“You’re in love.”
That sobered Rui up quickly, setting her heart to pounding.
She raked a hand through her spiky hair, mussed up from her midnight adventures, and fidgeted her fingers.
“I’m not the sort—” she began.
But Ere immediately cut her off.
“You are. We all are. Love doesn’t discriminate between races, Kinds, sexes and any other differences. Any being who feels, who possess a heart and soul, can fall in love. And you, badass water dragon Rui, are unequivocally in love.”
Sorin grunted his agreement where he stood close to his Mate, thick arms crossed over his chest.
Rui visibly deflated, a huff of breath leaving her.
If even Sorin judged her to be in love, it must be the truth. She could try to ignore Ere’s flippancy and sarcasm, but Sorin was the real deal. He always saw to the heart of any matter and didn’t sugarcoat it.
“This is awful,” she muttered dolefully.
“It’s not always easy to love and be in love,” Ere agreed, “but you needn’t look as if you’ve caught a terminal disease.”
“But he’s my opponent, and we’re leaving!” she all but shouted, her emotional upheaval terrifying in its intensity.
“I don’t know how to do this. I think about him all the time. Want him all the time. I don’t want to fight him. I want to help him, be with him. Make him happy. Make him proud. I can’tthinkwhen I’m near him! I hate being in love!”
Ere moved closer to her, his arms outstretched, but she warned him off with one hard look.
“Don’t you dare try to hug me.”
His arms fell back to his sides.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I’m not a child,” she said hotly.
“No,” he murmured softly, “you are a grown woman. And you are in love whether you like it or not.”
Something stung the back of Rui’s eyes. Something sour filled her nostrils. She frowned ferociously to contain the emotions behind their usual dam. But she could feel her walls cracking.
Shewas cracking.
“Does he love you too?” Ere asked in that same soft voice, the one people used when they didn’t want to startle a child or a wild animal.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “How would I know? I asked if I was his only one, and he said ‘aye.’”
“Well, that’s certainly a good start,” Ere encouraged.
He came closer with a pile of cloth and handed them to her before retreating back to his corner.
She looked down and realized that he’d given her bindings for her breasts. Today was the swimming competition. She’d keep her tunic on, but she needed extra assurance that her sex wouldn’t be discovered.
Without modesty, she took off her tunic and began to wrap the strips of cloth around her torso.
“And you…you know…consummated this vow between you?” Ere asked with his eyes averted.
She scowled.
“If you mean, did he put his sword into my sheath, then yes, he did.”