The sick feeling in my gut returns. So she came with me because she felt she had no other choice? It never occurred to me until now to question why Har-loh did not attempt to run away again. I foolishly thought it was because we were mates, that she felt the same way about me as I do her. Maybe I have imagined this all along.
Maybe Har-loh wants to return to the bad ones. If she does, what will I do?
“Could you get me something to eat?” Har-loh asks, putting a hand to her forehead. “Maybe that will help with the dizziness.”
My unhappiness is immediately pushed aside. My mate needs me. It doesn’t matter what I want. “Stay here,” I tell her, and move to one of the baskets of dried, salted meat. I choose a few strips of the blandest flavor, the one she has on mornings when her stomach is troubled, and bring them back to her. I watch as she eats and make sure she drinks plenty of water. When she is done, I pick her up and carry her – protesting – to our nest of furs so she can lie down and relax comfortably.
I realize for the first time that we can’t stay here. Not if Har-loh is sick. I cannot imagine how things will be with a kit if Har-loh is not well. I can take care of her, but I do not know how to take care of a kit. The knot in my stomach increases.
We must go back.
HARLOW
I’m worried about Rukh. He’s unnaturally quiet, and I know he has to have questions. He says nothing, though, simply hovers nearby and feeds me small bits of dried meat and makes sure I have plenty of water in my skin. I’m tired and just want to take a nap, but Liz and her mate are coming, and I worry how Rukh is going to react. I can tell he’s on edge.
I pat the side of the bed and invite him to come lie down with me. I hate how this day is turning out. Finding out that Kira and the others are alive is wonderful, but weirdly enough, I’m a little resentful that Liz and the hunting party have shown up and upended my life. I like it here with Rukh. I like our little nest beside the ocean.
The baby kicks in my stomach, as if agreeing.
“Hellooo,” Liz calls at the entrance of the cave, and Rukh immediately jumps to his feet. All thought of lying down with me is forgotten in the presence of invaders. His long bone knife comes out, the blade wicked-looking as he clenches the handle tight.
My heart thumps loudly. Rukh moves in front of me, shielding me, and even as he does, I’m filled with love for the big guy. My khui starts purring, and I hear his respond. For some reason, it comforts me. Whatever else happens, we have each other.
Liz tiptoes in and I notice her bow is gone. Behind her is a larger shadow, and the way the man stalks in…for a moment, it reminds me of Rukh. Then I see the one twisted horn remaining, the stub of the other, and the scars on Raahosh’s face as he comes into view. He’s taller than Rukh, and leaner, but for a moment, there’s a striking resemblance between the two.
I’m not the only one that sees it. The cave falls silent as the two men stare at each other.
Raahosh’s eyes narrow and his gaze flicks from me to Rukh. “Who are you? Why do you have Harlow?”
“Har-loh is mine,” Rukh says, a rough edge in his voice. I see his hand tighten on the knife and he moves closer to me, trying to block me out of Raahosh’s sight. I think he’s going to pounce, he’s practically vibrating with tension. Then a moment later, he blurts out, “You look like father.”
“So do you.” Raahosh’s nostrils flare and his body tenses. “My younger brother was Maarukh. Is that your name? Are you Vaashan’s son?”
I gasp. Maarukh? Rukh?
Liz gasps, too. “Oh shit,” she breathes and her gaze meets mine. “I thought you guys looked similar.”
But neither man is moving. They both look stiff and uncomfortable. After a moment, Raahosh speaks. “My father left me with the tribe after you were born.” His hand goes to his face and touches his scars in memory. “I went back to look for him after many seasons, when I was old enough to join the ranks of hunters, and his cave was destroyed. There was no sign of life. I assumed both you and he were dead. This is a difficult land for a small kit and a man alone.”
Rukh is silent. I touch his leg in a caress, worried about how he is handling this. Overnight, our world is turned over, and now to find he has a brother? This has to be difficult.
“You have a healer?” Rukh’s abrupt words startle me. There is no mention of family.
“Not with us.” Raahosh’s eyes narrow again, and he looks ready to scowl at Rukh. “She does not leave the caves. There are too many that require her assistance.”