As my mind slowly returns to awareness, I realize I’m snuggled against something solid and warm. I nestle further into the heat, breathing deeply of the warm, cinnamon, earthy scent.
The aroma triggers a memory, and my eyes snap open. My head is buried in Ryvan’s chest, and my arms and legs tangled with his. I lift my head and roll away. I sit up and then groan as a dull headache pounds at my temples. I drop my head into my hands. “Oh gods, what happened?”
“It seems kali juice affects humans like wine,” Ryvan answers.
Bits of memory flit through my mind, along with the achingly vivid image of me licking Ryvan’s neck.
I turn to him, my eyes wide. “Oh, dear gods. I licked you.”
“Yes, I thought that was interesting.” A hint of amusement laces his tone as he arches a brow. “It seems that you find me irresistibly attractive.”
I scoff and roll my eyes, but the slight motion only makes my head spin worse. I bring my knees to my chest, resting my forehead against them. “I feel terrible.”
Ryvan places a hand on my shoulder. “Forgive me. I did not know this would happen. I will simply bring water in the future.”
My mind still floats in a slight haze, so before I can stop myself, I reach across and touch his lips, lifting them to view his left canine.
He inhales sharply, and I jerk my hand away. “Sorry. I—I’m still not thinking clearly.” I frown, then demand, “Do you by any chance have fangs?”
He swallows thickly. “Yes.”
My eyes widen. “Were you tempted to eat me?”
A surprised laugh escapes his lips. “No.” He clears his throat, struggling to keep a straight face. “Fae do not eat humans.”
“Then what was that?”
His expression falls into one I recognize as embarrassment. “When you were…”
“Intoxicated and clinging to you?” I finish his sentence, cringing inwardly as I remember crawling into his lap.
“Yes. As you so plainly put it.” He tips his chin up, attempting to appear unfazed despite the light green coloring of his cheeks and the tips of his ears. “My body responded to your… advances and triggered the instinct to… mark you.”
“Mark me?”
“Yes. We mark our mates during the first… mating.”
“Oh,” is all I say, unsure of how to respond.
Only now do I realize just how badly tonight could have gone. I remember clearly now how Ryvan kept pushing me away and trying to save me from making any mistakes I’d likely regret when I sobered.
I take his hand, and his eyes snap up to mine with a question. “Thank you, Ryvan.”
He frowns. “For what?”
“You could have taken advantage of me, but you didn’t.”
His brow furrows. “You do not have to thank me, Ella. I would never do that to someone. Nor would any decent person.”
I turn my gaze to the window, noting it’s dark outside. “It’s still nighttime?” I ask.
He nods.
“How long was I asleep?”
“At least four hours, although it felt like an eternity.”
I give him a puzzled look.
“It was bad enough that you were clinging to me like a norelian sloth.” He smirks. “But the incessant snoring in my ear made it difficult for me to get any sleep for myself.”
My jaw drops and I stare at him in horror. “I do not snore.”
“Is that so?” He arches a teasing brow. “Let’s ask Mirna, shall we? Your snoring was so loud, she came into the cottage to check on us because she wasn’t sure what all the terrible noise was.”
“You’re lying,” I reply, completely mortified.
“I wish I was. I fear my sensitive hearing may never recover, thanks to you.”
I playfully hit at his shoulder. “Well, you have no one to thank for that but yourself. You were the one who brought the drink.”
“Trust me.” He laughs. “I will make certain to never bring it again.”
I inhale sharply when I notice the soft light peeking in through the cottage window behind him. “I have to go.”
He blinks. “But the sun is only just now beginning to rise.”
I rush toward the door, calling over my shoulder. “You don’t understand. I have several chores to take care of before I have to serve breakfast.” I pause as I step outside and look back at him. “Will I see you again tonight?”
He nods and I rush toward the forest.
