Alesha’s heart’s in the right place, but she doesn’t know all the details of my illness. “I’ll talk to Katem.”
We return to our tasks, but soon my attention drifts. I can’t be angry with her for suggesting I see their healer. Except I am, because that tiny flame of hope I’d buried deep down inside bubbles closer to the surface, and I resent her a little for sparking it back to life.
Approaching footsteps make me glance at the open doorway. A shadow appears and grows larger until its owner appears in the flesh. My heart skips a beat at the sight of Katem and I meet him at the entrance with a loud, smacking kiss and hug. My mate gives the best ones, holding me tightly like he’s sheltering me from a storm.
“Greetings, my beautifulkeeshla,” he says when I loosen my hold on him.
“Hi.” I smile, because he loves it when I do.
“How is your crafting going today?”
“I made a few more cups and even a vase. We’re going to fire it tomorrow, so hopefully we can find some flowers to place inside it and put them in our tent.”
“Wonderful. I look forward to their scent mixing with yours when I sleep at night.”
My nose wrinkles. “Are you saying I stink?”
Katem kisses the tip of my nose. “You smell delicious. It’s my favorite fragrance of them all.”
I giggle at his words. “That’s better.”
He glances over at Alesha. “If it is all right with you, I would like to take my mate down to the river to eat our midday meal.”
She gestures for us to go with a smile. “Go. I will go spend time with Wakiel.”
I wave goodbye and take Katem’s offered hand. We stroll through the village and there’s a surprising lightness to my steps despite everything. I’m doing my best to focus on all the good things and not worry about what might come. I want to enjoy whatever time I have left with my husband.
We stop at the central fire and fill our plates with seasoned meat and some kind of root vegetable before continuing on toward the river’s edge. The village is a little quiet today since apparently most of the older kits—Cecily and Carter, included—went hunting with a few of the warriors.
“Did you have a good training session this morning?” I walk close to Katem’s side because I love being near him.
“I was victorious more than I was not, although I do not like to admit to my mate that I lost even a single bout.”
That makes me chuckle, because he says it so genuinely and yet with a hint of amusement. One of these days I should go down to the arena and watch him spar. I can just picture all his bulging muscles as he’s fighting. Okay, maybe I’ll go sooner rather than later, because the image already has me warm. “I’m sure your mate still thinks you are the best fighter there is. You just let the other guy win so he didn’t feel bad.”
Katem snorts. “Yes, that is what happened. Evren already has much going on with poor Niella that I thought a win in the sparring arena would make him feel better.”
I nudge him playfully. “See. You are a kind and generous friend.”
“I am glad someone realizes this.”
Who knew my husband had a sense of humor? I love it. I lovehim. Neither of us have said the words out loud, but it’s more than clear we both know how the other feels. At least I hope it’s clear, because I love Katem more than I thought I could ever love another person. I feel his love in everything he does for me as well.
Finally, we make it to the bench that’s become our frequent place to be and take a seat. The air is a bit cooler than it has been, but the sun shining down keeps me warm enough. While I’m not necessarily looking forward to winter or the snow, there’s a new bit of excitement that I’ll be warm and toasty sharing furs with Katem. We’ve been living in our tent for not quite a week yet and while we still haven’t done more than kiss, every night the urge to do more increases. I’m not sure what’s holding me back. Fear most likely.
“Alesha told me the Bohnari are coming soon.”
He nods. “Evren spoke of that while we were sparring. He has been so filled with worry about Niella that he is unable to sleep. Astrid as well.”
“I hope the Bohnari healer is able to help them.”
“As do I.”
We settle into a comfortable silence while we eat. A few ketri leave the protection of the forest on the other side of the riverand come down to get a drink. I remembered what kind of rodent they remind me of. A chipmunk. They went extinct a long time ago, but there are pictures of them in Earth’s historical archives.
Katem clears his throat and I glance over at him. “I have been thinking.”
“Sounds dangerous.” I grin, but he doesn’t. My mouth flattens, because it isn’t often he’s so serious. “Is everything okay?”
