I found our guests from the palace in the cookery. Nuni had served them cold drinks.
“Baja,” I said when I saw Nero, Ezah’s cousin. “Hi.”
He got to his feet and bowed his head to me, which surprised me.
“Hello, Levi.”
He had never spoken directly to me before. I wasn’t even sure if I had ever seen him look my way, so I had no idea why he was visiting me … but then I remembered the royal family tree I had learned about in one of the Maji way lessons. Nero was the only child of Prince Novik and Princess Linsah. The female I had helped earlier.
“Prince Ezah told me your mother is doing well. I’m so happy to hear it.”
“Levi, saying thank you for what you did to help my mother will never be enough, but from the bottom of my father’s and my heart, thank you.”
My heart clenched.
“You’re so welcome,” I said. “I’m just happy I helped, and the prince got to her in time. I was so very worried about her.”
Nero asked what had happened, so I retold the story to him, and when I was finished, he was staring at me like I was his Thanas in the flesh.
“You saved my mother’s life.” He stepped closer. “I would be honoured if you would allow me to have your intention, Levi.”
“My … My intention?”
“Yes,” he said. “I will be the best mate to you and the greatest father to our young. I will love and take care of you. I swear on my honour.”
I felt as though the room shrank around me.
I looked at Ezah, who was staring at his cousin, openly glaring at him actually. I looked back at Nero, whose liquid gold eyes never left me once, and I felt my body begin to tremble. I couldn’t form an intention with Nero. I couldn’t promise to mate him … not when I had feelings for his cousin. I had no idea what to do. I racked my brain for just a few short seconds, and the only thing I could think of saying was the truth.
“I have no doubt that you are a wonderfully honourable male … but I … I have feelings for another male.”
Nero’s face dropped and so did his shoulders. My gut twisted. I had never had to reject a male before, and the act of doing so was just horrible. It made me feel awful, and I wished I could do something to make Nero happy, but all I could do was apologise.
“I am so very sorry,” I told him. “If I did not have feelings for another, I would accept your intention.”
I wouldn’t have. I was scared beyond belief with just his asking. Actually accepting Nero’s intention would probably stop my heart from beating altogether.
“I understand.” He forced a smile. “The male who you have feelings for … he is the luckiest male on all of Ealra.”
My heart thudded.
“I’m so sorry, baja.”
“Don’t be.” He cleared his throat. “My parents would like you to come to the palace and share a meal with us in a few days’ time when my mother regains her strength. Can I tell them you will accept the invitation?”
No.
“Of course,” I heard myself say. “I’d be honoured.”
Nero bowed his head. “I will have a notification sent to your bracelet on the day of the feast. Thank you again, sweet female.”
Nero didn’t look at his cousin as he passed him by, but he did growl at Ezah, who glared at him harshly. I didn’t understand a bit of what I was seeing. Ezah looked from the empty doorway to me.
“Our arrangement.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You agreed to teach me about humans,” he reminded me. “Meet me at Nona Mai in three days’ time after the daystar has set.”
“O-Okay.”
“Thank you for helping my aunt-in-mate.”
“You’re welcome, my prince.”
He left my homestead like the wind just seconds later, and he looked pissed as hell as he went. Nuni looked from the door to me and said, “What the hell was that about?”
“Nuni.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “I have no idea.”
Chapter Ten
Ezah
“Don’t even think about ignoring me, Ezah.”
I pointedly ignored Nero as I stormed by him after leaving Levi’s home. I wanted to harm him. He was my closest friend, my kin, my favourite male, and I wanted to severely harm him … and all because he asked Levi for her intention. I couldn’t trust myself not to lose control and reach the edge, so I broke out into a run, hearing Nero’s foul words follow me as I went.
I ran all the way back to the palace to avoid planting my fist into his stupid face, and just as I was about to slow my run down to a jog as I approached the entrance, I felt something hard smack against my back. With a snarl, I spun around. Nero was in the middle of aiming another rock piece at me. When he flung it my way, I barely ducked and avoided it.