Ahgony stayed out in the tunnel during her whole needing. Yeah, it was hell and torture, he felt like his balls were going to explode but it made him feel closer to her somehow.
Rhage was sat a few feet away from him, sulking after what Mariah had said to him before the effects of the drug took her down.
Mary was with her, making sure she wasn’t waking up too soon and was as comfortable as she could be, and would be ok.
Which he knew she wouldn’t be. When her needing was over, Mariah would be an emotional wreck. And he wanted to be for her then, even though he knew that no doubt Rhage would put up another fight.
Damn him.
He had always felt nothing but respect for the Brother, looked up to him as the legend he was. But now he also felt really sorry for him.
The look in his eyes after Mariah had spoken those words, softly but deadly… Ahgony could have sworn he had heard the male’s heart break.
A small part of him felt glad. At least now he knew how it felt.
- It’s not that I don’t think you’re not good enough for her you know. I know you are a male of worth.
Ahgony looked at Rhage who still had his eyes fixed on the door where his daughter was behind.
- I just don’t want her to suffer.
- Don’t you think she’s suffering now?
- You’re going to end up dying to safe Darius’ life one day. Sooner or later.
- Gee, you’re confidence in my skills is heartwarming.
He snorted.
- So, If I wasn’t D’s Ahstrux Nohtrum, you’d let me mate her? Make her my shellan? Service her in her needing?
Rhage winced.
- Because it doesn’t matter if I am an Ahstrux Nohtrum, a soldier or a goddamned brother. I can get hurt any time I go out to fight. How many times have you been injured out in the field? How many times has my dad been hurt, my uncle, jeez, any of us. We’ve all been hurt more times than we can count.
- But you’re going to have to go with Darius everywhere he goes, for the rest of your life.
- And the only place he goes is out to fight, which he’ll no longer do when he ascends to the throne in a century or two. In the mansion, we’re free to go our separate ways, even if we have to stay close. I could be with Mariah, have her as my shellan and make her happy.
- You really think that huh.
- I know that. Rhage, she is my everything.
Rhage let his head fall back against the wall and covered his face with his hands.
- Rhage, there is something you should know.
The male tensed from head to foot.
- What?
- Mariah has been thinking of finding her biological family.
- She what?
- I have told her to talk to you two before doing anything, and she mentioned it months ago, but after today…
- Yeah, I feel you. Thanks.
They went back to being quiet and counting the seconds and shortly after Mary came out looking exhausted.
- I think the worst is over.
She was right, Ahgony could feel it. The intensity of the waves had been gradually subsiding, thank the Scribe Virgin.
