Chapter 94: Giggles
Zylan fell silent. He couldn’t believe how calm he felt, just from Naomi’s actions. The raging storm within him, so fierce and consuming only moments ago, began to subside. The redness in his eyes, once blazing like an inferno, began to dim, fading back to their original deep crimson hue, tinged with an unsettling warmth he hadn’t felt in years.
He shook his head, his voice low, steady, and laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "No, Naomi. I can’t turn you into one."
The firmness of his words made Naomi frown, her golden eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him.
Zylan sighed deeply, running a hand through his dark, tousled hair. "You damn eaglet," he muttered under his breath. The nickname carried both affection and exasperation, as though he didn’t know whether to be charmed or infuriated by her. "You have no idea what you’re asking for, no idea what you’re saying. Do you?"
"Yes, I do," Naomi replied softly, her voice unwavering.
Zylan could not believe this wife of his. She was acting the opposite of what he had thought. He had thought she would run, yet she didn’t. He thought she would be scared, but here she was, asking for... damn.
His crimson gaze sharpened. "No," he said again, firmer this time, his voice like steel. He shook his head, as though trying to rid himself of thoughts that haunted him. "I can’t... I won’t. You don’t deserve this." His voice cracked slightly, the faintest hint of vulnerability breaking through his usual cold exterior. "You don’t deserve to see this... to be part of this dangerous..." He trailed off, frustration evident in his voice as he hissed, "F*ck."
Before Naomi could respond, Zylan pulled her closer in one swift motion. She had been kneeling between his legs as he sat on the floor, her presence grounding him in ways he didn’t fully understand. Now, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest with a gentleness that belied his earlier tension.
His face rested on her shoulder, and for a moment, he was utterly still. Silent. He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent—a soothing mix of vanilla and jasmine that seemed to calm the beast within.
"I’m so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking, the words heavy with regret.
Naomi hugged him tightly in return, her arms encircling his broad frame. She could feel his muscles tensing beneath her touch, as though he were holding back a tidal wave of emotion. Her hands trembled as they traced soothing patterns along his back.