THIRTY-SIX

- sedona -

It's probably around lunchtime that we finally make it out of the hut. Of course, I'm not thrilled about what I have to do next. And neither is Kuvier.

"I do not like this part of the plan," he murmurs to me in English as we move hand-in-hand through the village.

"I know, but you know that he won't listen if you're around," I counter, doing my best to ignore the harsh stares from the rest of the village.

I know exactly what they're staring at and they can keep staring for all I care. After I showed Kuvier my own version of care, he used my new comb to gently detangle my hair. I left Renata's intricate braids in but pulled the back into a low top knot. I did it on purpose to show off the raised and slightly scabbed bite mark in the crook of my neck.

"Are we sure that he will listen regardless?" Kuvier mutters banefully.

I sigh as we come within sight of Junq's hut. "No, not at all, but this is our best chance to do this in a way that won't end with an all-out war."

He pulls me to a stop before we've fully crossed the still-cleared pit. Completely uncaring of the eyes on us, he leans down and captures my lips with his. The kiss is slow, sensual, and entirely distracting.

And over way too soon.

"If you feel unsafe, just call for me. I will end them all." His promise is chilling, and the hard look in his eyes tells me that he means every word.

"I know, and I will. Now, wait here." Squeezing his hand, I steal myself and walk away, crossing the last few feet to stand outside of Junq's hut. Time to play my first chess piece.

I knock the bone chimes that hang out of his door a few times, and finally, the covering over the hut moves to the side. In front of me stands Viquum, the other elder who tried to make my life more difficult than it needed to be.

I push a warm smile to my face and say in Lieq, "Hello, may I speak to the atan?"

He cocks an eyebrow but says nothing, simply stepping aside. I walk by him, doing my best not to physically lean as far away as possible. Junq's hut is oppressively warm and full of vifer baskets and stone and bone decorations. It's much bigger than any of the others I've seen, but that doesn't shock me at all; he's clearly over-compensating.

"Female, I am surprised to see you on this day," Junq says from the fur he sits on. Tiqii sits next to him, sharing the same fur mat as he does.

Alright, Sedona, time to turn up the charm.

"Yes, my atan," the words feel like powder in my mouth, "I have come to seek a request."

His eyebrow arches and he seems intrigued, just as I knew he would be. I know this type of man well. My mother dated many of them, and right now, I'm going to use her tool kit for getting what she wanted out of them. Step one, make them think you need them so they feel they have power over you.

"State your request." He waves his hand importantly and I settle myself to my knees, sitting back on my heels and doing my best to look demure.

Step two, make them feel that they are right. "My atan, I must apologize deeply. I fear that I have not been reasonable."

"I would say, girl," Tiqii cuts in, her voice hard. I pay her no mind, my pleading eyes on Junq and Junq alone.

"In what way?" Junq is curious, I can tell. It's working, I just have to maintain my momentum.

"I have not been understanding of your customs and traditions." I shake my head sadly as if ashamed of myself. "I have wished to be considered amongst your clan, but have not respected the laws you have put in place."

"And of what customs do you speak?"

"The Rites, my atan. After watching them for myself yesterday, I have had a change of heart," I declare, my voice dripping with ingenuine sincerity. "I did not like this before, but I see now how it can put a female at ease. It shows that I am able to be protected and provided for and I have shared this with the other human women."

"I see," he remarks, sharp eyes peering at me, "and why did this change of heart lead you to me?"

"Well, when I told the other women, they were very intrigued as well." My voice is meek and it's giving me the ick, but I continue, "They all wish to see tonight's Rites for themselves."

This seems to take him by surprise, but I can see him considering it carefully. I scramble, thinking of something to say that would sway him more.

"As you know, we have traveled far and we were first very fearful of your customs." I swallow thickly and add, "But after last night, we all crave the security that these customs provide. The others wish to see the unmated males for themselves and to present themselves properly so that they may sway the worthiest of males to fight when it is their Rites."

Junq's hand rubs at his jaw as every eye in the hut looks at him, waiting for an answer. "Very well, but when the Rites take place, I wish for you to give your apology to our entire clan. You have disregarded all of us, not just your atan."

I bow my head subserviently, "Of course, my atan. My new clan deserves my utmost penance."

He nods his head, a slimy smile playing over his lips. "Is there anything else?"

"If I may, would it be alright if I help Elder Tiqii prepare them as you did me?" I smile sheepishly. "The others wish to be as beautifully made as I was to attract more attention."

He seems very pleased with this, though the thin line of Tiqii's lips tells me she doesn't feel the same.

"This will do." He waves a hand dismissively. "If that is all, you may go to the hut now. Tiqii will be there soon to lead the preparations."

I bow my head. "Thank you, my atan. You have been very kind."

Keeping the triumph off my face, I rise to my feet and carefully leave the hut. Kuvier is by my side in a second, but I shake my head at him, indicating to stay silent. We walk towards Tiqii's hut in silence. When we get there, Enikk is standing several yards away, his eyes trained on the structure as if it will blink out of existence in a minute. I tap Kuvier and gesture to the other man.

"I will go speak with him." Placing a kiss on the top of my head, he jogs over to Enikk, and I enter the hut.

Everyone is already up, sitting in a circle with their heads pressed together, whispering. They all freeze until they see it's me, then they relax. It doesn't take long for their eyes to land on the fresh mark on my neck, and I can see the opinions forming.

"Sedona, is that…?" Sabrina starts, her eyes wide. Their expressions range from disgust to fear to interest. The interest being in one pair of eyes only. Xiomara.

I touch the mark gently, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Yeah, it is," I admit sheepishly. "Kuvier marked me last night."

The girls exchange glances, worry crossing their faces. Renata steps forward, her brow furrowed. "Does this mean we're all expected to get marked now?"

I shake my head firmly. "No, absolutely not. I did this because I wanted to, and all of you will have the same choice if I have anything to say about it."

There's a sense of relief that settles over the women. I make my way to the circle and Samra and Amari move apart, making a space for me to sit. Folding my legs underneath me, I launch right into it, knowing Tiqii will be here any minute.

"The plan is a go, you guys," I tell them with a triumphant smile. "Junq fell for part one of our plan. He says that you can all come out to watch the Rites."

"I don't super love the beginning of this plan," Meghan speaks up honestly. "What if it goes wrong and we end up mated anyway?"

"You won't, I promise. The way the bond works, according to Kuvier, is that the moment your mate smells you, his whole focus becomes making you happy."

Amari speaks up, "I hate to admit it, but I agree. We all know Enikk would rather be up my butt all day, but he keeps his distance because it's what I want."

"Exactly, they will do anything to make their mate happy," I confirm with confidence. "We just need to make sure they find you and hear what will make you happy."

Meghan settles, though there is still some uncertainty in her eyes.

"What if the rest of us don't have mates?" Xo asks with a hint of reserve in her voice.

"At least some of us have to. There's no way that two of us do and nobody else." I look at each of them. "The biggest thing we need to do is make sure they can smell you guys. Kuvier says the stronger your scent is, the easier it'll be for them to pick it out of the crowd. So, y'all need to get up and start exercising."

Jaws drop as they stare at me incredulously.

"Um, no offense, but this body is meant to lounge and look sexy, not do jumping jacks," Sabrina counters, her face skeptical.

I laugh loudly. "First of all, you don't have to do jumping jacks. Any exercise that will work up a sweat will do." I look at them deadpan. "Be glad I came up with this. Kuvier said the best scent is arousal, but we were not about to have a masturbation orgy in here."

"Okay, maybe I can do jumping jacks," Sabrina concedes, raising her hands in surrender.

"Yeah, no way in hell I'm that comfy with y'all," Meghan agrees, standing up and stretching out her body.

"If it's for the plan, fine," Samra says, getting to her feet. "But never ask this of me again."

For the next several minutes, the girls are jogging in place, doing burpees—anything they can think of to get sweaty. By the time Tiqii comes back, we are all seated again, but they are each covered in a light sheen of sweat.

When Tiqii enters the hut, her nose crinkles. She turns to the two women beside her and says, "Are all human females this terrible smelling, or is it just these?"

A charmer that one.