Chapter 16 : Involvement

After what seemed like forever under his crushing weight, he propped himself up on his hands, staring down at me with wide, sated eyes. One of his fingertips brushed my hair from my face. Unusual warmth resonated in those honey depths I could never truly see in his human skin.

He would have never let me in before.

His glossy black hair hung past his shoulders, curved horns extending from between locks of hair.

I reached up, caressing his horns, somewhat surprised he was letting me touch them. A beautiful shade of burnt umber. Unique patterns that looked more like carvings on stone than the natural groove of keratin rippling a ram's horns.

Stroking the unique patterns, I murmured, "What do these symbols mean?"

He hummed, vibrating against me before he answered, "It's a label, a branding of who I am and where I serve. It's in Primordial Speak."

"Tell me about it," I asked, taking comfort in the crook of his arm.

The corner of his mouth curled up. "Curious? Aren't we, pet?