputation. She had no friends, husbands, or even the simplest of allies. So, I went to her and told her that I would be her ally. I would be her brother. I would be her first and only family if I had to be. She saved my life in that place. Today, she’s Mave Lorren, King’s Champion. She has four husbands; one of them is my father. I don’t like seeing people alone, Lily, so I’m offering…I’ll be your family. Until you find your own, until you don’t need me, or forever. Forever works. I’ll be your family for as long as you’ll have me.”
Blinking back tears, she wiped her eyes, ducking her head low enough to shield her face from him. When she looked back up, her amethyst eyes glittered.
“You do me a great kindness,” she whispered, swallowing back more tears.
“I only do what I think is right,” he said softly. He reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear. “And this is right. You are right. No matter what anyone tells you or their reactions to who you are.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and they started walking again. To lighten the mood, he leaned down and whispered, “Though you should know, I’m only into males, so I can’t really offer all that much.”
“Then we’re in luck because I don’t need to ask for all that much,” she retorted.
They laughed as they walked home together.
17
Mave
“There ya are,” a male purred as Mave fell into her bed of furs. Arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Mave found her face in the chest of a male and a pair of hands roaming her.
“Bryn,” she murmured. “What are you doing here?”
“Takin’ an afternoon nap because I have to go out tonight,” he answered, nuzzling his face into her hair. “Ya?”
“Taking an afternoon nap because someone didn’t let me sleep much last night,” she retorted. His masculine chuckle was one of very little guilt since he was the one who hadn’t