However, I am glad to be out of the hospital as I was bored.
I want to be in my own bed with Harper, our bed, so I’m waiting for a polite moment to leave the feast. There are humans in attendance, both to try the meat and to learn more about us. Most of them are working on the food situation or are scientists studying our biology and culture.
The meat was delicious and most welcome, and my brothers are now telling the story of the hunt, though they have left out the stabbing. They slash the air with the beasts’ claws, Orik steps in front of me hooked claw extended to my chest. Then he slips the leather necklace over my head, gifting me the claw as though we have eaten the specific beast that attacked me.
The human was buried while I was in the hospital.
There is still a bandage on my chest, and a small one covering my damaged kam. I have examined the split and tested my charge. I’m not sure it’s coming back. There is a part of me that is bitter about the loss, even though I have a mate who doesn’t care.
The doctor believes I am healed enough to go through rut. I don’t care what the doctor says. I do not want to wait…I cannot wait. I won’t be able to sleep in the same bed as Harper without tasting her. My meq has been half-hard all night.
Harper glances at me. Her hand rests on my thigh, making it clear that I am hers.Soon.
Edilk tells the story of the first banished warrior, and how he left his tribe in search of more women, and how he lit the sky to provide light for those who would come after him. The story then becomes our story. How we followed a shooting star, which turned out to be the humans’ ship, and found the Human tribe. A tribe without enough men.
Some of the human women laugh.
But unlike the banished who came before us, who dreamed of going home, we found a new home. A place to belong where we can share what we know with the people who are new to this world. He says it all beautifully and sticks to the points that I laid out for him—we spent the last two days deliberating what to say.
Edilk continues, “This feast is to celebrate the women who chose us and gave us a chance at life with a tribe. Something we believed out of reach.” My brothers stand up and hold their mates close.
We have this chance because we followed Edilk. But we left some brothers behind because they believed crossing the ocean was too dangerous.
My gaze slides to Hrad. Has he been talking to possible mates? If he has, he has said nothing, but Hrad doesn’t talk much.
“And for the newest woman to choose a Honey warrior as her mate…Harper.”
I was not expecting that. Harper stands and offers me her hand to help me up. There was a time when I would’ve been too proud to accept the help because I needed to prove I didn’t need anyone. I take her hand and stand, hiding the wince as my chest muscle pulls.
“Go and claim your warrior. You have been waiting long enough,” Edilk says.
There is some good-natured cheering and laughing. Now we do not need to sneak away. I want to carry her away from the fire, instead we walk, hand in hand.
She ducks her head as her cheeks darken. “Is that normal?”
“To congratulate new mates? Yes.” Though in a tribe it is because a new couple means more children will follow. “Being chosen is an honor.”
“It is.” She pulls me into the shadows of a building and kisses me. My hands cup her ass, holding her tight and my meq hardens, pressing against my pants. I don’t know how I have resisted her for so long.
I groan and break the kiss. “If we do not move, I will be tempted to take you here.”
It’s Harper who drags me the rest of the way to our room. Her hands slide under my shirt as we wrestle to remove shirts and pants. I tug on hers, dragging them over her hips.
“Boots.” She steps back and crouches to unlace her shoes, then she glances up at me. “Sit on the bed.”
“I want to taste you.” I don’t care about removing my clothes.
“You will, but you need to get your boots and pants off first.”
I thought my clothes would come second, after she’s naked and I have made her come. But since she asked, I obey.
She’s naked before I am, pulling off my boots and tossing them aside before climbing onto my lap. Her hand brushes over the bandage. “I don’t want you to rip your stitches.”
“I do not care about my stitches.” The doctor can redo them. I cup her ass. My palms on her bare skin. My only regret is that I didn’t pull my pants off before I sat to feel her pussy on my meq.
“Well, I do.” She presses on my shoulder. “Lie down and you can taste me…then I’m going to ride your cock.”
Once again, I do as she says, because she knows what she wants…and she’s had sex before, so she knows what she likes. Being with a woman is not the same as being with another banished warrior. This is not a fuck to soothe an urge.
