And yet you are provoked.
Vari is right and I don’t like it.
Yva laughs. “Or do you want to convince her to take you and Vari?”
“And what of it?” I struggle to keep the snap out of my words. The charge ripples over my skin, but not yet strong enough to light my markings.
Yva keeps his fingers pointed at the ground. “I am assessing the situation. You have had extra time to prove yourself that we have not had. That is hardly fair.”
He wants me to go on a hunt or disappear so that he has time to woo her.
I stand, unwilling to continue this discussion. “Thank you for the gol. I am going to bed.”
Before I snap and snarl and prove that I am an unsuitable mate because I am too quick to anger. That is my weakness. Most people only see the warrior who likes to cook and joke. They do not see me as a threat or someone to be wary of.
Those that have died by my hand know otherwise.
I walk over to my pack, noting that Edilk had taken the bundles of human things with him. That is for the best until we finish working out what they do. They have things that we don’t know how to make or operate.
By the time I turn, holding my gear and blanket, Vari is up and wishing them both a good night. I doubt either of them will have a restful sleep. They will be dreaming of mating.
And so will I.
My gaze drifts to the ship and the bed Vari had made us. I hope Sunif made good use of it. No doubt they will remain there tomorrow.
Another night on the ground will not kill me, and as nice as it would be to stay by the fire, I do not want Hrad and Yva watching or listening. Not tonight.
Sometimes we lie by the fire moving silently beneath the blanket, which usually involves Vari’s hand over my mouth. My lips curve. He might need to do that tonight, no matter how far away we walk. There is a need burning within me I don’t know how to sate.
More often, we make our bed away from the others.
Vari pulls a burning stick out of the fire, and I follow him, trusting him to know the best places to make a bed. While we were gone, three of them probably slept on the ship, while one remained on watch.
He leads me to the other side of the creek, crossing over stones to keep his feet dry. On the bank, he gathers enough small sticks to create the fire, while I spread out the blanket and make it as comfortable as possible.
I miss a proper bed.
Not so much the house it goes in unless it’s snowing. I like the stars overhead, watching me. And I like the travel and the freedom, both things I thought I’d hate when first banished. All I’d craved was the familiarity of my tribe and the land I grew up on. I understood the mountains, not the coast.
Together we gather a few bigger pieces of wood, so the fire burns all night.
Then he kisses me, much harder than when he greeted me. This has the taste of a desperate goodbye. He expects Bridget to choose me.
I cup his face and gentle the kiss.There is no need to feast as though you’ll never eat again.
You deserve a mate.
We both do, and I do not want to lose you.
You are young enough to have more. To return home.
I gave up on that dream when I woke from the storm pressed up against Vari and Sunif. They became my new tribe and my new home. My old one cast me out, as though I wasn’t even as useful as a beast's entrails.
I shake my head.You are my home.
I feel his frustration as my own. It will not take much for this to arc into a fight. That is not what I want.I don’t want sparks between us tonight.
He rests his forehead on mine as his hands slide under my shirt to skim over my skin. His touch is warm, sinking into my already hot blood.
