The walk to the south wing was quiet at first—too quiet.
Nine clung to my side, fingers curled tightly around mine as if the sleek, polished floors might slip him away from me if he loosened his grip for even a second. I didn't comment on it. He always got a little clingy when we came to see them.
The hybrids.
Once caged and prettied and paraded in the Supreme Leader's harem, now dressed in soft silks of their choosing, laughing too easily, speaking too sweetly. It had been my idea to give them their own living quarters. Their own space. But I hadn't anticipated the way they'd… look at me.
They adored me.
Not with fear, the way they had looked at the Supreme Leader. But with something closer to reverence. Gratitude. A kind of spark in their eyes that made Nine walk a little closer to me each time we visited. Like now.
One of them—Alira—saw us first. She gasped dramatically and flounced over, skirts trailing behind her like liquid. "Rhea!" she sang, arms outstretched as if I were sunlight and she a flower ready to bask.
Before I could speak, Nine stepped neatly between us and grabbed my hand in both of his, clutching it to his chest like I might be snatched away. His wide violet eyes blinked innocently up at Alira. He didn't say a word.
Just stared.
Possessively.
Nyx laughed in my head. Oh no, he's pouting. Adorably. But still pouting.
Alira paused, blinking down at him. Then smiled knowingly. "Oh, I didn't see you there, sweetheart."
Nine blinked slowly. "I'm not sweet."
"Of course you're not." Alira winked at me behind his head.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from grinning. "We just came to check how things are going. Settling in alright?"
The other hybrids began to drift over. A few leaned against the doorframe, watching us with curiosity and open admiration. One of them said something about the garden being too small, another asked if they could have paint for the walls.
I answered calmly, noting everything down mentally—but I couldn't miss how Nine's grip never loosened. He kept his hand firmly in mine, kept his body close to mine, kept his eyes flicking between every woman who looked too long in my direction.
Eventually, one of them—Dari—smirked and bent slightly to Nine's level. "You're very lucky," she said to him. "She's the most powerful person in this whole place now."
Nine tilted his head. "I know."
"She could have anyone."
He didn't blink. "She has me."
I coughed, heat rising to my cheeks.
Nyx cackled in my head. Tell me again how he used to be shy?
"I love her," Nine added after a beat, like it was some quiet declaration of war.
The women melted into coos and giggles, all waving him off and assuring him they meant no harm. Nine only stood taller. Still barely came up to my shoulder, but his presence suddenly took up the whole room.
He had nothing to prove. But oh, how he wanted to anyway.
By the time we left, Nine's fingers were still tangled with mine and his expression smug. Childishly proud. Adorably possessive.
I let him drag me back through the hallways, silent and glowing.
"You know they weren't actually flirting," I said softly.
"I don't care." His voice was quiet, but firm.
I looked down at him. "Jealous?"
His cheeks tinted pink, but he didn't deny it. "I'm your mate," he said instead, like that should settle the matter.
And maybe it did.
I leaned down and kissed the crown of his head. "You're my everything."
Through the bond, I could almost feel a faint smugness.