Fashionably Dead Down Under(105)

Ania hoped her words covered her resentment for Dorian calling him her mate. She wasn’t going to allow Liam to know how much being on the ship, and near him again, was bothering her. She didn’t want to risk triggering Liam’s stubborn side, but she wasn’t going to let him dictate her actions either. They needed to reach a new understanding.
“Let’s get some uncomfortable business between us settled. I hereby officially request you, and your crew, to stop addressing me by a title you and I know I no longer hold. I claim the right be called Ania Looren only. I revoke all other names and titles.”
Ania hoped he realized “mate” was also one of the titles being revoked. It would save further confrontation.
Despite no forthcoming invitation, Synar walked by a glaring Dorian to enter the room, ignoring the warning look the older male bestowed on him as they passed each other. He probably owed Dorian an apology, but it would have to be offered later.
“As you wish,” Synar conceded, his gaze moving from Dorian’s retreating back to the female now mostly ignoring him. “I’ve been thinking of what would be a suitable role for you on the Liberator. Being a peace keeper on a ship is not so different from being an ambassador.”
“I probably no longer qualify for that either, but will abide by your decision while I am among your crew, Captain.”
Ania turned from her now completed task of unpacking to face him. Dorian, for all his greater size, did not fill up the small room as much as the Norblade male now standing way too near to her. She acknowledged her rising female awareness of him and set it aside.
“You said we would discuss what happened when I fell asleep during the inquiry. Is this a proper time?”
Synar looked at Ania in the crew uniform she had donned. All he could think of was how much she looked just like she did when he had met her. In her capacity as ambassador back then, Ania had come aboard his ship to be transported to a multi-planet counsel session. Though she had looked beautifully cold and unapproachable, he had become instantly ravenous to bond with her. The thought of Ania being with or belonging to another male was just as unbearable now as it had been then.
It was unfortunate that another male ultimately had claimed her, and worse that he had done so by Synar’s command. Yet no matter how loathsome the decision, he was no closer to being able to give Ania over to death now than when he’d sent Malachi into her the first time. And he didn’t care how many planetary laws it broke. Every instinct he possessed still said the female in front of him had to live—whatever the cost.
“Do you require anything for your comfort?” Synar asked quietly, putting hands in his pockets to keep them off her. His strong need to touch her again surprised him.
“No. I require nothing more. My needs are even more simple now than when you used to know me.”
As she talked to him, Ania kept her gaze trained on the door, and her awareness off Synar’s escalating discomfort in her presence. She refused to worry about his mental state. What he felt was not her concern any longer.
“May I speak my truth to you, Synar?”
“You may always speak your truth to me.”
Ania didn’t believe he meant his words, but she continued anyway.
“I feel an imperative need to discuss what happened during the inquiry. I want to know why I am required to be on your ship when you so obviously do not wish me to be here. If you retain any respect for my former place in your life, I ask that you make your explanations of those things a priority. Dorian spoke of me having to make decisions soon. I feel compelled to obtain knowledge as soon as possible in order to prepare myself.”
“What did Dorian say about the future?” Synar demanded, stalling his response to her comments.#p#分页标题#e#
“Only kind and comforting things,” Ania answered sincerely, unwilling to fully disclose the details of her energy reading. “Dorian gave me his compassion. I had forgotten how nice it could be to be touched.”
Synar looked away, unable to hold Ania’s accusing gaze, while inside he secretly resented Dorian’s interference.
Dorian Zade’s offering of spiritual comfort is not what you resent, Liam, Malachi sent. You just don’t like that a Siren male was touching your female. You should have seen how happy he made her. Providing such comfort was beyond my ability. How could you leave a female who needed you that much?
Be silent, Synar ordered. You do not know my feelings on the matter.
I’m not sure you do either, Malachi replied.
Liam frowned. He wanted to touch Ania. He wanted to hold her. He wanted it now. Yet he could not bring himself to embrace Ania knowing the demon was a witness to his desire. The idea that Malachi would be hearing everything, sharing everything, bothered Synar more than he could set aside.