Chapter 73
~ NYSSA
Eric cursed, turning away from me as he ran his hands through his hair.
“You need to get her out of here,” he told Aria, pushing the button to open the elevator.
Aria pulled me in before yelling something to him. They seemed panic but I felt nothing but calm. I’d heard her words, I knew what heat was but… it wasn’t possible.
“I’m not in heat,” I sad as the elevator doors closed. “I’m just hot p>
Aria rolled her eyes. “That’s a symptom of heat. You’re burning up even more, we need to get you somewhere safe p>
The elevator doors opened and she tried to tug me out but I dug my heels into the ground, forcing her to turn to me.
“I can’t be in heat,” I ground out. “It takes at least three months to go into heat. I don’t feel like I’m in heat. I should be writhing in pain p>
“It doesn’t always manifest like that, Nyssa. We don’t have time for this. There are a lot of unmated males in this building and your scent is only going to get stronger. I can’t fight them all and I do not have the energy for the paperwork I will have to write up for what Rowan will do to any male who tries to touch you in heat p>
I opened my mouth to speak but no words would come out.
Aria took that as agreement and pulled me out of the elevator. She ignored the greetings that followed us and all but shoved me into the backseat of the car.
“Are we going to the palace?” I asked and she shook her head.
“There are more unmated males there than anywhere else in this entire town. I know a place. Rowan will meet us there p>
I swallowed the knot that formed in my throat.
If I was truly in heat then yes, Rowan was the only one who could help me but that also meant… there was one way to make a heat stop.
“You’re not very good at hiding your emotions, are you?” Aria mused, watching me through the rearview mirror. “Rowan is a gentleman p>
I snorted, tugging at the neckline of my top despite the air conditioner blasting in the car. “We both know that’s not true p>
“He will be good to you p>
“That’s not what I’m scared of p>
She didn’t push, but I could feel her eyes on me the entire time.
The drive took longer than I expected and by the time we arrived, I’d made peace with the fact that I truly was in heat.
I was sweating through my clothes. Everything felt fucking sticky and I wanted to crawl out of my own damn skin.
The house she brought me to was a small cottage with vines growing over the sides and a beautiful garden in front of it.
It looked like something straight out of a fantasy book with stone walls, a beautiful front porch and a chimney.
I was so focused on the building that I nearly tripped over my own feet. Thankfully Aria was at my side instantly, her arms wrapping around my shoulders as she helped me stand tall.
I had to stop myself from pulling away from her.
Her touch sent shivers down my spine, and not in the good way, but I knew I couldn’t hold myself up, not well anyway.
“Fuck, you’re progressing fast,” Aria hissed as she helped me out of the back seat. “Are you sure this didn’t start last night p>
“I didn’t even know I was in heat until a few minutes ago p>
“Don’t they teach you wolves shit?” she asked as we walked up the front steps. “You must have experienced some symptoms. Maybe horny dreams or something like that p>
I did have those but I never connected it to this.
My cheeks heated. Thankfully she didn’t notice it because I was already burning red from the heat.
As soon as the front door shut behind us, I pulled away from her and tugged my shirt over my head. It gave little reprieve and I heard a shocked gasp leave Aria’s lips but I ignored her, pulling my shorts down as well until I was in nothing but my underwear.
“Where’s the bathroom?” I ground out.
She pointed down the hall and I immediately started moving, not waiting to get a proper description from her.
Thankfully, I found it easily and without thinking, I sat on the cold tiled floor of the shower and turned on the water.
Jets of ice cold water splashed over my skin, cooling me instantly and giving me much needed reprieve.
I tilted my head back, exhaling deeply as the water ran own my face.
“That should help for a while,” Aria noted. I opened my eyes and found her standing on the other side of the glass, her hands folded over her chest. “How do you feel p>
I shrugged. “Better, but what do you mean by a while p>
“It’s only going to last maybe half an hour. Your body is fighting to make sure you consummate the mating bond. It’s not going to let you get relief until you do just that p>
My throat tightened. “So I’ll feel like this until I fuck him p>
She nodded slowly. “You could go the whole time without but it’s going to hurt like hell, and you’d have to actually fight the urge to touch him once he’s in front of you p>
“I can do that p>
“No, Nyssa, you can’t. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever felt. It’s not normal attraction. This is… it’s primal, Nyssa. It’s unexplainable. My only advice is use fucking protection because the chances of you getting pregnant now are worse p>
Before I could respond, the sound of a door slamming filled the air.
I wasn’t sure how, but I knew it was him and my body reacted instantly. I felt a flame ignite underneath my skin, my heart pounding in anticipation for him.
“Good luck,” Aria whispered softly.