Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Suddenly, I am no longer in such a good mood. An ache builds behind my breast, even when he kisses me good morning and then gets up, shivering with cold. I watch him as he straightens the metal piece he wears over his nose—his breathing tool, he told me—and pulls on his warm, puffy tunic. I sit up in the furs. “What will you do today?”
“See what the captain has in mind, I suppose. I don’t think he’s ready to leave until he’s sure what the entire tribe wants. If there’s even one person that wants to leave, we’ll take them with us.” He shoves his leg through the clothing and then turns to look at me, pausing. His expression is hungry as he devours me with his eyes. “I know there’s still time, but…I have to ask again. Farli, go with me.”
“And lose my khui?”
“You won’t need it anymore.” He moves back toward the bed, his leathers falling off him. He gets down on his knees and then crawls over me, all graceful, deadly beauty. I put my arms around his neck and hold him close as he presses a kiss to my mouth and his weight rests over my body. I love the feel of him like this. “Just think about it a little more, all right?”
I will think of nothing else. It would mean losing everything I know and everything I have…to go with him. Am I brave enough to do such a thing? But I nod. “I will think on it.”
He grins and nuzzles my nose again. “Maybe after I check in with the captain, we can come back here and play a little more.”
My heart speeds up. “I like that idea. But I should check on Chahm-pee first.”
Mardok kisses me again. “We should both hurry back, then.”
We mate with our mouths for a little longer and then reluctantly dress. He is wearing his thick layers by the time I pull the privacy screen back and leave my house.
The moment I do, I hear a voice call out. “They are awake!”
Oh no. I laugh as I glance over. My three brothers are hurrying toward me, spears in hand. Salukh leads the way, and Zennek has a supply pack over his shoulder. Pashov sees me and grabs me around the shoulders in a mock-choke, tucking me under his arm and ruffling my mane. “What are you three doing here?” I ask. “It’s past time for you to go hunt.”
“We are taking your new mate out on the trails with us,” Salukh says.
“So he can meet the family,” Zennek says with a grin.
“And warn him about you.” Pashov ruffles my hair again.
“Warn him about me?” I laugh. “How is this?”
“We will tell him that if he mates with you, he is stuck with the biggest, smelliest beast on the planet,” Salukh says in a grave voice.
Zennek nods. “Chahm-pee. And how you will not let us eat him.”
I snort, escaping out of Pashov’s grasp. “Because he is my pet and that makes him my family. You do not eat family, fools.”
“Are you sure? You are looking meaty lately,” Zennek says with a pinch to my arm. I slap his hand away, laughing, only to have Zennek grab me by my waist and twirl me around. My brothers are silly.
Mardok emerges from my house a moment later, and a moment later, there is possessive hunger written on his face. “Don’t touch her!” He stalks forward and grabs me out of Zennek’s arms. “She belongs to me.”
Everyone goes still.
Pashov hoots with laughter.
“Do not touch her,” Zennek mocks, tossing his mane and pretending to be me. “Farli is my mate.” He flutters his eyelashes at me.
I roll my eyes and jab my brother with my finger. “Are you pretending to be me or him?”
Pashov grabs Zennek around the neck and ruffles his mane. “You will have to be patient with him, Mardok. Our brother is a little slow.”
They all three laugh, and Mardok looks at me.
“Family,” I say with a shrug of my shoulders. “These are my brothers.”
“Ah.” He rubs his ear, and that flustered expression crosses his face. Adorable. I sigh happily. “I am pleased to meet all of you.”
“And we,” Pashov announces, giving Zennek’s shoulders another squeeze, “are pleased you are so possessive of our sister. She deserves the best.”
“She does,” Mardok agrees in a soft voice, looking over at me, and I feel my khui begin to sing again.
“Your captain is visiting the village today and staying with Vektal and Shorshie. We thought we would come and take you hunting,” Salukh says, ever the serious one. “Get to know you better before you get your khui and join the family.”
I bite my lip. They do not know he does not want a khui. “Perhaps—” I begin.
But Mardok surprises me by nodding. “I will go, if Farli does not mind.” He looks over at me.