Chapter 14

Kyler

Sleeping beside my mate had been another night of agony. I had woken up more than once to find Zara’s body nearly draped over mine. My hard cock had made it difficult to return to sleep when I had wanted to do nothing more than wake her with kisses and slide into the warm heat of her cunt. My mating nodes had been preparing for that very thing and leaked the mating fluid all males possess that is meant to enhance our mate’s pleasure.

But I must resist. Zara is healing and still recovering from her ordeal. As much as I wish to take her to my furs, I have to control my urges until she is well. Still, thoughts of her bathing have invaded my mind all day, distracting me from my work. I have pictured her bare cunt countless times as well as imagined my hands running over her wet and naked body as I help her wash. My fingers ache to explore her chest mounds, along with the rest of her.

Loud voices from outside the tent draw my attention. I finish smearing the healing salve on Rojtar’s chest, which is looking well, and cleanse my hands. When I step outside, the sun is high in the sky, and a pleasant breeze brings with it the scent of burning fiku wood and the faint odor of the nenuphar bushes that are blooming all along the banks of the river. Several warriors carrying sparring staffs stride past in the direction of the central fire. There does not appear to be a sense of urgency, but the memory of the recent Njeri attack is not far from my mind.

“Is all well?”

Katem glances at me. “The Bohnari have arrived.”

With everything that has gone on over the last few turns, I had forgotten that our allies from the neighboring planet were going to be landing here soon. We have been trading with their tribe since I was a kit. I follow the warriors to greet our visitors.

Tribespeople have already begun to gather. It is always a celebration when the Bohnari arrive. The elders bring out their special drink, and our people trade stories long into the night. Perhaps this is what Zara meant when she asked about having fun. It is always an enjoyable time when our allies visit.

Zander welcomes Alik, the Bohnari leader, with a fist to his chest as a sign of respect and the two males clasp forearms. A sudden tingling of my mating marks turns my head. As though a tether links us together my eyes land on Zara. She wears clean coverings and her hair lies wet down her back with several droplets sliding down the side of her face. In her arms are her dirty chest and leg coverings. My heart leaps at the sight of her. Only she is not looking at me. Her gaze is locked on Alik and the obvious interest on her face stabs me straight in the chest. I do not believe she has ever gazed upon me with the same expression.

Eloise nudges my mate in the side and Zara shifts her gaze until it lands on me. She smiles widely and redirects her steps to approach me. The scent of berries drifts on the breeze, but beneath it is my mate’s own unique scent.

“Hey, you,” she greets me. “I see we have a visitor. This one looks to be a friendly though.”

Something twists inside my gut despite her perceived happiness at seeing me. Humans do not feel the bond like Tavikhi do. Just because she is my mate until I travel to the lands of Deeka, it does not mean it is the same for her. There is nothing tying her to me if she chooses someone else.

“Is something wrong?” Zara asks, breaking into my thoughts. “You’re looking at me weird.”

I force a smile to my mouth. “Apologies. All is well.”

She does not appear to believe me but does not question my reply. Instead, she gestures at the Bohnari leader who moves around the fire and greets several of the elders who have approached. “I take it this guy’s a friend?”

Before Zara looked at Alik the way she did, I would have said yes, but a vicious emotion blooms inside me, and I have a sudden desire to punish him for daring to arrive at our village now. I force down the urge and manage a nod.

“He is a Bohnari who lives on the neighboring planet. The rest of his warriors will be here soon.”

“Oh, yeah, I’ve heard about them from Benham. They’re the ones who provide him with the metal he uses in the forge to make your weapons.” Her eyes widen when she once again looks upon Alik. “I’ve been curious about them since. Aren’t they also the ones who gave you all your translators?”

“Yes. We trade with them at the beginning of every warm season.”

“Cool. I wonder what other kinds of things they have that we might be able to use?” Zara asks.

There is an intense desire to grab her and run away so she has no chance of speaking with any of the Bohnari males. This is not a feeling I have ever experienced before, this possessive need to let every male know that she is mine. It started on the trip back here with Rassim, even though he is mated. But the Bohnari do not have females on their planet after some great disease ripped through their species and took them all.

“I am not sure.” The words are dragged out of me against my will.

It is then that Alik draws nearer to where we stand. I do not want him speaking to Zara.

“How was your bath?” I do my best to distract her.

Far too slowly, she pulls her gaze away from the Bohnari leader to meet my eyes. “It was great. I feel like a new woman. You’re probably going to have to tighten my splint again.”

That is the perfect excuse to take her away from here. “Come then, let us return to your tent, and I will take care of it.”

“Healer,” a booming voice echoes.

I turn to find Alik approaching. His gaze moves to Zara and scans her from head to toe. I do not like the look in his eyes, and a feral growl rumbles up from my chest. Both his and my mate’s heads jerk in my direction, hers with widened eyes and a gaping mouth. Alik, on the other hand, smirks and my fists clench with the need to strike him across the face.

“It would seem congratulations are in order on your mating,” he says. “Your goddess chose a beautiful female.”

Zara’s cheeks turn a different color, and she dips her head. Needing to show him who she belongs to, I wrap my tail around her waist and drag her against my side. She stumbles slightly and sucks in a breath, but I quickly right her. Thankfully, she remains where she is, but there is a rigid tension to her.

“I’m Zara.” She introduces herself after a sharp glare in my direction and stretches out her hand.

The Bohnari leader glances down at it and then places his own within hers. “I have heard of this thing you humans call a handshake. Greetings, Zara. I am Alik.”

“Nice to meet you.”

He flicks his gaze to mine before meeting hers again. One side of his mouth curls up. He still has not released her. “The pleasure is most certainly mine.”

The growl rumbles from my chest again, but Alik is not at all bothered. Zara, on the other hand, grows even more tense. As though sensing I have reached my limit, he lets go of her. He gestures to her injured arm. “Come to our ship later to meet with our healer. He can repair that for you.”

With those words, he walks away and greets Zydon and several of the other warriors who have joined the group. The moment he is out of hearing range, Zara shoves her elbow into my side—pushing herself away—and whirls on me.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she hisses like an angry luani kit. “You were acting like a damn caveman.”

“I do not know what a caveman is.”

She puffs out her chest mounds and walks stiffly for a few steps with an exaggerated swing of her shoulders. “I’m a big, tough man,” she says in a deep voice. “Let me swing my dick around and show you who’s got the bigger one.”

I have heard this word…dick. I glance down. “My cock is average size, but it is not swinging around. It is inside my leg coverings.”

This time it is Zara who growls. “For fuck’s sake, it’s a figure of speech. Seriously though, what is your problem?”

“I did not like the way Alik was looking at you.” The admission is dragged from me.

She gapes. “Are you kidding me?”

My only response is silence. She narrows her eyes and stomps away. I follow. Zara does not stop until she reaches her tent. With a rough yank, she jerks open the flap and goes inside. I only hesitate for a beat before I continue in behind her. She throws down her dirty coverings and spins with a hand on her hip.

“You know, I always thought it would be hot to have a man all jealous and possessive over me, but now I don’t think I do. I’m actually pretty annoyed.”

Is that what this emotion in that swirls and rages inside me? Jealousy? “You are my mate.”

“And that gives you the right to manhandle me? Because some guy was talking to me?” She tosses up her good arm.

“He wanted to do more than talk, and you were looking at him the same way.”

Zara flinches and sucks in a harsh breath. Her bottom lip trembles. “Is that the kind of person you think I am? Just because I think a guy’s attractive, you think I’m going to spread my legs for him even though I have a husband—a mate?”

Her questions make my entire body go still. I even believe my heart stops beating. A bitter emotion spirals through me.

Shame .

It settles like a massive stone in my belly. I swallow, and my shoulders drop in ugly defeat as I bow my head and stare at the ground. “I am a fool. While I am undeserving of your forgiveness, I will beg for it anyway, and do not blame you if you do not give it. From the depth of my soul, you have my apologies for hurting you, Zara, and for being such an unworthy male to a female who has done nothing to earn my jealousy.”

Footsteps approach, but I do not raise my head. I am not fit to even gaze upon my mate’s face. If she chooses to reject me, it is my own fault, and I will live with the consequences of my actions. A small, warm hand cradles my cheek.

“Look at me, Kyler,” Zara commands softly.

Slowly, I lift my gaze to hers. She does not smile or offer me words of comfort. As well she should not.

“We’re both new to this whole mating thing, so we’re learning as we go,” she strokes my skin gently. “I am your mate. But I am also a female. Just because I find another male attractive does not mean that there is anything between us or that there ever will be. It hurt— a lot —that you would think I would do something like that. That’s not who I am.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

Once again shame fills me and I step back, breaking our connection. I cannot look Zara in the eyes as I make a confession. “I was not entirely truthful with you before.”

“About what?”

“I was not close to my brother.” This is the first time I have spoken the truth to anyone outside of my family.

She moves in front of me and to my surprise, takes my hand and leads me to her pallet. “I feel like we should be sitting for this conversation.”

Together, we take a seat on her furs, once again facing each other. Zara does not loosen her hold on my hand and for that I am grateful. She gives me her strength.

“Tell me about Syler.”