This time, his groan wasn't the pleased kind. "Insatiable." But he turned his head to look at me. "So you know, that's another one of those things I like about you."
I didn't know what to say to that, but I felt it. It was warm, soft, and trapped deep inside me somewhere, right beside the way I felt about my dogs.
Fifty-Three
Rymar
Zasen and Ayla went out to hunt for the meat we were stocking up to give to the Moles. They'd left right at sundown, but weren't back yet. Kanik had gone to help with the kitchens, doing his part to keep the Reaper camp running, but he'd already finished and returned.
"Just staring at the fire?" he asked, pulling up a log to sit beside me.
I nodded slowly. "They've been out there a while. Sounds like the rest of the camp is going to bed."
"The watch is in the trees," he assured me.
I murmured. "Yeah, but they didn't go that way."
Softly, Kanik chuckled. "Rymar, Ayla hasbothof those dogs with her. Right now, she's probably as safe as Lansin."
"You know, he has a puppy she likes," I pointed out.
Kanik groaned, rolled his eyes, and laughed at the same time. "At some point, you're going to run out of money, and she's going to run out of time to keep all of her pets fed."
"I was thinking," I said, completely ignoring that. "You know, we could build a kennel on the open lot. Put up runs."
"Better idea," Kanik suggested. "We attach it to the house. I mean, do you think Ayla would leave her dogs in another building where she can't pile them all on her bed?"
"Good point," I agreed. "She'll still need some sort of kennels, though. I've been looking around, and all the mother dogs have their own space with the puppies."
"Mhm," Kanik said, flashing me a smile. "So what kind of dog do you want?"
I scoffed. "A trained one."
"I want spots," Kanik said. "Mostly because they're no good for hiding. Solid white would be amazing, but those are so rare. But if Icouldhave a dog like that, it'd mean there's no more need to fight Moles. It could protect me when we go to trade and be a pet the rest of the time."
"And be good with kids," I added.
He grunted. "Rymar, I don't need kids."
"Yes," I countered, "you do. The ones you teach."
"Okay, those, yeah," he relented. "But I don't need myownchildren."
"Need or want?" I asked.
He rocked his head from side to side. "I'm going with need, but only because I could be okay with kids if they happened. I'm not looking for them, but I'm not out of this relationship if something goes wrong. See, unlike Saveah, I am not enamored by babies. I like them right around school age. Talking. Before that, they're just... I dunno."
"Kids," I agreed. "And I'm sure I'd love my own, but I'm not heartbroken Ayla isn't clamoring for them. Zasen isn't either."
"And if she changes her mind?" he asked.
I kicked at the dirt, making a line between me and the fire. "We'd be amazing dads. I know we would, but I really think we're much better uncles."
"Yeah, we..." His head snapped up and his words trailed off.
I turned to check what had caught his attention in time to see Pepper rushing toward us. The light of the fire made the red stains around her mouth stand out. There was more on her chest.
I shoved to my feet, my heart slamming to a halt - and heard the most beautiful giggle. Ayla's.
