Page 80 of Dark Fey Captive

I nodded, remembering the stores they were talking about from the map Lettie had given me.

“And many infected,” Belak added.

Nav grunted. “We will need to return after breakfast and remove their heads so they can’t hurt you.”

“They won’t,” I said. “I’m here, and they’re there. And if they’re there, they’re keeping the supplies safe for us, too. What about the other stores?”

“The smaller ones had many tools and seeds,” Nav said.

“Seeds are good. Did you bring any?” I asked.

“Yes.” He got up and lifted a bag from the counter.

While the pan heated, I peeked at the contents. The options made my stomach growl. Peas. Beans. Carrots. Lettuce. Turnips. All things I could grow with relative ease. I still wished Kelby were there, though. She was the one who loved to grow things. With her in charge, she would have everyone on the island eating fresh veggies within weeks.

“This is great.”

“Good,” Belak said with relief. “We left some of the same packets at the dock for your friends.”

Turning my back on them, I focused on pouring the reconstituted eggs into the oiled pan along with the diced Spam.

“We found another note when we left the supplies,” Nav said, reaching around me to show me a folded piece of paper.

Heart pounding, I took it from him.

We’re not giving up on you.

“What does it say?” Nav asked. “Did they like the supplies we left? Do they want more?”

“We can bring them a greenhouse, too,” Belak said. “The boxes are too heavy for them to get into their boat without help. I can wait for them.”

“No. I want you to stay here with me.”

He glanced at Nav, who wasn’t looking at me, but at the stove, his expression slightly sad.

“Does the note say they want more supplies?” Belak asked hesitantly.

“It says they miss me.” I balled it up and tossed it in the garbage. “But that I should stay here with you.”

The silence in the kitchen stretched.

“They want you to stay with Belak?” Nav asked, his voice rough.

I glanced at him, saw his anguish, and realized what I’d said.

“No, I meant they want me to stay here with you, Nav. They miss me, but they know I’m safe with you and Belak watching over me.”

His relief was visible. Did he really want me that much? Why? Just because he was lonely? Because he saw some of his other brothers hooking up back in the communities and wanted the same?

When I thought about it like that, it didn’t seem so crazy. Wasn’t that why we humans dated? We were lonely and wanted to find “the one” with whom we’d spend the rest of our lives. Was it so crazy to think Nav would want the same thing after what I heard yesterday?

I plated the eggs, giving them the larger portions, and sat at the table with them.

“Do your friends like to eat this too?” Belak asked. “I could run to get⁠—“

“They miss fresh vegetables the most,” I said, knowing I would need to distract him. “Do you know anything about farming?”

For the next three days, I kept them both busy during the day, turning dirt over in the backyard—it was frozen, thankfully, so it took more effort and shovel repairs to get it done—and building racks for the greenhouse. At night, I kept Nav distracted with naked cuddles. He was really good about waking me up with his face between my thighs before Belak came knocking for breakfast.