My Dear Savior

Episode 12

“By all the gods, Zane! What the hell are you doing?!” I demanded when I realized it was him standing there, wide-eyed as he took in my nakedness. My surprise made my words as sharp as ice shards, so they penetrated the quiet, snow-padded area between us. I covered myself with the flimsy towel as best I could, thanking the gods that I had long enough hair that my breasts had already been shielded from him.

Even from this distance, I could feel the burn of those fiery eyes and my cheeks were flaming. He lifted my cloak wordlessly in explanation.

“Well, turn around at least!” My voice was at least two octaves higher than usual, and I took a deep breath to steady myself and calm my rapidly beating heart. He obeyed wordlessly, and I quickly donned my clothes.

I trudged back up the small incline and snatched the cloak from his hands roughly without making eye contact. I didn’t even thank him or offer to help him back inside in my embarrassment.

I was thanking all the gods I knew as I plopped down by the fire and went to work untangling my damp hair that Dae hadn’t been around to witness this because he would have poked those jeweled eyes from Zane’s head for looking at me while I was like that. That thought calmed me down and I let out a small chuckle.

“I’m glad to hear you are able to find some humor in the situation.” Zane said as he entered, looking extremely uncomfortable. “I am sorry for surprising you, Hatice.”

I shrugged. My cheeks burned again as I asked, “Am I the first girl you’ve seen like that?”

He shook his head back and forth slightly. “It seems my people are much freer than yours. Your shriek threw me off, and then I realized things might be different for your people a bit too late. But I knew you hated the idea of being out in the cold, and when I realized you forgot your cloak, I wanted to be helpful since you’ve been so great in healing me.” The last sentence came out in an embarrassed rush. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” He admitted, his cheeks coloring a little like he didn’t mean to say that out loud. He recovered quickly and continued, “But, where are your scales?”

I wasn’t sure if he was joking until I saw the interested, questioning look in his eyes. Then I let out a short bark of laughter. “My what?”