Chapter 23: Goodbyes
Nova stared at the bright pink nail varnish on her toes as she walked behind Yoa. She managed to fit in an appointment on her lunch break days before her planned trip with Chad to Isla de Tayun. Nova wasn't really a 'pink' fan, but on her toenails, it was agreeable, especially after her skin would tan.
Now, her feet were dirty with leaves and mud beneath them as they crinkled and crunched under her skin. Unlike Yoa's feet, hers were smooth and soft but she'd been tiptoeing a lot, avoiding what would surely hurt her delicate skin or stepping into Yoa's footprints. When she wasn't watching his back muscles or hair, she was mostly watching her feet and secretly scolding herself for denying Yoa his help in carrying her.
Although Nova had been careful, she couldn't avoid the inevitable of not wearing anything on her soft soles. She winced a few times as the soft skin was cut from stones. Hidden twigs or other foliage crunched under them, digging into her feet.
Yoa halted suddenly, and Nova almost bumped into him and winced again as she couldn't avoid the pebble slotted between her toe and slicing her skin. Yoa's head whipped back around, and his gaze lowered to her feet, nostrils flaring. He smelt blood.
In one swift move, quicker than Nova's eyes could keep up, he knelt by her feet and lifted her foot up, holding her by the waist so she didn't lose her balance and inspected her feet. His chest rumbled in annoyance, and eyes flashed, glaring at her before lifting her into his arms.
"Yoa! I'm fine! Really!" Nova complained immediately.
Yoa's grip on her thighs tightened. "Stubborn mouse," he growled, his face close to hers now as those thick brows were tugged together, his eyes more stormy like water doused on flames and only the embers were left.
"Not stubborn-"
"Do men from where you are from let their women suffer in silence?" He snapped, eyes gleaming, his chest growing and falling from a large inhale. "Tell me when you need help. I can smell your blood. Fortunately, we are close, and the only predators nearby will be the eagles, but they won't pick up this scent."
Nova released a long breath and, at the same time, apologised. She didn't think that far ahead. "I only wanted to make things easier for you. I know I'm a bother already-"
"Stop," Yoa grunted as he ventured through the trail, effortlessly carrying her. "You are troublesome for such a little mouse, but I accepted that when I agreed to help you."