We’d escaped, but we were all tired in a way sleep alone couldn’t fix.If I got a laugh or a real smile out of Jessa, I could rest easy tonight.
“You don’t even have feet,” she said as I inspected the jagged skin on her heel.“Maybe they’re supposed to look like that.”
I poked an angry red spot, not liking the warmth under her skin, or the slight swelling around the wounds.Jessa let out a squeak when I pressed harder on the red patch.
“Ow, ow, stop,” she gasped when I pinched at the hard spot I’d found.
“There’s still something in here,” I said, holding her ankle tighter when she tried to pull away.“It already looks infected, I need to get it out.”
“Can it wait until we have tweezers?”she begged, her fingers digging into my shoulders as I squeezed and manipulated the meat of her heel.
“I’m sorry.”I swallowed down the guilt of hurting her and pinned her foot to my knee, tilting my head to get as much of the moonlight as I could.Jessa yelped and my head wrenched to the side as she grabbed one of my horns.
“Careful with the head gear, you almost took my nose off,” she laughed weakly.
“Cover the tips with your hands,” I ordered her.“I’ll be quick.”
She did as I asked, and once I was sure my horns weren’t an issue, I pinched the wound and worked the shard of glass out with brutal efficiency.
“Holyow,” Jessa squealed.The glass glistened with her blood but it was out.I tilted my head back, gently freeing my horns from her grip and showed her my palm.
“If you’d walked a mile with this in your foot, it would have been much deeper.”
Her face twisted and she picked the shard off my hand.“So gross.I knew that spot hurt worse than the others, but I had no idea I had something that big in there.”
“We’ll rest here until dawn,” I said.“I’ll carry you tomorrow if you need.”
“Does that offer extend to me?”Jiith asked.He’d been so quiet I'd almost forgotten he was still cuffed to me.Jessa looked just as startled and I smiled at the idea that she’s forgotten him, too.
There hadn’t been time for a proper courtship, but my mate was just as fascinated with me as I was with her.
I let myself fall back, groaning in relief once all my weight was off my legs.Jiith was forced to sit beside me, his arm held as far from his body as he could manage to give us some space.
“I don’t plan on ripping your arm off and leaving you to die, if that's what you’re asking,” I said.
Jessa shot me a worried look and I held up my free arm and beckoned to her.
“Come, mate.Rest while we can.”
She limped to my side and took my hand, letting me help her down beside me.
“You keep saying ‘mate’ like I’ve agreed to all your claiming nonsense,” she said.The way she tucked herself under my arm and into my chest belying her words.
I leaned back slowly, cradling her head on my shoulder and staring up at the full moon.The dirt was hard, but still warm, and I was tired enough even the rocks under my back wouldn’t bother me for long.
“You’re my mate until you spurn me.And once we reach camp, and we’re safe, I’ll gentle you in the way of my people and you’ll be mine forever,” I murmured softly.
“I’m in no position to make demands,” Jiith said stiffly.“But if you could woo your mate when we’re no longer attached, it would be much appreciated.”
I tugged at our cuffed hands.
“I’ll woo my mate whenever the urge takes me,” I said.“Luckily for you, we’re all far too tired for that.”
The syto scooted away a few more inches and slowly laid down on his side, a groan of pain leaving him.
“I’ll see what I can do about the cuffs when the sun is up,” his words slurred weakly.
Within seconds, his breathing slowed in sleep.Jessa must have been listening as closely as I was because she lifted her head to squint at him over my chest.
