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7.0

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Cely stared back at Neteyam, not wanting to blink in case this was a dream. "Really?" She couldn't help but ask.

Just as he was going to respond, they heard familiar voices coming through the trees. "Tuk! Be quiet or they'll hear us!"

Neteyam groaned, obviously the moment ruined. Before they got up, Cely placed a hand on Neteyam's face. She so badly wanted to kiss him, but the voices continued so she sighed as well.

Neteyam saw a sparkle in her eye when she held his face. He was hopeful thinking he saw her leaning in, but maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. He would kill whoever ruined this moment.

"Tuk? Is that you?" Cely called out, knowing the little girl couldn't help but respond not understanding the situation. "Cely!" She heard back.

Her and Neteyam shared a knowing glance and stood up out of the water. "Tuk, who's with you?" Her brother asked.

"Oh, Lo'ak is hiding behind that tree with Spider." She pointed in the area she came from.

"Tuk! You snitch!" She heard Lo'ak shout back, revealing himself a short second later along with the human boy.

Cely hissed at the sight of him. She did not want to share her Cove with a demon. Neteyam knew she wasn't fond of him so he stepped in between the two.

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" The eldest Sully asked the intruders. "Lo'ak said you and Cely were totally going to kiss! We couldn't miss that!" Tuk shouted and bounced with excitement, grabbing onto Neteyam's arms.

Neteyam glared at his younger brother who grimaced at the unwanted confession. "You said what?" Lo'ak groaned, wanted to run and hide. He knew he shouldn't have brought Tuk.

"What is he doing here?" Cely showed her fangs and her ears bent back, showing her dislike towards Spider. "I, um, just followed Lo'ak." Spider suddenly felt really small. He's always been intimidated by Cely, who he thought was just a mini-Neytiri. Who also hated him.

"Chill. He's my friend, Cely. The better question is what was going on before we walked out?" Lo'ak asked, saving Spider from getting his head bitten off.

Neteyam held Cely back as he talked, his hand gently pressed against her waist. He knew if he let her go, she might make a dash for Spider and well, kill him. "None of your business, Lo'ak. You shouldn't even be out here."

"And why is that, bro? Trying to lay it on Tsu'tey's daughter?" He snickered.

Something shifted in Cely. "You are behaving like a child, Lo'ak. Leave. Now." She hissed.

"Bro, let's just go." Spider said to the younger Sully brother, having already backed up a few feet.

"But I don't want to go!" Tuk whined. "Cmon, Tuk, let's go." She continued complaining as Lo'ak dragged her away from the Cove.

Once they were out of sight, Cely finally put her guard down again. She doesn't know why she felt the need to protect as strongly as she did. Maybe because Spider was there? He always manages to anger her. Or because they intruded on her private spot? Or, possibly, because of Neteyam?

Cely settled on Spider. It's easiest to blame him. And she couldn't handle the thought of why she would feel the need to protect Neteyam.

They're just friends, right? But what was the moment they had earlier?

Cely didn't want to think. She sat under a nearby tree that overlooked the land.

"What was that about?" Neteyam asked as he sat beside her, gently stroking a stray braid behind her ear. She huffed and played dumb as she leant into his touch. "What are you talking about?"

"I know you don't like Spider, but I think you could've killed him if I didn't hold you back. Why?"

"I don't know." She nervously fidgeted with her hands. "I don't buy that." Neteyam replied. He turned to her, pulling her body to face him also.

They sat there, sitting and facing each other. "I just don't like Spider." He couldn't help but chuckle. "I think you made him shit himself." Cely started laughing now too.

Without saying anything, Cely crossed her legs over Neteyam's. She rest her head against his chest, enjoying the feel of his heartbeat. Neteyam was in shock at first, then took her in his embrace. He leaned against the tree, with Cely in his lap. He lightly traced his fingers over back, noticing the stress leave her body just from his mere touch.

He didn't want to admit it, but he's seen how she acted before from others around the Village. Whenever a mate protects their bonded mate, it's typical to become very protective and territorial. Cely portrayed similar—perhaps identical— traits during the encounter, and Neteyam was very turned on from the thought.

He didn't want to overthink it, but he grew suspicions that she cared for him more than she let on. And he liked it.

So he just let her fall asleep in his arms for awhile. All his worries swept away with the girl of his dreams under his arms.

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