Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“And if the people that left come back?”
“I’m pretty sure they’re not coming back, big guy.” I look around at the empty, forlorn house, trying to imagine it full of people and furniture, with a bright fire burning in the big hearth. “I’m pretty sure they all left hundreds—or thousands—of years ago.”
17
HASSEN
Mah-dee is right about one thing—the how-ses are warm.
We finish exploring and pick one of the smallest of the small, cup-like structures to spend our night in. Under Mah-dee’s instructions, I use my spear and several of the extra furs we carry to form a tent over the top of the howse. We build a fire in the center, and she moves into my lap so I can wrap her in my furs and let my body heat warm her as the suns go down and it grows dark. Once the fire is burning, though, she does not need my warmth. The small structure of the howse means it does not take long for it to get warm. With the fire going, it is almost pleasant.
It is very quiet, not unlike the tribal cave when all the hunters are out on journeys. Perhaps Mah-dee is right and this will be a good place for our people. I think of her excitement over the toy-lets. Those are a good thing, she tells me. The hot pool of water like our bathing pool at home? Also good. That we can make these cup-like structures into small, warm caves for each family? This place is just waiting to be inhabited again.
Mah-dee is excited. She thinks the chief will be, too. She thinks we can spend the brutal season here and be happy.
But I hesitate. To me it is not home.
It is a cold, strange place that someone else has left behind. I do not know what to make of it.
I know this thinking is wrong. I ponder this as I stare into the fire and hold my mate close. The humans have adapted to our land, have they not? It is strange and frightening to them, and yet they have made the best of it. Perhaps it is time for the sa-khui to adapt to change, as well.
I rub my mate’s arms as she drowses in my lap.
Perhaps I need to learn to be brave like my human. Mah-dee has been nothing but strong and confident since she awoke from the strange alien bubbles. When her sister cried, Mah-dee shielded her. When I stole her, Mah-dee fought the others and wanted to get her back. Mah-dee does not know how to quit. She does not give up, ever. And she sees everything—even this strange, empty place—as opportunity.
I need to be more like my sweet mate. Embrace the changes that come into my life, the way I embrace her. After my family’s death, I lived in fear of more change. When I stole Li-lah and ended up with nothing, I thought change was bad. I thought I had made mistakes and regretted my choices.
But those choices—those changes—have brought me Mah-dee, and she is the greatest gift a hunter could ask for.
Perhaps this place will be as good for my people as Mah-dee is for me. I slide a hand over her thigh, feeling possessive.
My khui immediately begins to rumble, sensing my mood. In my lap, Mah-dee gives a little sigh of pleasure and leans back against me, exposing her neck to me. I nip at it and move my hand between her thighs, seeking her little nipple there.
“Mmm, what are you doing, Hassen?” Her hand moves to my mane, and she twists her fingers in it as she holds me close. Her back arches as I find the sensitive spot on her cunt and stroke it. “Oh. Is that what we’re doing?”
“We are resonating,” I tell her between kisses to her soft neck. “It will happen, and it will happen many times. Tonight, you are mine and mine alone.”
“Completely alone,” she agrees, and I hear a smile in her voice. “It’s kind of weird, isn’t it? To be in a home and not have other people around.”
“Very odd,” I agree. I miss the noises of a busy cave, but after being exiled, I am growing used to it. “But like you, I think it will work. And tomorrow, we will leave and begin our journey home so we may tell the chief of this place.” My fingers stroke her slick, wet folds. “But first…”
“First,” she agrees, undulating her hips against my hand. “First, we have all the sex.”
MADDIE
Two Weeks Later
“Mush, big guy! Mush! You’re slowing down and we’re near the finish line!” I call out from my seat atop the first sled of supplies.
Hassen looks back at me, eyes narrowed. “You have been shouting that all morning.”
“It’s because you’re not a great listener, baby.” I smile brightly at him to take the sting out of my words. “Get your second wind and let’s go! Or are you too tired? Do you want me to get out and help?”