“You are good at killing, and that is a gift, not a curse.”
He nodded his head and whispered, “A gift, not a curse.”
Brexl set down his bag and held me in a long embrace until Rhaz knocked on our door, letting us know it was time to go.
We made our way to the entrance, where the other three hunters were gathered, along with Tarak and Sozu.
“I’ve scouted ahead and the solete are alseep in their nest on the mountain ridge.”
It was a quarter of a day’s walk to the east mountain where the solete made their nest, and I hoped their hunt would be a quick success so Brexl could come back to me before the day was over.
“Thank you, Sozu,” Tarak clapped his hand on the young sirret’s shoulder. Sozu puffed out his chest with pride. He had only recently been allowed out on the trails alone. He was considerably smaller than the rest of the males, not just in height, but in build as well. He was still taller than the humans, however. Everyone but Talia.
“It’s time to go then,” Rhaz announced, looking ready for a fight as always.
Brexl nodded his head in agreement and Axon led the way outside.
I walked with my mate through the clearing all the way up to the treeline. I would have walked further if I thought Brexl would permit it, but I knew he wouldn’t. I didn’t want to let him go. I wanted to go back to our furs and feel his knot inside me, locking us together in the most intimate way possible.
We’d spent so much time misunderstanding each other’s desires that it felt cruel to be parted so soon after we’d officially mated.
“I must go now.” Brexl ran the back of his knuckles down my cheek. “I will return by the end of the night. You have my word that I will be joining you in the furs before the sun is fully set.”
“Promise?” I tried and failed to keep my voice even.
Brexl pulled me into his arms for a tight embrace, and I rested my head on his chest.
“I promise.”
Eventually, we let go and Brexl looked back one last time before he took off in a jog to catch up to the others.
Chapter 34
Brexl
CW: descriptions of hunting and killing animals
It was mid-morning by the time we made it to the east mountain. The cool fall air was refreshing as it swept across my face. We had about one full moon left, maybe two, before the snows came. If we were not successful today, then our chances for gathering enough food both for the dekes and for the offering would be slim.
“I will take the lead,” Axon announced. It was a given that he would do so. His heightened senses gave him the ability to know if something was coming long before it got to us.
“I will take the rear,” Rhaz suggested. He was not made for killing like I was, and he didn’t have any heightened senses, but by the goddess, there was nothing on this planet that could kill him.
I nodded my head and shifted into my monstrous form. I did not feel shame as I looked down at my bone-plated hands.You are not a monster. You are good at killing things on a planet where everything is trying to kill you. That is a blessing, not a curse.
Taylor’s words ran through my head.I am not a monster. I am not a monster.
“Ready?” Axon asked, already in his spider form.
“Ready,” I agreed.
The three of us climbed up the side of the mountain one silent foothold at a time until we were above the large solete nest made from the bones of their victims.
One bird had the body mass of two full-grown sirret hunters. Their wingspan stretched the length of four males.
Axon nodded his head. Then he and I moved behind each bird. At Axon’s signal, we jumped.
I sunk my claws deep into the back of one bird’s neck. It let out the most horrifying shriek. Rhaz and Axon were attacking the other bird together. It was flailing wildly as they slashed and clawed at its weak points.
