“Leezh,” Vektal warns.
“Oh, come on. You guys weren’t speaking anyhow, right? He’s not going anywhere, not with his mate in the next room. At least let me feed the man!”
Vektal’s nostrils flare.
Leezh is not blind to the tension simmering in the room. Why is she pretending otherwise? Vektal looks furious and I know I’m shaking with anger at the thought of him taking my mate away from me.
She is mine. I will steal the healer and bring her to our sea cave if I must, but Har-loh is mine.
“Besides,” Leezh adds. “Georgie’s crying over her sewing again.”
The man’s expression changes from stony anger to concern. He rubs his brow and pushes past us.
“There we go,” Leezh whispers. “Problem solved.”
“No problem has been solved,” I growl at her.
“You kidding me? If it turned into a dick swinging contest, you were not gonna win, buddy. I admire your tenacity and all, but he’s the chief and what he says goes. Now, come on. I’m seriously going to feed you.”
I want to tell her that I’m not hungry, that I want to go back to my mate and sit at her side. But as we emerge from the chief’s den, I see the healer’s curtain is still pulled shut, keeping us out. At the sight of it, all the strength leaves me. My legs feel weak and I stagger. How long has it been since I slept? Ate? I cannot remember.
She steers me forward, toward another cave off to the side. In the center of the cavern, I see the chief’s mate wiping her eyes, and Vektal puts his arms around her. He holds her close and strokes her hair, and she burrows against him. The chief looks tired, concerned, and confused by his mate all at once.
“Pregnancy hawr-moans,” Leezh whispers. “Georgie has ‘em baaad. Poor Vektal. She’s been making the man crazy for weeks now.” Her hand squeezes my arm. “Another reason why we needed to get you out of there. Didn’t want anyone saying something they’d regret later when all the baby stuff isn’t in play. You can come hang at me and Raahosh’s fire tonight. I made an extra bed with some spare furs if the healer stays occupied longer than we hope.”
“I will wait for my mate,” I say, straightening my tired body.
“Which you can do while eating and saying hello to your brother.”
I waver. My need for my mate wars with my exhaustion.
“That’s what I thought,” Leezh says, patting my arm. “You’re irritated with me now, but I’m just being a good sister-in-law. Now come on. I made some stew and you and Raahosh can sit by the fire and glare stoically at each other.”
I snort. Raahosh was right – his woman does have a tongue that could flay the hide off a quill-beast.
“Whether you like it or not,” Leezh says as she leads me into her cave. The air is warm with the scent of cooking food, and smells like one of Har-loh’s dishes. “You need family. And Raahosh and I are here for you.”
Chapter Nine
RUKH
Despite my exhaustion, I cannot sleep. My sweet Har-loh’s warm body is not curled up against me, and everywhere, there are sounds. Not the normal sounds that invade the quiet evening hours, but the sounds of people. Someone coughs. A man snores. People whisper. The furs rustle as Leezh and Raahosh move around in their bed. They are all small noises, but to me, it is an endless stream that sets my nerves on edge.
These people are never alone. There is always someone nearby. I cannot imagine such a life, and it fills my gut with dread that to be with Har-loh, I must consider it. I tell myself she is worth it, but every time I do, another sound grates on my frayed nerves until I am twitching and restless.
I jump up from the furs, unable to relax. I must see my mate. I must know she’s all right. I can’t stand the thought of her reaching for me and me not being there. I move silently out of Leezh and Raahosh’s cave and into the main cavern, now deserted. The healer’s den is no longer blocked off, and I head toward it.
When I duck inside the den, the small area is quiet. There is a male sleeping in the furs at the back of the den, but the healer herself sits beside Har-loh’s bed. A child is cradled in her arms, and she rocks it gently as she watches over my mate. This is a good woman, this healer.
She looks up at the sight of me and puts fingers to her mouth in an indication of quiet. I move to my mate’s side and take her hand. Her fingers are warm and she doesn’t look quite so fragile as before. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“She is a little better now,” Maylak whispers. Her hand smooths the hair of the sleeping child curled against her rounded belly.