Chapter 8

Kyler

I have watched every human-Tavikhi mated couple mouth touch, and each time, a wild curiosity has risen inside me to experience this thing they call kissing for myself. Nothing could have prepared me for the swift arousal that hit at the feel of Zara’s lips against mine.

How could something as simple as touching my mouth to another being cause such a riot of sensations? Yet, the exact moment she kissed me, I had grown rock hard. All I want to do is take her to my furs and taste every bit of flesh, especially between her thighs. My tongue aches with the need to know her flavor. The scent of her cunt lingers in my nose, the air thick and musky with Zara’s arousal.

I adjust myself beneath my leg coverings. A dampness remains from the mating fluid leaking out of my cock nodes. It is an uncomfortable sensation, but I ignore it as I assist Katem and Rassim with skinning the dreri. I must provide for my mate. While I work, I keep watch in case she needs me, but Remi has joined her and the two of them sit together.

“Blessings on your mating,” Rassim says. “Zara is a fine female.”

Although he is already mated, a surge of possessiveness rises. Zara is mine . “Yes, she is.”

Katem is silent, and I cast my eyes in his direction. I cannot help but pity my tribe brother and the fact he does not have what Rassim and I do. There are several unmated females back in our village, both Tavikhi and human, but with every passing season the chances of one of them being the keeshla of a warrior lessens. My gaze travels back to Zara. Although, with six matings over the last nearly five lunar cycles, hope is returning to our people. Another ship from Terra may arrive soon, and with it…possibility.

I do not want to offer false wishes, but I send up a prayer to Deeka that she provides our unmated tribe brothers and sisters with their fated mate. Each of them is honorable and worthy of the happiness I feel. Soon, we have the dreri over the fire. Just as we finish setting them up, Kala and Evren return.

“Still no sign of any Njeri. We should be safe for the night,” the Krijese announces.

By morning, I hope Zara is well enough to continue the journey back to the village. Once again, my gaze is drawn to her. However, Remi is no longer with her and she sits, alone, propped up against a tree with her good arm cradling the broken one. She adjusts it and winces. Our eyes meet and she gives me a small smile. I walk over and seat myself beside her.

“Is it time for more pain reliever?” I reach for my pouch, but Zara shakes her head.

“I’m okay. It just throbs a bit.”

My gaze sharpens. “It is not weakness to take something for the pain. There is no need to suffer just to appear strong.”

She laughs. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big baby and don’t deal well with pain. I promise if it gets to be more than I can handle, I’ll swallow more of that nasty shit you call medicine.”

Taking her at her word, I lower my arm. We sit together in silence, observing the others. Zara opens her mouth and emits a sound. She lays her hand across her face to muffle it. “Sorry, I’m just a little tired. Who knew getting abducted was so exhausting?”

There is obvious humor in her tone, but beneath it I sense something deeper. Something more painful. It reminds me that I have not asked of any injuries that are not obvious. Shame fills me that I have not been a better healer or mate.

“The Njeri did not hurt you…” my voice trails off, unsure of how to ask the question that has been haunting me since we found Zara.

She turns her head toward me with a crease between her furry brows. I glance quickly down and back up. Her eyes widen and she rattles her head. “No, they didn’t hurt me like that.”

My body sags with relief and the tension bleeds from my clenched fists. “I am glad you did not suffer in that way. Death would have been too swift for them if they had.”

A moment of silence settles between us.

“Someone hurt my sister like that a long time ago,” Zara says so quietly I almost miss it. “I wish the guy who did it was dead instead of her.”

I turn. She is staring straight ahead, and her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. In a blink, they disappear and she faces me. One side of her mouth curls up slightly, but it is not with humor. “Do you know, other than Maeve, you’re the first person I’ve ever told that to?”

With great caution, I thread my fingers through hers. Warmth fills me that she does not withdraw. “You honor me with your trust, and I am sorry for the loss of your sister.”

Zara shrugs. “It was a long time ago.”

Gently, I squeeze her hand. “Time does not matter when it comes to grief. My family, including a brother, has been gone for many seasons, and I still mourn their passing. It often hurts to think of them, but I also work to remember all the good things about them. I know they would want that, and although I did not know your sister, I believe that if she is anything like you, she would want that as well.”

Zara stares into my eyes and then leans forward to press a soft kiss against my lips. “Thank you for that. You’re right. Amelia wouldn’t want me to wallow in grief for too long. Up until that day, she was always positive and cheerful. She was my best friend.”

“She sounds like a wonderful sister.”

“Yeah, she was the best.”

There is a comfort in sitting quietly with someone that I have never experienced until this moment. Zara continues letting me hold her hand until finally, she shifts.

“I think I could use some of that pain medicine now,” she admits.

“Of course.” Once I have poured burim root into some water, I pass it over.

She drinks it and makes a sound of distaste when finished. “Good god, that stuff is awful. I don’t know how you guys can handle it.”

I chuckle. “It is certainly not the most tasteful.”

“’Not the most tasteful’? Are you kidding? It tastes like shit rolled in shit covered in more shit.” Zara exaggerates a shudder and gags.

“Since I do not know what excrement tastes like, I will have to take your word for it.” Do humans eat excrement?

She laughs loudly and covers her mouth, unsuccessfully holding back the sound. “Saying something tastes like shit is just an expression. I don’t actually know what it tastes like.”

“That is good to hear. I wondered what sort of planet you came from where people ate waste.”

“I mean, I’m sure there are humans that do eat it, but I’m definitely not one of them.” Zara’s humor is evident.

There is a sense of pride that I am able to make her laugh, even if it at a misunderstanding of her culture. Her smile is beautiful and I would love to see more of it. Especially as it feels as though I am seeing the real one. She smiles often in the village, but this one makes her entire being glow.

“The meat is ready,” Katem calls out from next to the fire where Evren and Kala are removing the dreri from it.

“Come, let us eat.” I stand and reach down to help my mate to her feet.

“Thanks.” She releases me and brushes the dirt off the back of her leg coverings.

I try to quell the disappointment that she does not take my hand again as we walk to where everyone is gathered. One of the Krijese has made flat wood platters and Kala places several pieces of meat on each one that is then passed around until everyone has one. We all sit together around the flames to eat, except for Rassim and the two Krijese. The three of them take their food into the forest, no doubt to maintain watch. Although Kala and Evren did not see any evidence of Njeri, our enemies are not the only predators that lurk in the trees.

“We are still two turns of the sun away from our village,” Zydon says. “Tonight we must all rest and be ready to travel in the morning.”

For some reason I bristle. Zara is not a Tavikhi warrior. She is a human female who is far more fragile than us.

“Calm, Kyler,” he tells me. “I meant no disrespect to your mate.”

To my surprise, and without realizing it, I have clenched my fists. A cool hand on mine releases the tension from me and I turn to find Zara touching me.

“It’s okay. I know we need to get moving in case there’s danger,” she says. “Zydon is just reminding everyone what needs to be done so we’re all safe.”

I nod and she drops her arm to her side. I turn to my tribe brother. “Apologies.”

Zydon dips his head in acceptance. Everyone returns to eating and the only sound is that of the forest around us. A breeze has stirred up and despite the fact warm season is upon us, there is a drop in temperature. It does not help that we are deep within the trees and minimal light from the moons is able to make it through the leaves. Soon, it will be too dark for the females to see and more difficult—although not impossible—for me and my tribe brothers.

Unlike the evening meals in the village where all the tribespeople gather for conversation and the kits run and play with each other, the atmosphere tonight is filled with tension and unease. We must remain vigilant and alert for danger. At last, after everyone has had their fill, we pack the remaining bits of dreri to hopefully sustain us until we reach our village. Zara rests her head against the tree behind her, and her breathing evens out.

I return to her side, and she jerks upright with wide eyes and a gasp.

“It is only I, keeshla .” The fear in her gaze makes me rage and wish I could kill the Njeri all over again, only this time more slowly.

She places her hand over her heaving chest and takes deep, calming breaths. “Guess I’m a little jumpy.”

“That is understandable after what you have gone through. I did not mean to frighten you. If you do not mind, I will remain at your side through the night. No harm will come to you.” This is my vow.

Zara does not respond for several beats, until finally, she nods. “I think I’d like that.”

I scoot close enough that our legs and shoulders touch. Her skin is already chilled. Before the night is over, I have no doubt she will be much colder. I will provide her with everything she needs, including my warmth. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“Maybe a little bit of water.”

Kala and Evren located a water source during their scouting and brought back several skins full. I pass one to Zara. Once she’s had her fill, she gives it back. She makes that tired noise again. “I’m going to try and get some sleep. You’ll stay with me?”

“Of course.” My heart swells with the knowledge that my mate wants me by her side.

She doesn’t say anything, but merely leans her head on my shoulder with an exhausted sigh. Within moments, her breathing has evened out and she emits small snorts. There is nothing that could take me from her now. Not after the trust she shows me.