I stood, raising my tail to Gahn Irokai, gesturing that he and Taliok to join me at the fire. They and their men approached warily, but soon enough everyone had settled in and was eating. Gahn Irokai sat on my right hand side, Taliok to his right. Galok was seated on my left, but he leaped up, raising his tail to his eyes and moving, when Zeezee appeared with Rika for the evening meal. My heart was a clenched fist in my chest. Though it had only been one day, I ached for her already.
Rika sat with Balia on the other side of the fire, and Zeezee looked between the healers and me, as if unsure. She was likely unsure if she should be next to me when I was conversing with another Gahn. But no Gahn’s presence would keep my mate from my side. With a quick word to Gahn Irokai, I rose, jogging to her and taking her hand.
“Hello,” she said, and even in the dimming light I could see the crimson smear of desire across her cheeks. If I slipped a claw beneath her tunic and sniffed, I knew I’d smell her arousal, too. But there would be time for that later. Her small hand safe in mine, I led her around the fire, returning to my place next to Gahn Irokai. My hackles rose as I felt the eyes of many warriors fall upon her, some with apprehension, some with curiosity, many with lust. If any man looked too long, I’d be forced to tear his eyes from his skull.
Galok, who was now seated on Zeezee’s left, having moved over for her, seemed to sense the dark waves rolling off of me. He averted his eyes and took a large bite of meat, chewing forcefully, staring into the flames. Taliok, however, did not avert his eyes. His tight gaze tracked back and forth between Zeezee and me, forcing a warning thrum to build in my throat. Only then did he finally look away, though the gesture did not seem submissive.
Gahn Irokai distracted me from my possessive rage by speaking.
“Have you learned anything else about these women? About where they come from, who they are?”
“They come from a place we have never known. Beyond the stars.”
Gahn Irokai sucked in a breath.
“Impossible,” he said, regarding me with suspicion.
“Trust me, I know how you feel. But it’s true.” Zeezee’s voice drifted past me to Gahn Irokai, shocking him like lightning from a desert storm.
“She speaks!” He thundered, rearing back. Taliok jerked to look at us, jaw tight, sight stars spinning.
“Do you deceive me, Buroudei? Last time she pretended she could not speak.”
I was about to answer when Zeezee cut me off. I was not used to having a woman speak for me like this, especially to another Gahn. But Zeezee did not seem like she could be stopped. She shook her head quickly, leaning around me to better see the other Gahn.
“No, it’s true. I couldn’t speak your language then.”
“Then how do you speak with us now? You only have one tongue. It does not seem like you would learn our language so easily.”
My pride flared in defensive anger. How dare he insult my mate’s perfect, single tongue.
“Zeezee has learned many of our words on her own. Her people are resourceful and intelligent.”
Zeezee patted my shoulder.
“It’s OK. He’s right. I’m good with languages, but I’d never learn to speak it this fast.”
Between the two of us, we pieced together the story of our night at the space ship, including how I’d killed one of Gahn Fallo’s men, and how I’d rushed to the Lavrika Pools to heal Zeezee. Gahn Irokai looked drawn. Taliok was silent.
“I wonder if am I grown too old to be a Gahn, in times like these. Strange things are afoot.”
I snorted, knowing Gahn Irokai was not serious. No Gahn would ever admit to a true vulnerability like that, not in front of another tribe’s men. He was one of the most powerful warriors of the Sea Sands, even at his age. I imagined it would be many ages before he would choose a successor, or call for a baklok, a tournament meant to determine a tribe’s next Gahn if there was no successor chosen.
Gahn Irokai and Taliok did not continue the conversation, lost in their own thoughts. I turned my attention to my mate as Balia laid down a bone tray with the choicest bits of meat before us, raising her tail before returning to her seat. Zeezee grinned, reaching forward and to grab some meat and popped it in her mouth.
“Mmm. Tastes like steak.” I did not know what steak was, but the eroticism of the image before me led me to think it was something to do with mating. I pulled her against my side, sniffing at her neck, at that sweet spot behind her ear as she gasped, then giggled.
“Hey, I’m trying to eat here!”
It was good she was eating. Though the Lavrika Pools had healed her completely, she had still been through a lot. Lots of food and good rest were in order, especially since she would soon be carrying our cub. The thought lit a fire in my chest, and my arm clenched around her, my cock growing hard. I could not wait to mate her again tonight.
After eating, we bid goodnight to our allies, and Zeezee and I returned to our tent. As soon as we were inside we were on each other, mouths searching, hands grappling. As I reached for the hem of Zeezee’s tunic, to pull it up and over her head, she stopped me, yanking it back down.
“Wait, wait a second. Before we get down and dirty, we should talk about tomorrow.”
I frowned.
“What is there to talk about?”
“Well, like, what’s the plan? I know we leave at dawn. But is there anything else I need to know?”
Perhaps the Lavrika had imparted our language imperfectly. I thought I had heard Zeezee say “we.”
“The other warriors and I,” I began carefully, watching her with suspicion, “will leave at dawn tomorrow. Gahn Fallo’s territory is one day’s ride from here. We will attack tomorrow night and retrieve your people.”
She crossed her arms, causing her breasts to plump up in the most delicious way. I reached for her again, but she stepped back.
“Doesn’t sound like a complete plan to me. You left something out. Or someone.”
“And what, or who, is that?” I asked dryly. I already knew the answer.
“Me. I’m coming with you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Cece
Buroudei didn’t seem to like that I wanted to come with him. His face hardened, and he stared at me flatly as I told him I was coming with him. But what the hell did he expect? That I would just let him ride off into the sunset with his warriors, tossing women over their shoulders like cavemen? I ignored the fact that that was exactly what he’d done with me.
“You are not coming.”
I rolled my eyes.
“And why is that? Because I’m a woman?”
Buroudei cocked his head, as if confused by a question with an obvious answer.
“Yes.”
My mouth fell open. I wasn’t expecting such a blunt answer, but I shut it quickly.
“Where I come from there are male and female warriors, you know!”
Buroudei looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Are you one of them?”
I felt heat creep up my neck. Ah, yes, Officer Celia Heaney, a well-trained, decorated soldier in the regiment of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto. Good grief.