for our unicorn here, we would have had the door slammed in our face. I have to hand it to her—she tried her damnedest to talk him into leaving us outside. I don’t think she really believed that you are his ahandral until the very last,” he adds thoughtfully. “It’s a shame I stepped out and missed half the show. You are turning out to be a very entertaining human.”
“Thanks, I think,” I mutter as I snuggle closer against Eliph.
He’s wonderfully warm. He really would make a wonderful snuggle buddy on a cold night if it was at possible to ignore that surge of desire in my belly or the tingle of interest between my legs. One thing is for sure: this world isn’t any warmer at night than it is at home. I turn my face into his arm and yawn again.
“Fuck, I’m tired,” I sigh around another jaw-cracking yawn.
“You’ve been sleeping off and on for most of the day. It takes a little time to recover,” my mate murmurs softly. “Just sleep and you will feel better in the morning when we head out.”
“Okay, that sounds good. How far away are we, anyway?” I mumble.
“A great many days to the southeast by my estimation,” Eliph replies as he strokes my hair.
It feels so good that I melt against him. Usually, I hate when people touch my hair without permission as if they have a right to do so, but with him, I don’t mind so much. I don’t even care that my carefully styled curls are getting mussed as his magic fingers get to work. Regardless, I’m pretty much resigning myself to having wild curls going every which way no matter what I do, so I might as well enjoy it.
I nuzzle my cheek against his palm and settle against him.
“Don’t worry,” Grimsal pipes up. “I will be around to make sure these next several days are eventful. Traveling is always an adventure with a red cap goblin in your company!”
“Oh joy,” I mutter and smile, and I feel Eliph’s chest vibrate with laughter beneath me as he hugs me to him.
I suppose if there were perks to this mating thing, this would be one of them, I admit to myself drowsily.
Chapter 14
Eliph
Having my mate at my side while the naga shamelessly attempted to seduce me in front of her strains my patience nearly to the breaking point. Although attracting females is an integral part of the unicorn’s nature, the more I’m around other unmated females, the more I dislike it...especially now. Never have I more loathed being a unicorn than I do when I seem unable to escape a persistent female’s interest. With my ahandral in my arms, it is even more disconcerting, making my tail twitch with an edgy nervousness. Worse, with my mate’s fear of riding and the need to adjust her to it gradually, this will not be an isolated incident.
I feel cursed right at this moment. I would give anything to be like so many other males in the world and be able to sweep my female into my arms and court her in any lengthy manner which she deserves. Without worrying about strange females trying to snare my attention.
No wonder so many of my species remain within their grottos. It is also clear why our mated males prefer to trade with often ill-tempered elves. Female elves have a natural resistance to unicorn magic. Sanctuary in an elven forest would certainly be preferable right now to staying overnight in a naga’s inn.
Truthfully, it is tempting to stay away from inhabited areas altogether to avoid further irritations, but I won’t sacrifice my mate’s comfort for mine. Not that she looked any happier with the naga’s behavior. If it weren’t for the goblin stepping in and deterring the female with his overt interest, I don’t know what I would have done. Every protest fell on deaf ears, and my temper had been fraying. The only thing that kept me from being hostile toward her advances was the fact that I desired for my ahandral to have a warm, comfortable place to rest after her ordeal with the void.
Sliding the lock into place, Grimsal smirks as he drops into a nearby chair. He taps his upper lip with his finger contemplatively, cocking his head.
“You know, that worked quicker than I expected. I am now half-wondering if I shouldn’t feel slighted at how fast she fled. Do you think I ought to give chase…? She may be