Orik gives a small laugh.
“You have sailed before,” Hrad says to Bridget as though impressed. His voice is rough from lack of use.
I draw in a breath and bite back on a snarl. I don’t want him anywhere near her, not if Orik has a chance. That is when I know for sure I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure he has a mate.
Bridget shakes her head.
“Can you swim?” Hrad presses.
The device he put in his ear translates what she says, and hers must translate his words. I want to know what is being said.
Orik tilts his head.The women can’t swim. They need to learn before we sail.
I had to teach him to swim and sail because his people are a mountain tribe.
Mia and Bridget share a few more rapid words and neither of them seem happy. Our tribe is too small for there to be friction between us.
“There is much to discuss,” I say, even though I will not understand the women’s response. “We found gol and brewed some for your return—though we did not think we would be celebrating mates and mourning Tiril, Sunif and Aldit.”
Mia grumbles. Whatever is going on with her and Sunif is already causing problems. I frown and glance at Orik. There is much that isn’t being said about Sunif.
I will tell you later.
Then he speaks out loud. “They aren’t here to tell their tale. We mourn the loss of their wisdom. If they return, we will celebrate again.”
Orik is always seeking an excuse to celebrate. Without his good cheer, we would’ve been at each other’s throats a long time ago. Edilk might be the leader, but Sunif is the elder, and Orik is the fire always bringing warmth to what would otherwise be a cold bed.
He moves ahead to check the meat over the fire as if he doesn’t trust anyone to cook a proper meal. To be honest, no one cooks as well as him.
He can fight, and fuck, and cook. He is the kind of warrior that a woman desires in a mate. He’s the warrior thatIdesire.
His lips curve as if I spoke aloud, then he tilts his head at the ship as if he wants to disappear for the night already. If there were no women, I might be tempted. But as he said, there is much to discuss and not all of it should be done while sharing a blanket.
There’s a bitterness that I don’t want to swallow.
I don’t want to lose him, but I also need to do the right thing by him, and they are not the same thing.
We will have tonight.
We will drink, and fuck, and in the morning, the unmated men will begin to vie for Bridget’s attention. Orik needs to be one of them. I will make the most of the little time we have together.
3
BRIDGET
There is a hunger in Orik and Vari’s gazes, a heat that I wasn’t prepared for. Orik is all smiles as he passes around the gol and meat. Vari is more cautious, but I can feel him assessing me. Is he worried that I will choose Orik?
I want to. I like him. He’s funny and caring and knows how to break up trouble before it starts. But I don’t want to split them up.
And I don’t know if I can handle two alien warriors.
Nor do I want to create a situation like Mia did.
That Sunif returned and begged for forgiveness, and she accepted him, means that the matter is settled. Except that Vari and Orik lost their bed on the ship. It was a kind gesture, but I wonder what they will do now when it is clear even to me that they are sharing a lot of silent communication. The little affectionate touches are obvious to everyone.
Their relationship is not a secret, or forbidden, and while Orik called it an attachment as though it is something temporary, it doesn’t look casual or short term to me.
Hrad’s eyes are as dark as the fire as he leans in once again to talk to me. I wish I could say it was because he is fascinated by the whisperer in his ear that translates my words, but that’s not the cause. He wants me to be aware of him—it’s kind of hard not to notice him, or any of them.
