Chapter 8

Sage

A week has passed since the night Jodah and I began again. He has been improving slowly, and we've been taking short laps within the healer's tent. I'm about to head there now, because Kyler has cleared him to return to his own dwelling.

"You're awfully chipper today." Zara chuckles as she sits on top of her pallet and slips on her shoes. "Does this have anything to do with a certain male getting released on good behavior?"

I glance over at her and snort. I've been dressed for at least ten minutes, but I've been putting the finishing touches on my lotion. "You make it sound like Jodah's been in prison."

"I'm sure for a guy who's used to being active, it felt like it."

She's probably right. Except I've never once heard him complain. Okay, maybe a small grumble in the last few days, but I can't blame him for being antsy. I'm just so glad he's finally healed enough. "I told him I'd walk with him back to his tent when he was about to leave."

"I'm really happy for you, Sage." There's a genuine tone in Zara's voice, but it's mixed with something else.

"It's going to happen for you, too." We all know she's never been opposed to finding a mate.

She laughs and waves me off. "Meh. If it doesn't, it probably isn't the end of the world. I'll just be the cool aunt who lets everyone's kids come over for sleepovers and stay up as late as they want and feeds them all the bizeles and kokrra with shurup they can eat. Then I'll send them home with a massive sugar high."

"Do you really think we might have children together?" They aren't something I've ever really thought about, but now she has me wondering if it's even a possibility.

"I don't see why not. Well aside from being completely different species and all that. But if Deeka is mating humans with Tavikhi, there has to be a reason. Propagating the next generation sounds like a pretty solid one to me," Zara points out.

Of course, now I'm going to be thinking non-stop about it.

"I guess we'll find out eventually. Now, change of subject. Try this."I lean across the distance between our pallets with the clay jar I've stored my concoction in.

She stares down at it for a second and then lifts her gaze to me with her head tilted just off-center. "What am I trying?"

"The lotion I made."

"Why am I your guinea pig?"

I roll my eyes. "I've already tried it. I just want a second opinion, and since you're the only roommate I have left, you're the lucky one who gets to try my invention first. When you see how incredible it is, the others are going to be so jealous."

Zara laughs. "Wow, you're really laying it on thick, aren't you? Fine, but if I break out in some weird hives, I'm blaming you."

She dips her finger in the jar and scoops out a small amount. I do the same and set the container down.

"Here goes." She takesa deep breath before rubbing the lotion all over her hands.

The light floral scent of the nenuphar flowers rises up. I'd been worried about getting the fragrance right. I didn't want anything too strong since I know some people are sensitive to scents. I stare at her expectantly while she takes forever to rub the stuff in, rhythmically running my fingers on my knees.

"Well?" I'm antsy for her opinion.

"Give me a minute. I'm waiting for the burning and itching to start," Zara grouses, but the grin on her face tells me she's giving me a hard time. She brings her hands to her nose and sniffs. "Doesn't stink. That's a plus."

"High praise." I can be just as snarky.

She rubs her fingers some more. "So far, so good. It's not too greasy feeling, although it doesn't really feel like any lotion I've ever used before."

I bite my lip unsure how to take that. Zara glances over at me again. "Relax, it's not a complaint. Just an observation. I think this is going to be great. I mean, there's no way to tell until we've been using it for a while. Still, I'm so proud of you. This is something really cool regardless."

Warmth fills me. I graduated at the top of my class, got a full scholarship to one of the most exclusive, private colleges in the area, and got a top-paying job at one of the hardest corporations to be hired at—even if it wasn't anything better than a glorified secretary. Being a woman on Earth wasn't easy. No matter what I did, though, nothing was ever good enough for my parents. I'm not sure they once said they were proud of me.

"Thanks, Zara. That really means a lot. It might actually be one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Truly." I'm not sure she'll ever know how much I appreciate what she said. "I'd hug you, but I know they make you uncomfortable. And if you ever need someone to talk to—about anything—you can always talk to me."

She nods but doesn't take me up on it. Not that I thought she would. But I still wanted to put it out there.

"All right, go meet your man." She shoos me off.

I grin and jump to my feet. "I'll catch up with everyone later."

Zara flicks her fingers toward the door, and I nearly stumble outside I'm in such a rush. The sun is shining brightly giving off the deceiving impression that it's a warm day. When in fact, my breath is visible in the icy cold air. Small flecks of snow fall from the sky as well. We've all been prepared, verbally at least, for the arrival of what sounds like amounts to at least two feet of cold dust. According to Kyler it only lasts a lunar cycle—or a month in human terms—and then it's gone until the next year. Which means we have thirty days to get used to it.

I throw the hood up on my sweatshirt as I walk toward the healer's tent. It's one of the few articles of clothing I'd been able to sneak onto the spaceship with me. Makayla and I threw together a backpack and stuffed it with as much as we could shove into it on such short notice. I could have gotten more clothes while in the settlement, but I never felt comfortable going through the belongings of those killed by the Krijese.

My fingers are cold, so I yank down my sleeves and stick my hands under my armpits. Half-naked Tavikhi walk through the village. None of us humans understand how they do it, although Kyler said that at the peak of cold season the males can sometimes be seen wearing shirts. Males and females alike bow their heads as I pass. Apparently, as London's friend, I'm awarded extra respect by the Tavikhi. Which is nice, but also still a bit weird and hard to get used to.

The healer's tent comes into view and my pace picks up just a bit. That weird burst of…heat—there's no other way to describe it—flickers in my chest and makes me stumble a step. I rub at the spot and continue on. In seconds, I reach it and swing aside the door flap. Jodah, sitting on the edge of the platform, glances up, and my heart skips a beat at the huge grin on his face. That's what I'm telling myself anyway. It has nothing to do with the eight pack on display—scarred or not—or the round firmness of his shoulders and upper arms with their flexing muscles.

"Greetings, Sage."

"Good morning." I try to control my breathlessness. I don't want to appear too eager. "Sorry I'm late. Zara and I were testing out the lotion I made for our hands."

"Lotion?"

"Oh, it's a type of salve to help protect our skin against the cold weather. Humans are susceptible to redness and getting chapped. I'm especially prone, so I've been tinkering with various plants and oils over the last few months to try and create something we can rub on ourselves."

I don't think I'm imagining the impressed look on Jodah's face. "That sounds like something very important. I would like to try this lotion of yours."

My cheeks heat. "I'm not sure if you'd like it. It smells like the flowers on the nenuphar bush."

The hard bones that serve as his eyebrows shift. "Why would I not like that? It is a pleasing scent."

"I guess human guys are funny about smelling like flowers. It's typically seen as a feminine fragrance."

"There are such things where you are from? Scents that are male or female?"Jodah's confusion is…sweet. The fact that it doesn't make sense says a lot of about the Tavikhi people. Or at least a lot about him.

"Believe it or not, yes. But if that doesn't bother you, then I'm happy to let you try it."

With far more ease than someone who nearly died two weeks ago, he hops off the platform and lands on his feet. He strides confidently forward. We've spent the last week taking short walks within the tent. How is it that I'm only just now noticing how…big…Jodah is? How tall? How muscular?

He comes to a halt in front of me and reaches for my hand. There's a sharp sting of static electricity when his fingers touch mine, and I suck in a breath at a burst of whatever it is in my chest. He raises my arm until my hand is directly in front of his face. I can't even move as I stare at him. He leans forward until his nose nearly touches my fingers and inhales deeply.The whole time, his gaze hasn't left mine. There's a pulse that beats faster low inside me and a shiver dances across my neck. Damn it, where's this sudden intensity coming from?

"I very much enjoy the scent of this lotion."

Is it just me or has his voice dropped a seductive octave? Oh god, there's dampness between my thighs and that freaky, unexplainable glow inside me brightens.

"Goo—" I croak and have to clear my throat. "Good, I'm glad."

As slowly as he raised my arm, he lowers it and takes a barely noticeable step back. I try to squeeze my thighs together without being obvious. Jodah's mouth kicks up just slightly on one side so I'm not sure I accomplished it. This is the first time I've seen this flirtatious side to him. He's got me flustered.I swipe my hand behind my leg and rub my fingers together to try and hold in the sensation of his touch.

"If you would like to walk with me, I am ready," he breaks the charged silence between us.

"Yes." I take a couple steps back. "I'm ready."

Jodah gestures for me to take the lead, so I head for the door. Before I can push the flap covering aside, he reaches around me—his chest brushing across my arm—and does it for me. I pause and glance up at him. The sunlight shines directly on him and his vertical pupils shrink. This is the first time I've been this close to him in the daylight. It'll be the first time we've stepped outside of this tent together. The rest of the village will see Jodah's mating marks. A flare of pride sparks in my chest that I was the one who triggered them.

"Sage?"

I blink.

Jodah stares down out me with his head cocked slightly off-center. "Is all well?"

"Oh, yeah, it's fine. Sorry. I just kind of spaced out there for a second." God, I can feel the heat rising from my chest and into my face. "We can go now."

I quickly step past him and into the sunshine. Jodah immediately follows and comes to a stop. His head tips back and he inhales another deep breath before blowing it out. "I have missed the pure scents of the village."

He remains that way for nearly a minute before finally straightening. We both move and walk forward. I discovered where he lived while he was recuperating, but for some reason I don't want him to know that I asked someone to show me. Jodah is my mate. I shouldn't feel weird. Yet I do.

"Can you smell the cold dust?" Remi has said she can. It's something Zydon taught her.

"I do. It is fully in the air. In fact, it would not surprise me if it does not start falling more heavily within the next few turns of the sun."

Am I ready for a couple feet of snow? Absolutely not, but we aren't going to be able to hide from it, so I better get ready. We continue our leisurely stroll through the village. Several tribespeople stop us and offer words of gratitude that Jodah's healing well and walking around. The sense of family and community are one of the things I love most about living here with the Tavikhi. That and over the last few months I've noticed that no matter the interest the unmated warriors have shown us, none of them have ogled me—or the other humans—beyond a general curiosity. No lewd stares at my breasts. It makes me realize how often the men back on Earth did it.

"You appear deep in thought," Jodah notes.

"Just appreciating the differences between here and Earth." I debate my next words, but figure why not. "And the differences between Tavikhi males and human ones."

"Good differences?"

I smile up at him. "The best."