Chapter 35: In His Snare (1)
Yoa didn’t wait. He instantly slid into bed and tugged Nova into his arms under the covers like she was meant to always be in them. "Don’t cry, little one." His low, rumbling voice was soothing and chipping at a small part of her chest, like a clink in armour. "You’re not alone. I’m here."
Those words made it impossible to close the dam of tears that were brimming at the surface of her eyes. Sniffling, Nova cuddled him tighter, her head resting comfortably on Yoa’s chest. Squeezing her eyes tighter and hiding her face a little into his skin, she muttered, "I must seem so pathetic to you."
Tears escaped her clenched-shut eyes, sliding down her cheeks and onto his chest. Why was she so pathetic?! Is it because there was no more drama of running for her life, and now that things had settled, everything was catching up to her?
"Never." Yoa’s arms tightened around Nova, and he pulled her impossibly closer to him like he was trying to shield her from everything. Now Nova was entirely on him like the first time on the tree.
She couldn’t deny the warmth flooding her body wasn’t nice. She snuggled into him a little more, unable to look at him quite yet, enjoying the sound of his steady heartbeat and listening to what he said next.
"You have been through a lot. I do not know of your home or people, but I know you are not of this world. You would not seem so clueless otherwise."
Ouch. Nova wanted to grumble and defend herself, but that was merely the truth. Yoa was just a little blunt at times, like now.
"And I might prefer my solitude most of the time, but if I was in a place I didn’t know..." Yoa seemed to be struggling now to sound genuine. It was quite adorable, really. He was trying to comfort her. "Without my friends... or anyone I knew... I, too, would-"
"Don’t," Nova chuckled, wiping a few stray tears away and smiling up at him. He’d already lifted her spirits. "You would kick ass. You don’t need anyone."