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)
“Now is not the time to talk of such things,” Vektal says. “My tribe is falling apart. We need to focus on a home, feeding everyone for the brutal season, and—”
“And another set of hands will help with that,” Mah-dee says firmly. “You need Hassen.”
“I do. But I cannot lift exile so quickly. I made a mistake in going easy on Raahosh’s exile, because it let Hassen believe that he would not be punished if he stole a female. I cannot make that mistake again. My hunters must follow the rules, or no one is safe.”
“But circumstances are different right now,” Shorshie says gently. “I don’t think anyone would begrudge you changing your mind. This isn’t a normal situation. We have to adapt.” She shares a glance with Mah-dee. “Perhaps you can give Hassen some of the more difficult, less desirable tasks throughout the brutal season as penance instead? So he is still punished and yet not banished from the tribe.”
I hold my breath. If they asked me to clean and scrape the intestine of every filthy scythe-beak from here to the mountains, I would gladly do so if it meant I was part of the tribe again and Mah-dee was with me.
“And I hate to be ‘that’ asshole, but Hassen’s not going to show anyone anything unless he’s back in the tribe. And if he’s not allowed back, I’m leaving with him.”
“Now is not the time to push for such things,” Vektal warns, nostrils flaring. “Pashov is still not well. Rukh is nearly feral after Har-loh got hurt when the Elders’ Cave turned on its side. It is taking everything I have to convince him to stay with the tribe, that she is safe here. My tribe is in danger of starving. You cannot hold such a thing over our heads—”
He is right. I open my mouth to speak, to tell my chief I will go regardless.
“I don’t care,” Mah-dee says fiercely. Her hand grips my knee so tight I feel her nails dig into the plated ridges there. “It might not be the best time for you as leader, but Hassen has no choice. You’ve backed him into a corner.”
“Hassen can speak for himself, can he not?” Vektal says sharply with an irritated look at me.
“He can,” Mah-dee continues. “But he has the most to lose here. I do not. I’m going with him regardless. And if he stays exiled, then we’re going to go live in the lost colony without you guys. So there.” She pauses, and then grimaces. “I just realized I sound like a demanding two-year-old.”
Vektal nods crisply. “My daughter is less pushy than you, and she is spoiled.”
Shorshie laughs.
“Very well,” Vektal says and looks at me. “Your fierce pleasure-mate has convinced me. You will be given extra tasks throughout the brutal season as penance, but you are no longer in exile.”
My heart is full of fierce joy. I want to grasp my mate and hold her tightly against me, but I force myself to nod stiffly. “I will do you proud, my chief.”
“I need all of my people here. Your home is with the rest of us.”
“Out in the snow,” Mah-dee points out. “With all the other homeless people. Who are gonna have a new home because of him.” When Shorshie shoots her an irritated look, Mah-dee raises her hands. “I’m not saying, I’m just saying…Hassen’s doing you guys a solid. I’ll let it go now. I just felt it had to be said.”
Vektal gives her an exasperated look and then turns to me. “Your first task will be to keep your pleasure-mate under control.”
And now it is my turn to laugh. “No one controls Mah-dee. She does what she pleases.”
“Damn skippy,” Mah-dee says, and then puts her possessive hand back on my knee. “As for this pleasure-mate nonsense, I suppose that’s something else we need to update you guys on…”
Epilogue
MADDIE
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me here!” I’m torn between wanting to punch Hassen in the face and cry into his leathers. “You cannot be serious!”
“You were the one that boasted to the chief that we resonated,” he tells me, smoothing my windblown hair off of my face. “Now you will stay here with the other pregnant females.”
“Hoisted on my own braggy petard,” I sigh. “Damn it.” I bury my face against his chest. “You’re going to travel fast, right?”
“We will run the entire way,” he promises. “We can make it there in half the time.”
“Good.” I rub my cheek against his skin, breathing in his scent and listening to the ever-present purr of his cootie talking to mine. I will not cry. I will not. It’s only a week or two. I’ll get in some lonely sister bonding time, since Rokan is going with Vektal and Hassen. I should have kept my damn mouth shut, but I was just so pleased with the fact that Hassen was no longer exiled, and I’m proud to be his mate. I wanted to tell the world.