Page 224 of Beasts of Mine

Tavian had been restless since sunrise, though not unhappy. He'd slept beside me the night before at the small lodging near the river access, but he'd woken twice and scented my neck before settling again. His mark rested along my right gland, fully healed now. Malek's and Luca's had healed too.

Three permanent marks.

Three men.

And I was still taking assignments.

I liked that.

“You think they've reached the trail yet?” Tavian asked me as he leaned forward with his elbows braced against his knees, watching the riverbank as though the sanctuary might appear sooner if he paid enough attention.

“No. And asking every ten minutes isn't going to make the boat move faster.” I answered Tavian as I checked the protective cover over my camera case, mostly because I'd already checked it twice and my own impatience needed somewhere to go.

“I asked twenty minutes ago.” Tavian corrected me as he turned toward me, offense entering his expression even though his fingers kept tapping against one knee.

“It was twelve.” I told Tavian as I raised an eyebrow, enjoying the brief pause before he realized I'd actually been keeping track.

“You timed me?” Tavian asked as a grin replaced the offended look on his face.

“I've known you long enough to collect evidence.” I informed Tavian as I leaned back against the bench, the motor vibrating beneath us while sunlight flickered over the water. His purr began quietly beneath the engine noise. Tavian turned toward the trees again, and some of the humor left his face as the tapping against his knee finally stopped.

“I missed them.” Tavian admitted as his shoulders relaxed, his voice softer now.

“I know.” I told Tavian as I rested my hand over his knee, rubbing my thumb once across the fabric of his pants. Tavian covered my fingers with his, his palm warm against mine.

“So did I.” I added as I turned my hand beneath his and linked our fingers, letting the admission sit there without turning it into anything bigger.

The station appeared around the next bend. Mara wasn't waiting at the landing this time, which wasn't surprising. I'd already given her our return date, and unlike my first arrival after Patagonia, I wasn't coming back for anything related to the station. This assignment had been through a different client. The boat was simply still the easiest way to reach this section of rainforest without raising questions about why I kept disappearing into an area with no public lodging.

We unloaded quickly. Tavian took his own bag and waited until I handed him the smaller equipment case rather than reaching for it, which meant two weeks of traveling with a professional photographer had taught him at least one useful survival skill.

The trail was wet from rain the night before. Mud darkened the edges of the path, droplets clung to broad leaves overhead, and the forest had no intention of giving Tavian a quiet welcome.

Loud spotted one returned, a toucan announced from somewhere above us as leaves shifted high in the canopy, its blunt voice perfectly clear to me beneath the ordinary calls Tavian could hear.

A laugh escaped before I could stop it.

“What?” Tavian asked me as he glanced up toward the canopy and then back at me, suspicion appearing immediately when he realized the toucan had apparently said something worth laughing about.

“It said the loud spotted one came back.” I told Tavian as I stepped around a muddy patch in the trail, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.

Tavian stared at me for a second.

“I've been back for less than an hour.” Tavian complained to me as he spread one hand, looking personally offended despite needing me to translate the insult in the first place.

He is still loud, another bird observed from deeper in the trees, its voice carrying through a cluster of calls I couldn't immediately place.

I laughed again.

“That one said something too, didn't it?” Tavian asked me as he narrowed his eyes and looked toward the vegetation, clearly able to tell from my reaction that the forest was still discussing him.

“Nothing important.” I assured Tavian as I stepped toward a slick root crossing the trail.

“Evie.” Tavian warned me as he climbed over the root first and reached one hand back, leaving his palm open for me while his suspicious expression deepened.

“They were doing fine before I got involved.” I reminded Tavian as I used his fingers for balance and crossed the root, deliberately avoiding the translation.

“That wasn't an answer.” Tavian pointed out as he kept hold of my hand until both of my boots were secure on the other side.