Ni’ev part 17

For the second day this week, I’m late for work. The girls probably suspect that something is up, and they’re giving me space.

Last night, I barely slept and cried a little. It’s morning now. I’m dressed and pacing by the doorstep. I’m dressed conservatively. The last thing I want is to flash another unsuspecting victim or two.

Ni’ev haunted me in my dreams, and not in the sexy way he usually does. No. I thought about our argument— the latest one, because lately we can’t seem to stop fucking clashing.

We take one step forward and one leap backward.

The girls make this seem so easy. They laugh and drape themselves over the arms of their men, who are ever-so-eager to please them. I’m not saying Ni’ev doesn’t try hard to make me feel comfortable and adored. The problem is that communication doesn’t come as easily to us. There’s always a hiccup.

Am I the problem? Am I in my head too much? I’m known for this; for calling myself as a million horrible titles that no one on this planet entertains— ugly, fat, leftovers. The only bad guy is myself and the brain that won’t stop trying to tear me apart.

No. I’m not the bad guy for feeling like an injustice has been done. Ni’ev had no right to assault that man. There’s no justification for uncalled violence.

I pull my sweater tighter around my shoulders and go to the common room. This time, I skip breakfast. I have no appetite, but I can sure go for another hour of sleep since I was tossing and turning all night.

On my way to work, I cross two Ezronian men. I watch their expressions closely, but nothing flashes. One of them gives me a respectful nod, and they go about their way. It doesn’t seem like they heard any gossip about me today. I guess what happened yesterday was contained by Ni’ev.

I come across Kira next, and she has a more memorable reaction. She looks at me with worry, slides Terra onto her hip, and takes my hand.

“Hey, girl… how did you sleep?”

“Fine.” I answer and rub my forehead with my free hand. “How much did you hear about what happened?”

“Well, Ni’ev was being all grumpy today, so I just had to ask what was up. I’m so sorry about yesterday. It must have been embarrassing for you.”

I move my hand from my forehead to my eyes. “You have no idea. It’s my fault, though. For planning out these childish schemes. First, I snuck into the ship, and now I do this. It’s best if I just babysit and sit the fuck down.”

Kira shakes her head. “You’re just trying to figure life out. That’s okay. We’re only human.”

She pulls me in for a hug, and I sigh with contentment. Terra cheers between us.

Although we’re close in age, Kira is almost a mother figure. I’m lucky to have her as a friend. Come to think of it, I’m lucky to have met Ni’ev, too. Although we brought each other headaches, he has helped me develop into a better person.

I just need time to process what he’s becoming. This violent, rash, new version of him. Did I turn him into this? Did I melt the man who is cool and gentle like snow with my toxicity, and turn him into a wild current?

“Go to work. I’ll bring you breakfast. Your face looks pale, and Ni’ev would kick my ass if he found out I didn’t take care of you,” she snorts. “What a hilarious thought. Ni’ev kicking my ass. That guy is too sweet.”

Is he? After assaulting the bystander, I don’t know if Ni’ev is as sweet as he used to be.

I keep my mouth shut, not wanting to burden Kira further with my drama.

“See you around,” I tell her.

She waves, and we go our separate ways.

The babies keep me busy and merry until evening. Layla’s baby girl is learning how to walk, and she’s the cutest thing ever. She refuses to stand unless I hold her hand and guide her. The older kids cheered her on, making the baby shriek and laugh so much that she fell into a slumber.

“Heya,” Nebula pops into the room. “Kira sent over lunch.”

Her children shriek at the sight of her. She picks up Michelle and kisses her forehead.

“What’s up, Nebula? Thank Kira for me if you see her.” I accept the bag she offers and notice she also holds a flower. It’s my favorite one from the gardens.

“Sure, and I haven’t been up to much today. I was just measuring some rocks for the shrine the guys are building. Here. This flower is for you as well.”

I study it. “Did Kira send this too?”

“Actually…” she cringes. “Ni’ev told me to give it to you. I hesitated since it looks like you want space to think about things, but I couldn’t say no to the big guy. He looks so lost, like someone stole his favorite toy.”

My fingers curl around the rope material of the bag. I eye the flower. It’s beautiful as always, but I wouldn’t know what to do with it. Having it decay in my room would be torture. A constant, mocking reminder that the relationship between Ni’ev and I is decaying, too.

“It’s best if I don’t take it,” I mumble. “You should return it to him.”

Nebula’s face falls, but she doesn’t comment. Michelle insists on playing with the flower, so she coos and tugs on her mother’s shoulder until Nebula relents and raises it. Michelle’s tiny but unforgiving fingers curl around the petals, crushing them with her innocent curiosity.

They rain down to Nebula’s feet. The mother gives me an apologetic smile and leaves.

When the last child is picked up by their parents, I clean up the room. My eyes flicker to the remaining petals. Most of them have been blown away by the wind, but a few stubborn ones linger. It’s stupid, but I think of it as Ni’ev’s persistence to love me.

I sit on the ground and play with two petals. They’re soft, just like Ni’ev kiss. Just like his gaze when he calls me beautiful. Just like his breath against my skin when I’m in his arms.

A figure stops by the entrance. I look up, and who I find makes me pale like the stem of the flower.

It’s that man. The one Ni’ev beat for seeing me naked. He has a bag hanging over his shoulder. It’s heavy with his belongings and memories of the place he’s being forced to abandon.

His head looks left, right, and his indecisive expression blurs with malice. He enters the room, and I struggle to stand. I don’t need my accounting degree to calculate that danger is entering the room.

The two petals get crushed in my fist, watered by my sweat.

“You should leave,” I warn him.

He drops his bag and keeps advancing, so I decide there’s no reasoning with this man. I open my mouth to scream for help. I know I’m not a fighter.

My cry is cut short when I’m shoved to the ground, hard. The patting of my ass isn’t enough to soften the fall.

“Because of you, I’ve lost my home,” he grits through his teeth.

I pull air into my lungs to scream again, but he grabs my shoulders and slams me onto the ground, pounding the air out.

“P—please.”

This isn’t fair. His strength is thrice of mine. I could never take him.

I need Ni’ev. I’ve never needed him this badly.

No. Not need. I want(i) him.

“You!” a male roars by the entrance.

The man atop me is ripped off and thrown against a wall.

Akdronis roars. “How dare you be violent against females!”

(a/n: Our baby Akdronis is so guilt-ridden about what happened with Nebula that this assault on Rosa strikes him particularly hard 😭😭)

Akdronis’ strength is unmatched. He kicks the male in the gut, and then pins him down by pressing his foot against his throat. The assaulter tries to speak, but the words come out garbled.

“It will be an honor handing you to Ni’ev to finish you off,” he snarls. I can practically see him vibrating with indignation.

“Akdronis.” I cough and stand. “I’m okay. Look at me.”

“I cannot. I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Go get Ni’ev. I will keep this bastard here.”

I swallow and try to steady my breathing. “I need you to take him to the cells, please. Tell Vrox and the others about this, but not Ni’ev. I don’t want Ni’ev to find out yet.”

“That is bizarre!”

It is, but what happened here brought me the light that I needed to see. The light that will revive the dead petals in my fist.

Something else must have happened when I left the room that made Ni’ev attack this turbulent man. He must have said something to anger Ni’ev. For the umpteenth time, I realize that I’m an idiot for doubting him. I should have spoken with him when he came to me, instead of pushing him out and rejecting his flower.

There will be no more of this pull and shove.

I will talk to him and make things right by giving myself to him as his woman. I will be the one giving him flowers. He is honorable, patient, and kind. I should have never hesitated.

A/N: SMUT NEXT CHAPTER! It will be the FINAL SEX SCENE and then I’ll finish up the book and move onto my new stories which I’m SO FUCKING EXCITED ABOUT (Alpha Kaden and The Alien’s Match)!!!!