Fin picked her up and wrapped her in a towel before getting himself out. He loved taking care of her and dried her off. He grabbed her one of his shirts, her favorite thing to wear, and helped her comb her hair.
She looked at him with such adoration and love that it washed into him and he felt her warmth sooth his anxiousness.
"Are you going to tell me why you went to see Elle?" He asked, hoping she would confide in him.
"Yes. But I need you to promise me that you won't tell Cael until we get to the bottom of it. Are you okay with that?" She asked.
"Yes."
"I also have to go alone to something, and I need you to promise you won't follow us."
Fin frowned. "Can you tell me more first? I won't do anything against your wishes, but I'm not giving you that promise blind."
It wasn't a lie. Not entirely.
But even the gods couldn't stop him from tracking her tonight.
And in general, if he sensed danger, he would follow her without hesitation, without apology, without permission.
She nodded, "I wanted to bring you. I don't like it. But we have to go alone without our mates and Cael especially can't come or know. He will die."
"It sounds suspicious though. You have to go alone? What if it's a trap?" Fin said.
"It lined up with what we heard today and a woman who gave our fortunes months ago. Her prophecies have been coming true including Elle and I being poisoned, Elle finding her fated… and a few other things she mentioned."
"It's not dangerous. I think we're going somewhere on the city walls," Nova said. It was her best guess.
Though she still didn't understand why she'd been told to wear her training suit.
Fin felt his stomach spike—hot, sick, territorial.
He remembered the last time he and Jax had followed them.
He remembered exactly what he saw on those walls.
The thought alone made his blood heat.
"Baby…" His voice dropped, rough. "I need to go. I'll stay hidden. Elle doesn't need to know I'm there."
"It's probably nothing. I don't even know what we're supposed to get out of this. It'll be a waste of your time, most likely," Nova said.
Fin shook his head instantly. "No. Nothing involving you is a waste of my time." He stepped closer, thumb brushing her jaw, voice firm with certainty. "You are my everything."
His mouth grazed hers—soft, reverent, possessive.
"I. Love. You. So. Much. It. Hurts."
He kissed her between each word, slow and claiming, as if reminding her of exactly who she belonged to.
She smiled every time he said it. "I love you too."
But then the shift hit him—her worry sliding through the bond like cold water.
Fin pulled her gently onto his lap on the couch, one arm wrapping around her waist as if the act alone could quiet whatever stirred inside her.
"What's wrong?" Fin asked, voice low.
"I don't know if you would die too if you went." She swallowed. "They… or she… I'm not sure… told Elle that I couldn't bring my mate. I don't want anything to happen to you either."
Fin's brows drew together. "This woman sounds insane. Cael can take care of himself. Who is 'they' referring to?"
"We don't know. It's these dreams we're both having. I can't remember them when I wake up, but Elle can. I don't understand why he'd die, but I'd rather not risk it. Or risk you getting hurt."
Her instincts screamed the opposite—have Fin close, have Fin near—but fear pulled her in two different directions. Fin felt every tangled thread of it through the bond.
"I wish it was more clear," she whispered.
She still felt conflicted, the worry tugging her in two directions.
Fin tried to ease her tension, letting a quiet laugh slip out. "We just heard the worst fortune I've ever heard. I doubt it gets much worse than that."
She cracked up despite herself and looked up at him.
"Did I make the wrong call with Marra?" Nova asked. "They were flat out rejecting her before I stepped in."
"No," Fin said immediately. "I think you did the right thing. He needs someone at his side. She's his fated mate. What you did was kind, admirable… and it made me proud that you are my Luna."
Nova blushed. "Thank you."
She hesitated, then added, "I can't fathom why Jax didn't run to her or comfort her right away. Or give her any acknowledgement. He's always so kind. I thought he'd be worried… but he didn't show anything."
Fin nodded slowly. "With you, yes. With his first fated… he was somewhere in between Marra and you."
"She's probably crying herself to sleep," Nova whispered. "I hope he's comforting her. I hope he tells her it's okay."
Elle: Nova, are you almost ready.
Nova sighed, dread filling her insides. She wanted to stay and cuddle with Fin more than anything. Nova mindlinked back, trying to get off of Fin.
Nova: Yes.
But Fin wasn't going to make this easy.
"Where are you going, Nova?" He said playfully pulling her back down.
"I need to get dressed." She responded back shyly. A little anxious because she still felt like she was intruding on his space and didn't know where all her clothes were.
"What are you trying to wear?" Fin asked, knowing the answer.
"A training suit."
He got up and grabbed it. Neatly folded including what she'd wear underneath. She blushed.
"Why are you being so cute right now? I'm not going to let you go if you keep this up." He said pulling her back to him and nibbling her ear.
He helped her get into her training gear and nibbled on her nipple when she was putting her bra on. Followed by kissing her mark which turned her on.
"Fin you are making this…"
Elle: Nova where are you.
Nova: Coming.
"I'll be back in a little." She said giving him a kiss before walking out of the room.