“You’re welcome,” the beastman called softly.
After a moment, I heard footsteps behind me and whirled around angrily, expecting Khel.
It was the male I’d asked for directions.
The snarl on my lips fell and I sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
The male grinned and dipped his head in a nod. “It’s understandable,” he chuckled with a shrug. Jerking his chin in the direction I was headed, he fell into step beside me. “Let me show you where. My Mina will want to know all about the fresh meat,” he joked.
“You talk so well,” I blurted as we walked.
“Bia,” the male introduced himself. “I’m Mina’s. My Mama is Dorothy. You met her yesterday. You’re Prudence.”
I nodded and slipped my hand from my thick fur blanket to offer him a short wave.
He frowned thoughtfully as he pointed out things that would help me find my way in future. “I thought Mama said you were staying with Kehl.”
“Didn’t really work out,” was all I was willing to offer.
He nodded knowingly. “Kehl insists he never wants a mate.”
“Yes,” I said simply.
“But you smell like his mate to me,” he pointed out, then gave a sniff. “And some kind of herb…”
“Peppermint,” I answered for him, hoping he left it at that. “Kehl isn’t overly fond of peppermint. Kind of a deal breaker for me, I’m afraid,” I muttered.
Bia just nodded, though he looked surprised to hear it was me that broke it off with Kehl.
“He just let you go?” he blurted curiously.
“It was mutual.” Giving him a look, I muttered, “I don’t really want to talk about it. I just want to get to this hut I’m supposed to stay at and settle in.”
“Did Kehl say what hut because after the last heavy snow I thought two of them needed major repairs?”
I shook my head. “We had an argument. I just wanted to get the hell out of there.” It was close enough to the truth I thought it should pass the sniff a lie detector test.
“There’s one hut that’s liveable but the female staying there… I wouldn’t force her company on any being.” He got a little growly as he spoke of this person, whoever they were.
“We still keep my hut. We won’t mind if you stay there. Would that be alright with you?” he asked. “We keep it stocked up, just in case.”
“Thank you.” I gave a short nod. “That would be wonderful.”
“Good. I’ll take you there then. It’s this way.”
Following Bia, the farther I tromped away from Khel, the worse the ugly feeling churning in my stomach grew.
By the time we reached the hut Bia had offered, I was snow soggy, a headache brewing, nausea roiling. I just wanted to be alone with my miserable self and my headache inducing thoughts.
The hut was cute, small, a cozy bungalow of Yeti beastman living. Bia asked if I knew how to start a fire with the items he held out to me. When I admitted I could he stood to watch me start a fire up with the little lint ball of fur and flintlike rock, waiting until I had it going and ready to add a log on before he’d admit he was impressed.
“Wild and Woolly. It was a youth wilderness survival club the place I grew up in used to host most summers. My mom helped run it until I outgrew it.”
“I’m impressed.” Bia smiled then. “Are you and your mother close?”
“We were.” Glancing around, I walked over to a small window and closed the cutesy little curtains on it.
Turning around to find Bia studying me, I answered the question he didn’t ask, knowing he’d probably picked up the way I’d bristled at his comment. “She died last year. Both of my parents did. It’s all still feeling new and weird for me.”
