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A rumble moved through him. “Trust me, that didn’t quite go the way I wanted…”
I narrowed my eyes and pushed against his chest to see his face. “What do you mean?”
He sighed, looking troubled and wistful at the same time. “A long time ago, my ancestors used to chase their mekarry through the forests, to stake their claim and to assure they were worthy of their mates and such a bond.”
I stared at him and my slowly clearing mind began to make some kind of sense of his words. “Chase them through the forest?”
He nodded somberly.
I could see a certain allure for a guy in that, but for the girl? All I had felt was fear, confusion, and panic.
Wait, what had he just said?
“Their mekarries?” I asked hoarsely as bubbles seemed to rush through my veins.
“Mekarries, vra,” he repeated, taking my face into both of his hands. His teal eyes bored intensely into mine, underlining his next words. “You are my mekarry.”
I blinked.
It was that simple?
I had finally found the guy who would claim me.
But how did I feel about that?
From the moment I joined Lady Natoi and she explained the whole mekarry thing to me, I had wondered what this moment would be like, had even kind of yearned for it, just to be able to stop being paraded around. Now that this moment was here, I… I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
“I know that you don’t reciprocate those kinds of feelings for me yet, not the way I feel for you, but let me assure you that I would never allow anything to happen to you. You are my mekarry, my heart, my soul. I would rather die than be without you. I’m only sorry it took me so long to realize this.”
His words were sweet, heartfelt, and like a balm to my needy soul. But was that enough?
I thought I would find a guy or a guy would find me, take me away from all this parading around, but I had never allowed myself to think much further on it. Had never allowed myself to think of the guy having feelings for me, whereas I— Wait… I did have feelings for Daryus. I knew I did.
Was that enough though? For what he wanted? Expected?
“You don’t have to say anything yet, but I want you to know that no matter what, you are safe. I will do whatever you ask of me,” Daryus reiterated.
I bit into my lower lip, too confused to answer, everything was too much, just too much.
“I’m sorry if I scared you.” His voice grew more tender, soft and hoarse at the same time.
I sniffed.
“I need… some time… to… think,” I finally managed to get out.
“Of course.” He nodded, pulling me back into his embrace. I let it happen, felt the tip of his chin rest on top of my head, felt the powerful beating of his heart, and yes, the hardness of his cock pressing against my belly.
The chase had aroused him.
I should have been outraged, revolted even. Still, despite my confusion, a part of me understood. His words came back to me, A long time ago, my ancestors used to chase their mekarry through the forests, to stake their claim and to assure they were worthy of their mates and such a bond.
Chasing me had meant for him that he was proving his virility as a warrior, as a mate. My mate.
I had been on this planet long enough to have gained some understanding of their mekarry bond, of our differences. I had studied cultures and their diverseness, so I tried to approach this situation with an open mind, as much as my confused state allowed me. Considering the importance of this chase to him, I understood his arousal and took it for what it was, a compliment of sorts. Even more so that he wasn’t acting upon it. It wasn’t a thanks for not taking me without my full consent kind of thinking, but I did appreciate his tenderness toward me instead of him trying to push his desires on me now. I knew a few men who wouldn’t have acted in such a noble way.
“Let me take you back to my suite,” he finally said when his heart rate had almost returned to normal.
I wasn’t ready for that yet though. “What about Lady Madeema?”
