But Ola interjects, “How did you get out of the cave? We went to the entrance but it was gone.” Her voice grows heavy. “We’ve been searching for you for days.”
“I—we—Drazak and I were hurt. The cave didn’t fully collapse, and once we recovered, we found another way out,” I tell her.
“Hurt?” Ola asks.
I shake my head, suddenly exhausted. “It’s a long story.”
“Did the boy make it out?” Haime pulls from her father’s grasp.
Aida and Zaeyr turn to their daughter. “What boy?”
“A naga boy.” I’m thankful for the change of subject. For good news, at least for Haime. But in the corner of my eye I see the sun hit the horizon line, a reminder of the coming night. “He made it out.” I manage another smile for her. “We left the cave together.”
Haime smiles back. “Where is he?”
“That’s enough,” Zaeyr orders. “We all have our answers now, and darkness is near. Haime!” He is stern. “Boy or not, it is time to tell the elders the news.”
I turn to Drazak.
“Milaye and—and her dragon will join us,” Aida states.
“They will not!” Zaeyr sneers.
“You are not the leader of us. The elders are. And as future matriarch, I will not turn my tribe’s sister away before nightfall, not when she has no supplies, has recently gone through a traumatic experience, and is hurt!”
“Female,” Zaeyr warns.
“Aida, it’s okay—” I begin.
“Enough! We have much to catch up on.” She scans me and Drazak from head to toe. “And I know you would never harm Haime. We all know how precarious she is. You will speak to the elders and tell us how you found each other.” She waves at us. “And have a cooked meal. A raw meal for you,” she says to Drazak. “When you are both rested, tomorrow we will decide what comes next.” When she is done, she turns to her mate. “She will need her belongings if she chooses to leave. I will not deny her all that is hers. This is Milaye’s home as much as it is ours.”
“Come, Haime, let’s head home,” Ola says and takes Haime’s hand. Aida, my sisters, and Haime start for the tribe. Zaeyr lingers.
I don’t know how I feel anymore. I press my brow to Drazak’s chest. There are claw marks all over it, and some of his glittering scales are broken. I’m pained all over at seeing him hurt.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“We will not live together,” he says. I know he speaks of Zaeyr. “You should have told me.”
“It did not cross my mind until right before. Please believe me.”
“I believe you.”
“Do you want to find a place to camp for the night? There’s a cave nearby that is stocked—”
Zaeyr rumbles. “My mate has opened up the tribe’s borders to both of you tonight—to him.” He snarls again. “You will honor her wishes. It is the least you can do. I sense, Milaye, that you are with child.His, I presume?”
He holds up his wounded hand and begins to lick the blood from it, watching us, waiting for my reply.
Drazak growls.
Ignoring Zaeyr, I continue, “We can stay in the cave tonight, and then I will visit the tribe come morning to collect my things, say my goodbyes.” What Drazak wants is all that matters to me now. Not what Aida or Zaeyr wants. Not even what the elders want.
Haime is safe.
She is safe.
From this day forward, protecting Drazak and our family is my purpose.
