“Would you count Gogo as a friend?” Gannen asks.
Elodie glances up at me and back to my kit. “I’d be happy to include your gogo as a friend as well. A person can’t have too many, can they?”
“No. Sorin is my friend. Perhaps Talek as well. Maybe Cecily and Bazel. I’m not sure about Carter though. I do not know him that well.”
“I think you have a few more than I do, so you’re off to a great start,” she tells him with a smile.
Gannen shrugs. “Perhaps.”
“Why don’t you tell me all about your village since that’s what friends do, right? Learn about each other?” Elodie encourages. “I’d love to hear about your tribe.”
He launches into details about where we live, how many of us there are, and begins a story Moshi recently shared during an evening meal around the fire. She pays close attention to him, although her gaze often drifts to me. I would like to speak to her at some point, if for nothing more than to apologize for Gannen once more making her uncomfortable.
I do not want to take him to task in front of her, because I do not want him to withdraw into the quiet kit he used to be. He has grown confident since our tribe and the Tavikhi’s have become allies. I wish to keep fostering it. While Sorin will be our tribe leader—although perhaps not in my lifetime—he will need others nearly as strong as he is to be by his side. I want Gannen to be one of those people. I want him to be what I am to Kala. Not only a friend, but someone Kala trusts to lead and care for our tribe if he is away for any reason. Gannen cannot be that person if I quiet his voice.
Chapter 8
Elodie
My heart breaks for how lonely Gannen is. Hearing him describe his village and the people in it makes me realize how starved for affection he must be. Not necessarily from Ortak, because it’s clear he cares for his son. Loves him. But I’m gathering it’s not easy for the Krijese to show that love and caring. How can it be when all they’ve known is war?
Gannen finally takes a breath and Ortak quickly interrupts. “We should make our way to the central fire.”
On cue, my stomach growls. I slap my hands over it and laugh. “I’m hungrier than I thought.”
“Would you like any of the burim root before we leave?” Ortak asks.
“No, thanks. I’m trying to wean myself off it. The stuff wipes me out, and it’s too early in the day to be falling asleep. With my luck, I’ll face plant right into my plate or bowl.”
The same rough scraping sound erupts from Gannen. It scared the hell out of me the first time I heard it. Until I realized he was laughing. Does Ortak ever laugh or smile?
“Moshi once did that,” the young Krijese says. “His eyes kept drifting shut and then…splat.”
I chuckle at the image. “It’s not anything I’d like to experience, so, yeah, I’ll pass on the burim root.”
The second I move to get up, Gannen is on his feet to help. He’s such a sweetheart. I could tell he was hurt when I didn’t jump at the chance to be his mother.
If only it were that simple.
“Thank you, kind sir.” His hair has a ropey texture against my skin.
He smiles up at me, which also freaked me out at first. I thought he was going to bite me. Then I felt bad for thinking that. Once I’m standing on my good leg, Ortak appears at my side. He’s just as tall as Kyler, which means he’s going to have to stoop a bit for me to get my arm over his shoulder. He does so without me asking.
I drape my arm over him and it’s nothing like touching the Tavikhi healer. The second we’re skin-to-skin, a spark of electricity stings me. I jerk, and so does Ortak. His head whips to the side and those pitch black eyes widen. A tiny flare of silver bursts in the center, but it’s gone so fast I must have imagined it.
“Static, sorry.” That’s a reasonable explanation, right?
“It is fine.”
Fuck if that deep, gravelly rumble doesn’t give me goosebumps. More embarrassing than that is the fact my nipples have gotten hard and achy.Kill me now. Desperate to get to the central fire so I don’t have to touch Ortak anymore, I hop. He scuffles forward to keep up with me since I nearly fall. I keep my eyes forward and gauge the distance. The central fire isn’t even visible yet. Son of a bitch, I’m never going to make it all the way on my own.
My hops slow, but I don’t give up. My breathing is heavy and sweat drips between my boobs. I keep going, but then, my good leg gives out. Before I know what’s happening, Ortak scoops me up into his arms bridal style. I let out an undignified yelp and cling to his neck.
“You are a stubborn female.”
I huff a short laugh, because that’s the truth. “Guilty as charged.”
“Gogo often calls me stubborn as well,” Gannen announces, nearly running to keep up.
