Emins’ Mate(52)

“I don’t need advice,” Solar said. He kept his eyes resolutely on the fire. What he needed was to gouge his own eyes out so he didn’t have to watch the moonlight over Zara’s hair. He didn’t let himself look at Zara again. He didn’t have to look to know how she looked in the firelight. How the firelight made her pale skin glow golden. How the dancing flames caught in her wide gray eyes and made them sparkle. How she seemed to look everyone in the eye but him. How she laughed at the jokes of his comrades. Rested her hands on their shoulders or elbows.

It was ridiculous to be jealous. He should be grateful that he made her uncomfortable. If she were sweet and warm to him the way she was to the other Surgeres, then he definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the pull she had over him. As it was, her skittish behavior suited him just fine. It just so happened to irritate the hell out of him.

Solar’s eyes narrowed as Carlos sat down next to Zara. He concentrated on the young pledge’s face instead of hers. The boy looked nervous, exhilarated to be sitting next to her. Solar watched as Carlos tipped some of the fruit from his plate onto Zara’s plate. Zara smiled up at him and popped a grape into her mouth. Both Carlos and Solar watched her chew it. They both saw the glisten of the fruit juice on her lips. Watched those plump lips curve into a smile. But the difference was that the smile was directed at Carlos. And he accepted it wholeheartedly as he sat next to her, subtly leaning his shoulder into hers as they watched the flames dance. And Solar watched from across the fire. Frustrated.

It was of little consolation that she didn’t want Carlos. Carlos didn’t get to have her. But then again, neither did Solar. And in the meantime, Carlos got to receive her sweetness, her laugh, her comfortable companionship. And Solar just unsettled her.

An image of her passed before his eyes. Laying under him on the floor of his hut. Her mouth open in shock. Her deep gray eyes flashing with something. Looking him right in the eye. The way he always wanted her to. Her soft body crushed under his. Their hips pressed together. One of her legs laced with his. Her hair spread out around them like a fan.

He forced the image out of his mind. His body would never forget that moment. But he was a man of deep control. He could keep himself from dwelling on it.

Abruptly, he stood up from his seat. He’d had enough for tonight. She hadn’t hit her fertility season yet. She wasn’t his responsibility yet.

Or was she? He turned away from the fire but froze in place. Solar narrowed his eyes as Rafael sat down on Zara’s other side. He had a flower for her. Carlos frowned at Rafael but didn’t say anything.

Solar swept his eyes across the campfire. It was an unusually crowded night. Most nights at least half of the camp was in bed by this time. But, sure enough, every single unmated male was sitting around the fire.

Solar felt a cold fury rise in him. She was ten days out from her fertility, approximately - dragon shifters never knew quite when it would happen - and already they were all circling her.

Solar’s eyes turned back to Zara and this time he really looked. She was smiling, sure. But there wasn’t any real joy. In between smiles, she was glancing around at the group of twenty or so men around the fire. Most of the women had gone off to bed already. Almost as abruptly as Solar had, Zara rose and took a few steps away from the fire.

Both Rafael and Carlos rose as well. Obviously vying for the chance to walk her back to the infirmary hut, where she’d lived for the last four years.

“Is it just me or did it suddenly get hot in here?” the Oracle asked, raising his eyebrows at the crowd of young men.

“It’s the fucking jungle, O. It’s always hot as hell,” Solar replied. Choosing to ignore the innuendo.

“Obviously. But I mean like hot and sweaty. You know. Hormoney.” The Oracle wiggled his fingers through the air like hormones were in the air like gnats.

“She’s getting closer to her season,” Solar said, the calm in his voice completely belying the anger boiling in his veins. “It’s only natural.”

Solar’s eyes narrowed even further as he watched another young recruit, Ivan, beat out the other two to make it to Zara’s side. Ivan’s hand somehow found its way to the small of Zara’s back and Solar’s somehow found its way to the knife lashed to his waist.

Solar took a deep breath and made his way quickly around the fire. He planted himself in the way of Zara and Ivan. Her eyes flashed with relief when she saw him. She plucked her arm out of Ivan’s grasp.

“You’re not sleeping in the infirmary tonight,” Solar bit out the words. One direct glare was all it took for Ivan to quickly slink back toward the campfire.