The edges of the cavern “donut” are riddled with caves, most with ledges and walkways built from additional rock or woven reeds of some kind. A reed-like bridge spans one side of the donut’s ceiling over to the other. There are aliens everywhere, too. Some sit in the entrances of their cave-homes. Another pair weaves baskets in the distance. Off to one side, an alien with enormous, arching horns and pale skin scrapes a hide stretched over a frame.
“Vektal is back,” a voice calls out happily. Exclamations of joy and chatter erupt in the cave . . . and all heads turn toward us.
And then everyone’s staring at me.
It feels weird to be the center of so much attention. As more heads turn and people stand, others approach. And there are a lot of men. A lot of them. Some are dressed only in loincloths due to the warmth of the cave. All of them are muscular, tall, and good looking for sa-khui kind, I’m guessing. And they’re all staring super intently at me with a mixture of curiosity and longing.
“My mate,” Vektal says proudly. “A human.”
“Mother, why is its face so ugly?” A tiny voice asks. Voices raise to hush it.
Raahosh looks chagrined or choked. I can’t decide which one. Vektal growls low in his throat and takes a step forward, clearly insulted on my behalf.
I giggle. To think that these weird people think I’m ugly. They’re the ones with horns, tails, glowing eyes, and a downy suede over their bodies. They’re the ones with ridges all over their foreheads and noses and, um, other interesting body parts.
Vektal drags me against his chest in a possessive grip, and I suddenly find myself pressed against one rock-hard , vest-covered pectoral. “This is my mate. I resonate for her.” As if on cue, his chest starts to vibrate, the thick, steady purr jiggling my cheek. “She is beautiful to me. Different, but beautiful nevertheless.” He brushes his fingers through my hair. “I have seen her bravery, her spirit, and her will. She has trusted me when she has no reason to. She has given me her body when she has no khui to compel her. And it does not matter what any eyes think of her but mine . . . and to me, she is the most wonderful, most attractive, and most compelling of creatures.”
My eyes prick with emotion. Okay, for a barbarian, he’s pretty good at making a romantic speech. I’m totally giving him a handy for real when we get alone again.
“What is a huu-mehn,” someone else asks.
“Are there others?” says another voice.
“He says there are five,” Raahosh says in that low, rumbly voice of his. “All female.”
I wince at the awe and wonder that fills the voices in the cavern. Fuck a duck. These guys are going to think it’s straight-up mating season if this continues. Especially if there are only four adult women in their tribe. That is a lot of unfulfilled sexual need. And what’s going to happen when they find out there are six women in stasis in addition to the six who are awake? “Vektal,” I murmur uncomfortably. As the other aliens get more excited, I get more nervous.
All eyes turn on me at the sound of my voice.
Vektal tugs me tighter against him. “There will be time to answer questions later. My mate has survived an ordeal. She is hungry and tired and needs the healer. Where is Maylak?”
“Here,” says a sweet voice. A woman with curling horns and long, flowing dark hair steps forward. She holds a child to her breast, and her belly is rounded with another. Her glowing eyes watch me with fascination.
“Good,” Vektal says. “Come with Georgie and me to my cave.”
She nods and hands her child off to another man. “Let me get my healing basket.”
My alien takes my hand and pulls me along after him. The others follow, and I don’t blame them for staring. More whisper as I turn my back to them, and I hear comments about my missing tail. I glance around, just in time to see Raahosh sink into the shadows, a spear gripped in his arms. He watches me intently but not in a creepy way. If I had to place bets, I’d say that Raahosh is going to lobby hard for a human mate.
The thought makes me uncomfortable. It’s got to be hard in a tribe full of single, lonely men…no pun intended.
Vektal takes me through the labyrinth of caves to one of the back ones along the edge of the donut. There are a few feathers and what look like decorations on the outside of the door but nothing to mark it as a chief’s lodge. It looks just like any other cave to my eyes. Inside, though, it’s warm and cozy. Furs spill over a plush nest in the corner, and there is a shelf made out of rock that holds a few household implements. There’s a fire pit in the corner, not in use, and what looks like a reed net hanging on one wall. I give Vektal a curious look. “Fishing?”