My pulse is rushing in my ears as I stare at the fierce little female my Bea has become. “I can never have heart-stars foryou.” The words are nothing but truth, though they feel like spearheads in my heart.
Stepping closer, she takes my hand in both of hers. “I know… All this time I was hoping to see them because it took the pressure off me. Because if didn’t have a choice, I couldn’t make the wrong one. But, Zyn-” her little hands squeeze mine, “-it was never a choice anyway. Not loving you would be like the suns not coming up or the river not flowing. It’s just the way it is. It’s just the waywe are. I was pretending the heart-stars were choosing for me, but they never had to.”
I swallow thickly, wondering if perhaps that blow to the head has done more damage than I thought. “You…” my words are thin on my tongue. I find my one good eye has a hard time looking directly into hers, so I focus on where our hands are embracing each other, and brush the back of her knuckles with my thumb. “You would…choose me?” My voice cracks like splintering mountain ice.
When I finally look to her face again, she is smiling, though her eyes shine with water. “Yes, Zyntarr. I choose you. And I will choose you in front of both tribes. I will choose you in front of any temple, in my dreams and in all our lifetimes to come.”
I… do not have the right words. “That is a lot of choosing, little Bea. You had better be sure to be right.”
She shoves me again, softer this time, her wet eyes full of laughter. “Of course I’m right,” she chuckles, leaning close, rising up on the tip of her toes to try and reach me. I cannot help but duck down to meet her half way, giving her my bruised and swollen lips. “I’m always right when it comes to you,” she says, keesing me tenderly as her hand strokes my starless chest.
Chapter 30 - Bea
It has been three days since I found Zyn tied up and in danger. The only thing he’s in danger of now, is a hoarse voice from groaning my name all night - and all day - long.
I’vealsotied him up, and he liked it better when I did it.
Honestly, I think Zarriko’s tribe are getting sick of us. We don’t contribute to the village, I’mclearlynot going to entertain any of their males coming close - and neither is Zyntarr for that matter.
We’re sticking around to find out what is to be done to the male who hurt Zyntarr, though. He’s been bound to the central pole of one of the store huts for the past few days, and is looking pretty worse-for-wear.
I won’t pretend to feel sorry for him.
In fact, I took particular glee in the angry look he gave Zyntarr and I when we were allowed to visit him.
My man and I made sure that I’d walk into that storage hut wearing his stars - those twinkly little signs that tell everyone I’d just been fucked -hard and thoroughly.
“So…” Sophia starts, offering me some fish and vegetables as Zyn and I come to sit with her and a few others in the High Spear’s hut. Zyntarr is quick to pinch some spices from his pouch and sprinkle it on my plate. “How are you two settling-”
“Fine.” My answer comes out not quite a snap, but nowhere near casual. Iamsitting here lit up like a Christmas tree because of our earlier ‘activities’, after all.
Readjusting myself on the floor cushion I’m sitting on, I clear my throat and try again. “Zyntarr and I are fine, thank you.”
Zarriko makes a grunting noise that gets abruptly cut off by Sophia elbowing him in his side. She turns back to me with an overly bright smile. “That’s great! I’m happy to hear it,” she says, handing Zyntarr some food now.
Leona, Colette, and a few of the males from Rynn’s tribe are here too. It’s kind of an informal gathering for the High Spear to be able to talk to them and see how they’re finding the exchange so far. I think the whole thing was Sophia’s idea, to be honest.
“So what are you going to do with the guy that ambushed Zyntarr?”
I could have waited to get the small-talk out of the way, but I find I don’t really want to.
Sophia looks to Zarriko. Zarriko blinks back at me.
He sighs. “Zyryll has been a good Protector, and skilled hunter for our tribe-”
“Zyrylltried to kill my mate,” I spit, putting my plate of food down so I can better lace my fingers with Zyn’s massive hand.
Zarriko’s eyes go from my face, to our hand-holding, then up to Zyntarr’s still bandaged chest. “You have…?” he doesn’t finish his question, only jerks his head in the direction of Zyn’s torso.
Zyntarr’s jaw tightens. “My scars,” he grunts. “They are too deep for heart-stars.”
I squeeze my man’s hand. “But that doesn’t matter. Zyntarr and Iaremates. We know it.” I gaze meaningfully up at my big guy, bringing our hands to my mouth so I can press a kiss to the back of his palm. When I look back to Zarriko and Sophia, I make sure to square my shoulders and straighten my spine. “So make sure neither you, or any of your tribesmales questionour matehood, or we’ll be sure to tell High Spear Rynn about how one of your guys attacked my mate and you’re yet to punish him… and I don’t think that would reflect well on this whole exchange program you guys are trying to push, huh?”
Zarriko looks at us both for a long while, his keen eyes giving away nothing, but his authority obviously not so used to being confronted. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that when Sophia reaches across to place her hand on her mate’s thigh, he visibly inhales, and his stars twinkle faster. “Your matehood will not be questioned,” he finally starts. “But should the Goddesses choose to bless another male with stars for you-”
I get up. “Come on, Zyn. Let’s go home.”
“Bea-” Sophia calls. Trying to get me to stay, no doubt.
