Our footsteps echoed down the corridor as we walked to the main cavern. The warmth and the light of the cook fire welcomed us, along with everyone who was relaxing there after the evening meal.
“Taylor? Taylor!” Fatima called out as soon as she saw her friend.
They hugged and Fatima wiped tears away from her face.
“They said you’d been kidnapped. I wasn’t sure if you’d make it back.”
“I’m back now.” Taylor assured her friend with a teary-eyed smile.
“I’m so glad you’re back!” Beatrice joined in their hug, and the other two women gladly opened their arms to her.
“Congratulations, my friend.” Tarak clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I am happy for you.”
Taylor froze next to me. Tarak’s congratulations could only mean one thing. They knew.
Chapter 13
Taylor
Shit!I was hoping Drovo and Kayla wouldn’t say anything, but they obviously had. I didn’t blame them. It’s not like I told either of them to keep it a secret. I hadn’t been thinking that far ahead at the time.
“This is so exciting!” Fatima cheered.
“Welcome to matehood,” Julie smiled.
“Congratulations,” Gabby said as she patted her ever-growing belly.
“Another couple, our hearts are bursting with joy for you.” Neelu squeezed my hand, and the joy radiating from her was unbearable.
I looked around the room and everyone was so happy. It was like our mating lifted the spirits of the entire community. They were happy because they thought we were happy. I couldn’t take that away from them, could I?
“Yeah, we’re very happy.” I plastered a very big fake smile on my face.
I took Brexl’s hand in mine and hoped he wouldn’t be mad that I didn’t stick to our plan. He looked surprised, but quickly hid his shock.
I caught Kayla looking at us out of the corner of my eye. She was standing next to Drovo who had his arm looped around her. She quirked an eyebrow at me, but I didn’t respond.
“Well, we had a long journey, and we’re pretty tired. So, I think we’ll turn in for the night.”
“Of course, of course!” Fatima helped us get clear of the crowd using her eldest daughter voice.
Brexl and I held hands as we made our way to his private cave, and as soon as we were inside with the curtain closed behind us, I apologized profusely.
“I’m so sorry, Brexl. I don’t know what happened. Everyone looked so happy, and I just couldn’t take that away from them. I know you don’t want to be mated, and I’m not looking to be in a relationship either, so I promise I’ll figure this out.”
“I...” Brexl closed his mouth, looked like he wanted to say something, and then thought better of it. “I understand.”
I wrung my hands together and looked around the room. It was similar to the other caves I’d seen with storage baskets, a bed of furs, a few shelves carved out of the rock, but unlike everyone else, he had bone carvings everywhere. They were cute little trinkets that lined his shelves, and some larger ones sat on the floor next to his bed.
“Do you mind if I stay in your cave tonight?”
“You can stay in my cave every night. What’s mine is yours.”
“Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I was so happy he understood where I was coming from that I kissed him on the cheek before leaving his cave to get my things.
***
Brexl
