Chapter 6

Kyler

For more than four lunar cycles, I have watched Zara and during none of them has she ever been this quiet. She is bold and always has something to say. There are warriors who fear Benham, our head warrior and weapon maker, even now that he’s mated and has become slightly more approachable. Yet, even before Maeve triggered his mating marks, Zara bravely faced him without hesitation and asked to apprentice at his forge. She showed more courage than many of the young Tavikhi.

Remi closes the distance between her and Zara. My mate darts a glance in my direction. As much as I do not want to leave her side in case she needs me, I slow my pace and move slightly behind to give the two females a bit of privacy. Whispered words are exchanged between them and Remi’s gaze shifts over her shoulder to me several times and each time, I meet it. I also try not to stare at my mate’s backside, but I am far from successful. Where her tribe sister is tall and slender, Zara is much shorter with far more curves. If memory serves, she is only slightly taller than Maeve, who is the smallest of the females.

Finally, Remi breaks away and returns to Zydon’s side. My steps quicken and in moments, I am walking next to my mate again. Even if she does not speak to me, I want to be close.

“Remi said that, after her, you were the first to volunteer to come get me.” Zara surprises me by breaking the silence between us.

“Yes.” There is no reason to deny it.

A long pause follows my response. “Did you know then?”

“Did I know what?”

Zara swallows. “That I was your mate?”

I had not expected to be asked such a thing. There should not be any lies between us though. As much as I am uncertain how my keeshla feels, I cannot hide myself from her. “No.”

She nods.

“But I had hoped.”

Zara turns her head in my direction. Her eyes, with their dark smudges beneath, are wide. “You…hoped?”

“Yes.”

A large fallen branch covers the path in front of us. I move even closer to assist her over it. Her breaths are labored from the steady upward trek through the hillside. To my great pleasure, she takes my hand without hesitation and climbs over the fiku limb. I leap over and we resume walking.

“Why?” Zara asks after several moments.

Why had I hoped? Does she not realize any male would be lucky to call himself her mate?

“Is it because I’m one of the few females left?” she asks before I can tell her my reason.

“Of course not.”

Zara gives me the human gesture called a shrug. “I mean, I’d understand if I was just the last resort. I know you guys have been hurting for fated mates for years and a lot of you have given up on the idea you might find yours.”

“That is not the case at all,” I rush to assure her. “You are not a last resort. I have prayed to Deeka you were my mate almost from the moment you came to the village with the shefira and the rest of your tribe sisters.”

No doubt I have now scared her.

“You have?” Zara’s voice rises in disbelief. “But…but why? I don’t understand.”

“It is not something I can explain. From the instant I saw you there has been something pulling at me. A need of some kind.” It never lessened. “Of course, it was only wishful thinking. I am nearly an elder. You are a young female, and there are many young warriors. One of whom I was certain Deeka had chosen as your mate.”

“I see.”

I glance over at her. There was a tone to her words I cannot interpret. Was it disappointment? “I know I am probably not the kind of mate you would wish for yourself, but?—”

“What kind of mate do you think I wish for exactly?” Zara cuts me off so abruptly I actually startle.

Her question makes me pause. Although it is not so much the question itself, but rather the sharp tone in which she asked it. “I merely assumed you would want someone who is much closer to your age. A warrior. You have an interest in weapon making. It is something you and a mate would have in common. I fight when I must, but it is not where my skills or true passion lies.”

For several beats she does not speak. “Maybe I’m not the kind of mate you’d wish for,” Zara finally says softly.

How can she believe that? Unwillingly, words spill from my lips. “You are everything I would wish for in a mate.”

For a second time, she stumbles, and I clasp her with my tail to keep her upright. “Are you all right? Do we need to rest again?”

She waves me off.“Thanks, I’m fine. Really.”

Taking her at her word, I loosen my tail. This time, I am much slower to remove it from around her waist and when her fingers accidentally brush across its length, a shudder runs through me. Have I spoken too boldly? I am at a loss as to how to talk to Zara. No female has made me as uncertain as she. I glance at the males and Remi surrounding us. They are alert, with weapons drawn and ready to protect us.

My gaze lands on Kala. His mate was struck down by a disease many seasons ago. I have no knowledge of his two tribe brothers, but with the few female Krijese that belong to their village, I suspect they are unmated as well. Of the Tavikhi with our party, only Zydon and Rassim are mated. Rassim and Alanda were one of the last fated mate pairings to occur amongst our tribespeople. It is clear how much Zydon and Remi have in common, which gives them much to speak about. They are comfortable with each other.

They were not always that way . Yes, this is something I must remind myself of. There was much conflict between Remi and Zydon at the beginning. I do not want there to be any between Zara and me. I must learn how to talk to her. If she is not going to be bold, then I must.

“From the time I was a kit, I have wished for a mate. A blessed gift from Deeka. No matter how much time passed, the wish remained. Even when season after season passed and no new mated pairs appeared, I never gave up hope.” I have trusted the goddess to lead my path. “Throughout the seasons, I have imagined the traits my mate will carry. She is, above all things, kind. She is generous. A loyal and trustworthy friend. She laughs often. She is someone who I can picture waking up with every morning and lying beside every night. From the beginning, I had hoped Deeka put you in my path because you are all of those things.”

I glance over at Zara. I am not sure what reaction I expect, but tears are not it. They glisten in her eyes and slide down her cheeks. She sniffs and swipes them away. Sage has told me of the wetness that leaks from humans. It is often a sign of sorrow, but it can also signify happiness. Except I am unsure what they mean coming from my mate.

“Have I said too much? I know humans do not have a soul light to bond them to their mate, so I do not expect you to have similar feelings. But I do not ever want you to question what you mean to me. Not as just some female, but what you , Zara from Earth, mean. I know without any uncertainty no other female would do. You were meant to be mine. If Deeka had not brought you here, then I would have died alone.”

The tears have increased and spill from her eyes at a speed faster than she is able to wipe them away.

“I am sorry if I have upset you.”

Zara comes to an abrupt halt and whirls on me with her good hand fisted at her side. “Stop apologizing. Stop acting like there’s something wrong with you. And stop being so fucking nice.”

Before I can process her demands, she blinks once, twice, and then collapses. With far quicker reflexes than I knew I possessed, I catch her before she hits the ground.

“Zara,” Remi calls out and rushes over.

As gently as possible, I lay my mate on the forest floor. Her cheeks have lost some of their color, and the dark smudges under her eyes have grown darker. She is breathing, but I fear her breaths are far too shallow. Or perhaps it is only my poor imagination. Other than her broken arm and the dried blood and discoloration on her face, she does not display any other outward injuries. Is there some hurt inside her I cannot see?

Never have I felt the terror I do at the thought of being unable to heal my mate. I take a deep breath and push away the fear and uncertainty. Neither will do Zara any good.

“I need more water.” Taking a small fur from my satchel, I place it under her head.

Carefully, I check the splint on her arm and confirm it is still secure. There is some swelling, but nothing to concern me at the moment. I bring out the small pouch of burim root and add it to the water I still have left. Remi hands me another vessel and I put a bit of eshe in it to help with keeping a fever at bay.

Zara’s eyes flutter and then slowly open. “Shit, what happened?” she asks weakly.

“You passed out. That’s what happened,” Remi announces before I can. “We’re done moving for the day. You need to recover.”

My mate has proven to be a bit stubborn, so it surprises me when she offers no argument but instead nods and closes her eyes. I am glad she is listening to her tribe sister, although if Remi had not forced the issue, I would have. Stopping so close to where we battled the Njeri is not the best thing to do, but my only concern is my mate’s health. She is in no shape to travel any farther today.

She opens her eyes and they meet mine. “Sorry I was such a bitch.”

The word bitch does not translate, but I understand her apology. “Perhaps both of us should stop apologizing.”

Zara gives me a weak smile. “Yeah, perhaps.”

I help her sit upright and pick up the burim-infused water. “Why don’t you drink this? It will help with your pain.”

She grimaces but finishes the remaining liquid.

“And some of this.” I offer the other vessel.

Zara mumbles something about piss beneath her breath, but she swallows several mouthfuls before passing the container back. “I’m going to drown if you keep giving me all this water.”

I bite back my grin. It is good to hear the spark of annoyance in her voice. It is much better than the pain or uncertainty. This is the Zara I am used to. The one who shows her fire. The one who sets my blood and body aflame.