Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“She is not yours either,” M’tok retorts.
S’bren makes an unhappy sound.
I growl at M’tok, because that is a cruel thing to say and he knows it. “Keep saying things like that, and I will make sure the healer has much to practice on.” I look him up and down. “It is not as if you are doing much, either. Shall I get you some sticks to rub together as well?”
He makes a snarl of protest, jumping to his feet, and I know I have struck a nerve. “While you have been playing with the female up above, we have been scouring this cave with our noses pressed to every leaf, every rock. You cannot say we have done nothing.” He draws himself to his full height. “What has crawled up your tail, R’jaal? You are not like this.”
S’bren puts a hand to his mouth, trying to mask his words. “You know the answer.”
“F’lor,” A’tam adds helpfully, not even bothering to hide his comment. “He is upset resonance avoids him like common sense avoids S’bren.”
I wave them off, my mood black. They do not understand. No one understands. It is not F’lor I am sad over—I am glad my friend is happy with her resonance.
It is what she represents. It is that I am left with T’ia, who is a stranger that I feel nothing for. It is that T’ia is my last chance, and even now, my chest remains silent. It is that I fear I will never resonate, never have the family and mate I have so longed for.
But it would be impossible to explain any of this to them. So I just shake my head and dive into the pool, letting the water silence their conversation.
Despite the fact that the suns always shine inside the fruit cave, our bodies know when it is time to sleep. We bunk on the warm rocks near the pool, with our furs under us to provide cushioning, and a thick strip of fur to cover the eyes so one can sleep.
I have slept in the fruit cave in this manner many times before, but today, I am unsettled. I itch under my skin with something I cannot scratch, and everything bothers me. The rocks are too hard. The air is too warm. The others are snoring too loud. I doze fitfully…
And awaken a short time later to a muffled sound.
I sit up, reaching for my spear. Strangely enough, now I pick up the scent of mushrooms like S’bren mentioned. I get to my feet, sniffing the nearest vine, but the smell is not coming from it. Odd. Perhaps it is my imagination.
The muffled sound returns, and then I hear a sniff. I look over to T’ia’s bed and it is empty. My heart thuds and I look around, trying to pick up her scent. She is there by the waterfall, hugging her knees and wiping at her face, wearing only her chest-wrap and her skirt.
I feel a surge of pity for her. For all that I am disappointed with F’lor and I’rec’s resonance, T’ia is struggling so much harder. She must have truly given her heart to I’rec.
I move to her side, putting a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. “Would you like someone to talk to?”
She shakes her head, avoiding looking at me. “What’s there to say? We both know talking isn’t going to change anything.” She stares at the falling water, and then swipes a hand under her nose. “I heard your conversation earlier—you and M’tok. Thank you for defending me.”
“He is sour because there is no answer here, and he does not like feeling foolish.” I pat her shoulder awkwardly, wishing I was better with females. Wishing I felt something for her other than pity. “Do not let him make you weep.”
“It’s not him. It’s…everything.” She sucks in a ragged breath. “I should have stayed at Croatoan. I just really thought I’d come back and things would be different. That I’d show everyone the skills I have and that I’m more than just a silly flirt. Instead, me coming back has made everything worse.” T’ia buries her face in her hands. “I was alone at Croatoan, too, but I was happy there.”
“I will take you back if you wish to go.”
T’ia uncovers her face and turns to me in surprise. “You will? Seriously?”
I nod. “If that is what you wish. If you are miserable here, I would take you back.”
“But you…and me…”
I manage a smile. “I think we both know our khuis are silent and will remain so.”
“Our khuis suck,” she agrees, and manages a watery laugh. “You and I got the malfunctioning ones.”
I do not know what that means, but I can guess. “We have simply not met our mates yet. When it is our time, we will know.”