Zee asked a very reasonable question, but it was still one that left him feeling frustrated. He knew that this was unfair for Zee, and he hated the truth in that thought. He wanted to speak on it, but she beat him to it and opened her maw first. He pushed down his words and bided his time, listening to what else she had to say.
She pressed her nose against him, when he somewhat expected her to spurn him for the direction his words had been going. He wanted everything, and in doing so, he was being terribly cruel to her. He gave a noncommittal grunt at her assessment of wishing to maim any she chose to love. He couldn’t promise her anything with the rage he was known to possess.
“Alright, Zee, how about this. I will see if I can find a path that allows us to be together, and does not hurt Deathbelle in the process. If I can not do so, I will not hold you to any commitment to me, because it would not be fair to you. In the meanwhile, I will treat you as my treasured friend, and I will love and protect you in this pack. Is this something you can stand by?” he asked her softly, leaning into her nose, his eyes seeking hers until the gentle light on the cave floor. He didn’t know where this was going to lead, and he was a little afraid of this promise he was making her, but she knew she deserved this much. That he would try for them, instead of simply wishing, and if it was not to be, he would hide all possessiveness from her so it did not impact her life.
Bloodletter
