“Then we take Har-loh to her. We leave now.”
My eyes widen and I stare up at Rukh in surprise. “We what?”
He turns back to me and his hand goes to my head, caressing my hair. “You are my mate. We go to see the healer.”
“I’m fine,” I protest, ignoring Liz’s snort.
“You are not fine,” Rukh says firmly. “We will go.”
RUKH
I do not trust any of this. I am full of suspicion despite the fact that my father has another kit living, and the man looks like a scarred version of him. My father mentioned him often, though I was too young to picture him. But there is no doubt in my mind that Raahosh is of my father. I imagine I look similar in his eyes. Seeing him makes me long for my father, long dead, but it is not the sight of him that made up my mind.
It was Har-loh’s soft hand on my leg, a reminder that she is not well.
I will give up everything for my mate and my kit. It no longer matters what I want. All that matters is Har-loh. So I will swallow my worry and take her back to the caves, so the healer can ease the hurts from her belly and make her feel better.
And then we will return here, to our home, and raise our kit alone.
I do not want to stay with the bad ones. That has not changed.
Off to the side, Raahosh argues with his mouthy human mate. They are arguing over when to travel, and who will go back. I fill my worn shoulder sack with dried meat and other small comforts, even as Har-loh folds furs quietly in our nest. I won’t let her get up so she does what she can within reach. All the while, the other two squabble and I cannot tell if they are truly angry at each other, or if this is like when Har-loh teases me with words and then reaches for my cock. I suspect they like to argue about everything, even in the furs.
“We can all go back,” Leezh says again. “Safety in numbers. We all have to go back at some point, right? And the others are going to want to meet Maarukh and see Harlow.”
The man called Raahosh – my brother – crosses his arms over his chest and scowls down at his mate. “She is ill. We need to travel fast, and the others still wish to hunt and collect salt for cooking. There is still much to do.”
She makes a face. No one has asked me if I wish to travel with the entire hunting party. I do not. “They can come back some other time,” Leezh retorts. “No one is going to die if they don’t have salt on their food. Most everyone’s eating raw at this point anyhow. Harlow is more important.”
“And a smaller party will move faster.”
“Not if we have a travois!”
I do not know what a trah-voy is. I just want them to cease talking, both of them. I want them out of my cave. I glare at both of them, but they seem oblivious to my expression, caught up in their argument. It is definitely sexual. Leezh’s chest is panting and she looks as if she’s ready to smile despite her sharp words. “I will carry my mate,” I say, interrupting their love-talk. “I no want travel with all . Raahosh is right. We go fast with small group.” The thought of walking with many of the bad ones makes my stomach roil.
“I agree,” Har-loh says, adding her voice. “Let the others stay and hunt. We can travel back. And I can walk, I promise.”
I turn to glare at my mate. “I will carry you.”
She sticks her tongue out at me.
“Fine,” Leezh says, and crosses her arms over her chest. It makes her own rounded stomach stick out. “But we need to talk with the others. They will be wondering where we have gone.”
Raahosh grunts and looks out at the skies. “It will be dark soon. We will meet with the others and explain to them we are splitting off. We will return here in the morning to travel. Is that acceptable to you?” His gaze moves to me.
I nod. He’s right. As much as I want to leave right now, it is smarter to wait until the morning. Har-loh can rest tonight.
Eventually Leezh and Raahosh leave, Leezh looking hesitant as if she wants to fuss over my mate. I won’t let her stay, though. That is my job. Her mate eventually herds her away and then Har-loh and I are alone again. Some of the tension in my body eases and it feels as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
“So we’re really leaving?” Har-loh’s voice breaks through the silence of the cave. It feels unnaturally quiet now.
I move to my beloved mate and kneel next to her. I study her face, now so dear to me that I cannot imagine being without her, even for a moment. “Leezh is right. You are not well. I want healer to help you. If it means we travel with the bad ones, then we will.”