17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

J asmine

After breakfast, Bold suggests another foray into the Integration Zone. He wants to show me more of his world and introduce me to some of his friends. The eagerness in his eyes, the way his tail wags with excitement… it's impossibly endearing—and sexy.

I'm eager to explore, to understand more about his world and the people who inhabit it. As we step outside, the morning sun warms my skin and I can't help but smile. Despite the circumstances that brought me here, there's something exciting about this adventure. It's as though I'm exploring another world. In a way, I am.

"So, where to first?" I ask, my gaze bouncing from tenement to crumbling street to the barbed-wire fence I see beyond an alley.

Bold grins down at me, his icy eyes crinkling at the corners, his fangs glinting in the sunlight. "I thought we could start at the community center. It's the heart of the Zone, where everyone comes together."

As we walk, Bold points out different landmarks and shares stories about growing up here. I listen intently, fascinated by this glimpse into his life. He points his chin toward a vacant lot as he says, "Broke my shin bone, diving for an out-of-bounds baseball there."

I wince in sympathy, my hand instinctively reaching out to grip his arm. "Ouch. That must have hurt like hell."

He shrugs, but I catch the way his tail sways happily at the contact. "Eh, it wasn't so bad. Wolven heal fast. Perks of being a big bad wolf, I guess." He winks and I laugh, even as something flutters low in my belly at his playful words.

He points to an alleyway. "We sheltered there a while back during one of a string of arsons set by Purists. For a hot minute, we thought it was going to engulf the Wolven Warriors HQ."

"My lord, Bold." I shake my head, anger and horror twisting in my gut. "I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been. It isn't right you had to go through that."

He's quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. "It was a harsh reminder of how a lot of humans see us," he says at last, his voice low and pained. "As something to be feared and hated. Eradicated."

That heinous word and the ache in his tone break my heart. I tighten my grasp on his arm, swallowing hard against the sudden lump in my throat. "For what it's worth… I see you. The real you. Brave and loyal and so damn good it takes my breath away." I pause, holding his gaze steadily. "You're a hero, Bold Dubois. Never doubt that."

Something flashes across his face, too quick to catch. But then he's smiling again, soft and full of wonder, as though he can't quite believe I'm real.

"Right back at you, Jazz."

The moment is so poignant, so filled with words unspoken, that my thoughts fly in a hundred directions. How is it that his few words and that raw look of affection in his expression make my mind leap ahead to pictures of a future with him?

The community center is attached to the Zone's health clinic. It appears to have gotten a recent facelift.

"Fire Chief Brokka's human mate Marissa spearheaded this project. Brought in Other-friendly staff, cleaned it up, stopped the misappropriation of drugs that were being siphoned and sold at a profit by staff. She even refurbed this wing and repurposed it into the Community Center."

I observe the buzzing hive of activity. Various Others of all shapes and sizes are gathered, chatting, laughing, and gossiping.

A pair of orclings chase each other, darting past us, their delighted squeals piercing the air. A group of nagas bask in a sunny patch of grass, their iridescent scales glittering. And over by the center's entrance, an elderly minotaur and a wolven are engaged in what looks like an intense game of chess, both sets of brows furrowed in concentration.

"Wow," I breathe, taking it all in. "It's so vibrant, so full of life."

Bold's expression softens as he looks around. "That's the thing about the Zone. We may not have much, but we have each other. It's not always easy, but there's a sense of belonging here, of family."

We spend the next few hours exploring, Bold introducing me to friends and neighbors. Everyone is welcoming, treating me with warmth and curiosity rather than suspicion. I laugh more than I have in ages, swapping stories and jokes with people who feel like they could become my friends.

At one point, a tiny naga girl tugs on my pant leg, her golden eyes huge in her cherubic face.

"You're tho pwetty," she lisps, holding up a slightly wilted daisy. "For you."

My heart just about melts into a puddle as I crouch down, accepting the flower with exaggerated awe. "Why thank you, sweetie. It's beautiful, just like you." She beams and glides off, her emerald tail graceful as she moves.

When I straighten, Bold is watching me with an inscrutable expression, his gaze soft and intent on my face. "You're a natural," he murmurs, something akin to wonder in his voice.

I flush, tucking the flower into my hair. "Children are amazing. So open and curious and alive , you know?" I shrug, suddenly self-conscious. "I've always loved kids. Want a whole bunch of my own someday."

Bold's eyes widen slightly and I realize what I've just implied. "I mean, not that I'm… I just…" I stumble over my words, my cheeks burning. "I'm just saying. In general. With uh… someday."

Oh god, somebody please shut me up. But Bold just smiles, slow and soft, and takes my hand. He raises it to his lips, his trimmed beard tickling my knuckles as he presses a gentle kiss there. "For the record," he rumbles, his voice like smoke and honey, "I think you'd make an amazing mother. Fierce and loving in equal measure."

My breath catches. There's a whole unwritten future shining in his eyes, a promise of possibility that makes my heart trip and my stomach swoop. Neither of us is ready to put words to it, not yet, but it's there. Undeniable. Thrumming between us like a living thing.

We pause at a small park, settling onto a bench to enjoy some kind of fried, meat-filled pastry pockets Bold bought from a street vendor and laughingly calls "orcwiches." The treat is flaky and savory as we dig in. Bold gets a smudge of grease on his cheek and I giggle, reaching out instinctively to wipe it away with my thumb.

He stills at my touch, his tail swishing faster as those sky-blue eyes lock onto mine. His pupils dilate, nostrils flaring as he scents my skin so close to his.

For a fraction of a second, I think he might lean in and close the distance, sealing his mouth over mine in a hungry kiss. My whole body warms at the thought, yearning arcing through me like lightning. I use every ounce of self-control to keep from crossing the distance, cupping his nape, and devouring his mouth.

But he clears his throat with a sound reminiscent of a dog's woof and then looks away. I let my hand drop, trying to ignore my empty feeling at the loss of contact.

"Hey." Bold's word is sudden, his eyes bright with an idea. "How about we go back to HQ? It should be a hive of activity about now. I can introduce you to more of the guys."

"You sure about that? Last night, I was surprised you didn't growl at them and order them not to take a step closer."

His eyes widen as he barks out a laugh. He stands and backs up, looking sheepish as he asks, "Was I that obvious?"

"I half expected you to pee on me to mark your territory."

"Jasmine, I…"

For a moment I think he might let down his fa?ade and perhaps admit he has feelings for me, similar to what I'm harboring for him. Instead, he laughs as though my joke about marking his territory is the funniest thing he ever heard.

"I just didn't want them to talk your ear off. Wanted to get you upstairs to bed."

Yeah. I don't think that came out the way he wanted it to.