Page 93 of Dark Fey Captive

I slowly sat on the couch in disbelief. I had to be wrong. Yet, as I thought back on all the things he’d said and all the things I’d overheard over the last few days, it rang true. Yes, they were looking for females. Yes, they wanted sex. But more than anything, they wanted forever. They cooked. They cleaned. They pampered. Hell, I had a stockpile of pads, tampons, chocolate, and freeze-dried ice cream in the basement. And that big softie had apologized that all the frozen stuff was bad and then promised to get milk from the “communities” to make me real stuff if I needed it. I’d thought he’d been lying.

But nope.

He hadn’t lied about anything. He’d been honest with me the whole time, thinking we were what? Dating? And I’d been…using him.

Wincing, I tipped my head back in regret.

How did I apologize for that? A simple, “I’m sorry,” wasn’t going to cut it. Standing, I hurried to the kitchen and wrenched open the door so hard that it banged off the cabinet.

Nav looked up from the dirt he was already shoveling, his expression somewhat despondent.

“I’ve never been in a healthy relationship,” I blurted.

He blinked and straightened a little more.

Taking that as a good sign, I pushed forward.

“The type of guys I dated before everything imploded were users. They only wanted me for sex. It was…normal, I guess. Not what I wanted, but always what I ended up with. You’d think I would get smarter, right? Watch for red flags? The hints of indifference or selfishness? I think I just found ones who were better at hiding it. Before the end, I stopped expecting anything more than being used.

“I know you’re not human, but human men are all I know. I didn’t understand, Nav. And I’m sorry.”

“What didn’t you understand?”

Was he really going to make me say it?

“That you were never trying to use me. That you want a real relationship. That you’re one of the safe ones who isn’t out for a quick lay but wants a partner for life.”

He looked down at the shovel, and I would have given anything to know what he was thinking.

“Can we start over? Please?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

NAV

Please.

The word ripped through me. When she said that, I wanted to give her anything she asked for. But I couldn’t. She didn’t actually want me.

He seems content enough with me…

Trading sex for food doesn’t bother me.

Better me than any of you.

She wanted safety for herself and her friends.

“We don’t need to start over,” I said. “Tonight, Belak and I will bring more supplies to the dock. Tomorrow, when your family returns, you can go with them. Belak and I can keep moving supplies to the dock until⁠—”

She ran down the steps, her expression filled with fear. She didn’t slow when she neared, but collided with my chest. I dropped the shovel to catch her.

“No,” she said against my skin. “I don’t want to leave. Please don’t make me leave.”

I sighed.

“We can find a vehicle for you to drive, if you⁠—”

She reached up and covered my mouth.