Fin watched her leave with a concerned expression etched on his face. Why couldn't he go? She was anxious, why didn't Elle see that?
Her explicitly being told to come without her mate was suspicious. Absolutely not happening.
Even if it was nothing, Nova wanted him to go.
Xeon: I don't like this. It is odd that you can't come and she's being that insistent.
Fin: Nothing is going to keep me away from her. Nothing.
Xeon: Why not let Aeron make a portal if it's going to be a run? This is stupid.
Fin: I want Nova to tell me everything and I don't like Elle's influence right now. There better be a damn good reason.
Xeon: Seraphine says Nova weakens when she's not near you. She's already weak from that ceremony. If they are attacked and you are not nearby tonight on top of the current state she's in. I don't like that.
Fin: That's not going to happen. There's no way I'm not following.
Xeon: I also don't like you being here while she's in a battle tent with warriors.
Fin: And the poisoning, why couldn't they have been more specific? There's just so much right now that I don't like.
Nova has been getting better but she still has waves of sadness and grief from the matebond splitting. It's been some of the best few days of Fin's life but also some of the hardest watching someone he loves so much go through that. He was finally able to help her and he'll be damned if they go without him. Tonight or in general. She was still fragile.
"I am worried about Nova going 3 days without me." Fin said, already making up his mind that he won't go any longer than 3.
"Elle said she was starting to seem better." Cael said.
"She was better today." Fin agreed, but then added, "And she's getting better. But I am taking some of the burden from the bond severing. I don't fully understand how, but as you can see from whatever is on my chest and back, I am able to take some of whatever she would be going through. If I am unconscious, I am worried it'll be back to all on her. Alone."
"That and her panic attacks. This couldn't be worse timing." Fin said, shaking his head. How was she going to go 3 days without him if she marks him. It made Fin's heart crack just thinking about it.
Jax's heart twisted at hearing panic attacks. His Nova.
Fin was already walking out of the room following Nova. He wanted to hold her and cuddle, not any of this.
To all 3 of their annoyance, Nova and Elle were behind a door that was soundproof, enchanted. They waited hidden near the spiral staircase at the end of the hall.
"Can you hear past the door?" Fin asks Jax.
"No." He said voice cracking again. "But I still want to be a best friend to her. Can you tell her that?" Eyes welling up again
Fin nodded and clapped Jax on the back in a man hug.
"Yes, of course. I think that would mean a lot. You were close and it just went away."
Fin added, in a sad voice, "I'm sorry that you're both going through this."
Cael asked, "How is Marra? Any better yet?"
Jax said, "She's nice. I wish I felt more for her. It would really help this damn process. My wolf doesn't howl for her. It's bizarre. No urge to mark."
Cael said, "Lower your expectations. Baby steps. She's not Nova. But it doesn't mean you won't love her and there's a reason why you're fated. Even if she decides to start hunting you in the summer."
Jax snorted, "Don't forget my ancestors tried to reject her before Nova stepped in. Is someone trying to prank me?"
Fin said, "Maybe get to know her more and see what you can dig up. I get the sense that this isn't in her control."
Cael commented, "Elle said she seemed sad and lonely."
Jax sighed and nodded. Even if he would have broken the bond with her. Nova would have had a ticking clock to her matebond activating and she would be with Fin. Their connection was deeper even if what Jax and her had was a love across lifetimes and once in a thousand years.
Even with that, it bothered him that he didn't cut the matebond right there that night to at least show Nova they belonged together. At least proven himself.
Cael added, "Your ancestors accepted her. Not every fire has to hit the ceiling for it to be deep and real. Marra is her own person and is a literal princess of a kingdom. You could do worse. And she lost her mate. You and her have a deep connection and understanding on that level."
Jax looked at Cael and shook his head with a dark laugh, "Why is it that you're usually such an idiot but then say smart shit like that?"
Cael cracked up at this.
The door opened and all 3 of them moved quickly to the stairs, staying hidden.
"Don't worry Elle." Nova whispered. Fin smelled Nova tears. How did he not feel that she was crying through their bond? Was it that damn room?
"Thanks," Elle whispered.
"Let's go put our mates to sleep," Nova said with a giggle, hugging her from the side.
Elle snorted. "You know the best way to do that."
Nova gave her a mock gasp and smacked her arm. "You were thinking sex? You animal."
Elle burst out laughing.
"I was going to monologue about my feelings until he passed out," She added dryly.
Elle wheezed, wiping her eyes. "That works too. I missed your smart-ass self. You're doing better today. Your stutter went away quick this time too."
Jax tensed at these words and his wolf growled. Why was she stuttering? She had done that only once with him after Maximus South. Was this a normal occurrence now?
Nova smiled faintly. "Fin is the only reason I'm doing better. I'm so lucky to have him."
She hesitated, her fingers tightening briefly around Elle's arm.
"I am nervous about him …. with him being out." She sighed. "Nevermind. Different issue." She shook her head, brushing it off with a half-laugh. "I'll fill you in once we deal with this mess. Yours first."
The two girls made their way up the stairs back to their quarters.
The men all silently agreed they would let those two go, and tail them.
When Nova got back into their room, Fin was sitting pretending to read a document. She walked over to him and he pulled her onto his lap.
"I missed you." She said with her arms around him. How would she go a week without him?
She looked so pretty, he couldn't help himself and kissed her lips. Immediately feeling an electric charge. Neither of them got the bath they wanted.
Nova turned to straddle him kissing him down his neck. He smelled her arousal and it ignited what he had been feeling since her ceremony.
He picked her up and carried her to the bed, taking off her robe. Her skin healed a bit but not all the way.
"Does it hurt, baby?" He asked, being as gentle as possible.
"No, does yours?" Nova said, also studying his whip lines on his skin.
"No, but tell me if yours start to hurt." He said.
"Okay." She said and they continued kissing. He took off her shorts and ripped her bra to which she cringed.
"Sorry." he said not realizing he had done it until after. "Did it hurt you?"
"No it's okay." She said not wanting to stop.
"You are so beautiful. I am so in love with you." Fin said.
Nova blushed, and pulled away from him for a second. His heart was pounding.
"I love you too." She said, her green eyes looking into his hazel eyes. He felt it from her through their matebond and a warmth spread through him.
"Mine. Mate." He said kissing her in between each word.
He pulled down his pants, now on top of her. She moaned into his mouth. He felt his wolf take over and immediately entered her.
She winced. He was so large. He didn't wait for her to adjust and started pumping his cock into her.
"You feel so good." He whispered in her ear. "You're so tight and wet for me."
She started to cum at that and he groaned, releasing his cum into her.
He kept pumping and she moaned under him.
His cock pulsed and was already aching to release.
"This feels so good… I'm …" She started to say but couldn't finish her sentence. Her orgasm hit so strong she gasped. He felt her through their bond and released himself into her.
He kept going. She was breathing hard under him and her hips started to move with his in rhythm. Like they were made for each other.
He held her tight not ever wanting to let her go. She let out a high-pitched moan and started to unravel for him.
He released himself into her feeling it again through their matebond.
He didn't stop. His primal instinct wouldn't let him. His entire body kept going even after he released himself into her over and over. It was addicting.
"Fin…you're…" She writhed under him starting to come undone by him again as he pumped himself into her.
This final one lasted 30 seconds as their bodies came with each other in a rhythm.
He gently pulled out of her and she winced. He was so large. He picked her up and carried her to the bath. The bath had a heater at the bottom, and was steaming hot. He lowered her in gently and got in behind her.
She leaned back into him, taking in his scent.
Meanwhile, he looked at her body with such reverence. Was she sculpted by the gods themselves? How was she so beautiful? It was mind blowing every time he saw her.
"Every time I see you, you take my breath away. I know I say it a lot. But it's true. You leave me speechless." He whispered while holding her.
He washed her gently, his hands moving with a care that didn't belong to an Alpha or a warrior, but to the man he had been before war carved the edges of him. He worked through her hair, her shoulders, her back — slow, quiet, reverent.
She turned to face him, fingers sliding into his hair as she returned the gesture. She washed him the same way he had touched her: tender, unhurried. Then she kissed his face everywhere, laughing between each kiss, and the sound pulled a rare laugh from him. With her, he felt reset — like she peeled him back to the man he'd been before duty hardened him.
He shook his head to flick the water from his hair, sending droplets splashing across her. She gasped, then burst into laughter again, and he couldn't help but join her.
She was still straddling him and he immediately pulled her into a kiss.
Again feral, his wolf instinct took over and he pushed himself into her and started fucking her. She winced in pain but he was already fucking her before she realized what was happening and when he nibbled her nipple she started to unravel.
She groaned and came all over him. He felt it wash through their matebond and he started pumping himself in her again, giving her his seed.
"Come for me again, baby." He said and continued to move her hips up and down onto his cock until he felt her unravel onto him.
They didn't stop until they went 3 rounds like that.
Nova realized she was running out of time.