Chapter 7

Zara

I wasn’t joking when I said I’m going to drown. Already my gut is waterlogged and despite being dehydrated, I suspect I’m going to have to pee shortly. Something I’m not looking forward to, considering I’m currently handicapped. Thank god for Remi, although I doubt she pictured having to help me drop trou when she joined this little rescue mission. I’ve never been particularly shy about being naked in front of girlfriends, but this is pushing the boundaries of friendship.

“I’m sor?—”

Kyler shakes his head and places a finger over my lips, halting my words. “No more apologies, remember?”

I nod, trying—and failing—to ignore the tingle running across my skin at his touch. What would other parts of me feel like if he touched them too? A heat blooms deep within me and I almost cry out from the loss when he lowers his hand.

“Zydon and I are going hunting,” Remi announces. “You good?”

I turn to her. “I’m good.”

She gives me a knowing smirk and walks over to her mate, leaving me alone with mine. She and Zydon disappear into the trees before I remember I’m probably going to need her help before they get back. Shit. The remaining warriors give the two of us a wide berth while they make camp. My stomach rumbles again. Kyler reaches into his satchel and brings out more jerky.

“Thank you.” I hope Remi and Zydon bring back something with a bit more substance. This will do for the moment, but if I’m going to walk the rest of the way back to the village, I need fuel.

I nibble on the meat and wonder where the hell the Zara who stood in front of grouchy Benham only a few months ago and basically told him she was working with him went? Or the Zara who spent an entire year needling Clifton and Priscilla at every opportunity? She needs to make a reappearance. Taking a deep breath, I meet Kyler’s eyes. Not that it’s hard to do considering he hasn’t taken them off me since I came to.

“So…fated mates, huh?” Mentally, I smack my forehead. What a dumbass thing to say. Of course we are, otherwise, his mating marks wouldn’t be present.

One side of his mouth kicks up and my lady parts stand at attention at the dimple that appears. “Fated mates.”

“Cool. Cool.” Another mental smack. Jesus . I take a deep breath. “I mean, wow. You and me? Who’d have thought?”

That’s not any better. Where’s the hole in the ground to swallow me when I need it? Thankfully, Kyler’s smile only widens.

“It would appear Deeka did.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess she did.”

To my surprise, an easy silence falls. “I can’t remember if I’ve even said thank you. For coming after me.”

“What kind of mate would I have been if I had not?”

“Except you didn’t know I was your mate at the time,” I remind Kyler.

His gaze grows distance before he blinks and looks at me. “Deeka knew. No doubt it was she who guided me to you.”

I’ve always believed in a higher power—even if I rejected it after Amelia was gone—so accepting the fact some goddess gave him the push to come after me isn’t difficult. “You’re probably right. Still, thank you for listening to her.”

“Always.”

I adjust my arm within the sling, wincing slightly at the throbbing just beneath the surface. “Do you know this is the first bone I’ve ever broken?”

“You have been lucky then,” Kyler says.

“More like I was kept on a tight leash.”

His brow bones shift. An action I wouldn’t have said was sexy until now. “What is a leash?”

I curse my stupid mouth. No one wants to spill their childhood trauma to a guy they hardly know. We may have been living in the same village for the last four months, and we are obviously now mates, but he and I are most definitely not there yet. Then again, if we’re going to be spending our lives together, it’s only fair Kyler know what he’s in for having me as his wifey.

“It’s like a tether.”

His feline-like eyes widen, then narrow, and there’s a sudden tension in his body. His fists clench. “They tether humans on Earth?”

Of course the concept doesn’t translate. Tavikhi wouldn’t understand the dynamics back home. “Not literally. It’s a figure of speech. It just means I wasn’t allowed a lot of opportunities to do any activities that could lead to broken bones.”

Kyler blinks and cocks his head slightly. His mouth parts as though he has more questions, and I brace myself for whatever they might be. There must be an expression on my face that gives him pause, because his lips close.

“I had really controlling parents.” Might as well lay all the facts out there.

It’s not as though the girls don’t know my history. Most of it anyway. Only Maeve knows about Amelia. Well, maybe Sage. I didn’t ask, and she’s never mentioned it.

A warm hand covers mine. “I am sorry you were not given the freedom to experience things.”

Freedom .

I suppose in some ways I was a prisoner. Although, what normal person would complain about being given every advantage in life? My closet had been full of more clothes than I could wear in a lifetime. Same with shoes. If I wanted something, I never had to worry about not having enough credits. Compared to the bottom tier, I had access to anything I could ever want. But what does that matter if, at the same time, I was slowly being suffocated? Smothered and controlled to the point that I had almost no autonomy. It’s only one of the reasons I rebelled so hard.

I squeeze Kyler’s hand and don’t let go. His touch is comforting, which is even more shocking since I’m not really one for showing affection. Not since Amelia. “Thank you.”

We sit there for several minutes, neither of us letting the other go. When was the last time I did nothing more than hold someone’s hand? I’m not sure I ever have. My sister most likely, but it’s been so long since she’s been gone, my memories aren’t reliable. Every time Bryce touched me, I had to withhold my flinch. I didn’t want to be labeled a freak. Fat lot of good that did me.

The quiet of the forest, along with Kyler’s presence, is soothing. The warriors who stayed behind talk softly amongst themselves, although Kala and Evren are missing. Considering the Krijese’s warning about not staying put for long, he’s probably out scouting for more Njeri. For the first time in a long time, a small amount of peace settles over me. At least until a sudden urge hits out of nowhere. Mother fu…

C’mon, not now, damn it . Except my body is betraying me. I press my thighs together and clench to try and keep the need at bay, but it’s not doing shit.

“Is all well, Zara?” Kyler shifts closer as if he might need to rush to my aid.

Fuck.

I have two choices. One, I can embarrass myself by pissing my pants or two, I can embarrass myself by having him help me to nature’s toilet. Neither choice is appealing, but if I’m going to be mortified, I’d rather be mortified with dry pants. Plus, as my mate, Kyler’s going to see my undercarriage one of these days anyway. Might as well be today.

I clear my throat. God, could my life get any worse? I hastily glance up and stare at the canopy of trees as though the deity lives within them. No, wait, forget I said anything . I turn my head to the male beside me and blow out a heavy breath.

“All the water I drank needs somewhere to go.” I raise my arm a fraction and pray I’m spared the indignity of asking for assistance by the sudden appearance of Remi, but no such luck. “I’m…I’m going to need some help though. Please.”

For a second, I worry I’ll have to spell it out even farther, but Kyler’s eyes pop open. He scrambles to his feet and stretches out a hand. Avoiding eye contact, I clasp it and let him help me up.

“Come this way.” He leads me away from our camp and deeper into the trees.

Forest sounds remain and the cool air feels good against my heated cheeks. Despite the thick overgrowth, I can tell it’s late in the day. A slight breeze blows the branches so they sway and dance, exposing fragments of the darkening sky. I get a few flashes of one of the moons. Soon, it’s going to be too dark to see anything in front of my face.

We don’t travel far when Kyler comes to a stop and faces me. “What do you need me to do?”

“Just stand here for a second, please.” I work at my pants, but the urge grows stronger and I’m far too slow. “Goddamn it. I can’t get these off.”

I don’t have to ask twice. In a flash, my pants and underwear are down around my knees. I grab his arm to steady myself and squat. Because this whole thing isn’t bad enough, I start humming to cover up the sound and if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s someone who can sing on-key for shit.

For another minute I stay in position until I use my legs to push myself to standing. Except my weakened muscles scream in protest. I’m stuck right where I am. With my cooch nearly touching the ground and a puddle of piss beneath me while I hold onto a hot dude for dear life so I don’t fall on my bare ass.

It’s so absolutely ridiculous that a snort escapes. Then a small chuckle, until I’m laughing so hard tears fall. Except the laughter dries up, and all I’m left with are tears of mortification. I’m sobbing so hard, I barely notice Kyler brings me to my feet, redresses me, and picks me up. I’m cradled in his arms, with my head on his shoulder. He carries me back to camp and sits on a stump with me in his lap. He holds me until I’m all cried out. Even then, I don’t move.

I breathe in his sweet eucalyptus fragrance and soak in his warmth. The fact I’m not ready to clamber off him doesn’t escape me. If it were anyone else, I’d be itching to get away from their touch. It makes me twitchy. But not Kyler’s. If his mating marks didn’t signify we were mates, this cements it.

Finally, I wipe away the dried tracks on my cheeks and raise my head to meet his gaze. I’m so close I can make out the tiny furrows at the corners of his eyes and above his brow bones, as well as the various strands of white hairs threaded through the yellow-gold ones. Has Sage ever mentioned Kyler’s age before? He said he’s almost an elder, but other than the few lines on his face, I never would have guessed.

Some compulsion moves me to reach up and trace them. He freezes beneath my touch and his vertical pupils dilate. An acute awareness passes between us, and the surrounding forest and people disappear. The throbbing ache in my core returns, and as though he can scent my arousal, Kyler’s nostrils flare.

Without thinking I lean in and brush my lips across his. Up until the humans got here, this intimate act isn’t something the Tavikhi did. They’d never heard of kissing before so they started calling it mouth touching, which always makes me smile. A noise breaks us apart and Kyler’s hand goes to the sword strapped across his back, but he lowers it at the sight of Zydon and Remi returning. Each carries a dreri over their shoulders.

Her gaze scans the camp until it lands on me. One side of her mouth kicks up and heat returns to my face at the position I’m in. Refusing to be embarrassed for where I’m seated, I wiggle my eyebrows up and down. She chuckles and shakes her head. I turn back to Kyler.

“Thank you. For taking care of me.” No one’s cared for me since Amelia died except myself. It’s actually kind of nice to let someone else do it for a change.

Don’t get used to it, since it probably won’t last .

“You are my mate. It is not only my duty, but rather, my privilege, to care for you,” Kyler says with an intense stare.

I shift under the scrutiny and then abruptly freeze at the hardness beneath my ass. An impish part of me wants to torture him just a little, but I’ll be torturing myself as well. We’re out in the open and surrounded by people. Neither of us can act on the obvious attraction between us. But also, I’m injured and not in the best shape to be getting frisky, even if I wanted to. Not that I don’t want to, but I can admit being terrified. The last time I was with someone, my life went tits up and I wound up here.

“Thank you,” I repeat rather lamely.

The smell of a fire reaches me, and I carefully make to stand. Kyler helps me to my feet and I can sense his hesitation before he releases his hold. Together we walk over to where everyone is gathering. Rassim and Katem are skinning the two dreri. Kala and Evren still haven’t returned, but I suspect they’ll be here soon. The two Krijese are getting a fire going, while Zydon and Remi spread out a fur.

Like always, I feel useless. I should be helping. Or at least trying.

“You need to rest,” Kyler says and guides me close to the fire. He helps me to sit. “Do you need more pain reliever?”

I shake my head. I don’t want to appear weak. “Not at the moment, thanks.”

“Will you be all right while I assist Rassim and Katem?”

“Of course.” There’s no reason for him to babysit me when I’m just sitting here. Besides, I need time alone to think about that kiss. It barely qualified as one, but I’m still feeling the urge to squirm and ease the ache deep inside.

Kyler takes a long look at me before nodding. To my shock, he palms the back of my neck and kisses me hard. The pleasure barely registers, and he’s gone. I sit there in stunned silence with my fingers pressed against my lips and watch him walk away with his tail thrashing madly behind him. A slow smile curls my lips as the thought of all the things that tail might do to me once I’m healed.