There’s a hiss behind me.
Fer’ro.
One glance over my shoulder and I jerk back so hard I almost fall into the water.
Fer’ro has risen over me, his blades are out, spiking along his arms, and his lips are pulled back.
Wicked fangs are bared at me.
Shock, fear, has my breath stuck in my throat.
How stupid was I to venture away from Sam and Mina?
Right now, in this moment, I can see just how foolish that was.
Was this what he had intended from the start? Had he just been waiting till we were alone to attack me?
To eat me?
But the aggression the dark alien is expressing lasts only a second.
He stills, and the blades retreat but it takes a few more moments for his mouth to close and conceal those wicked teeth of his.
Gulping hard, I don’t move.
What the fuck was that?
I’m almost too scared to look away from him.
If I look away, will he try to attack me again?
But something flicks at the end of my stick so hard, I almost lose my hold on it.
A fish.
A small one but a fish nonetheless.
I…I caught it?
The little victory catches me unaware and I realize I’d had no faith I was going to catch anything at all.
I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry. What happens is a sob of happiness and fear that lodges in my throat.
Through the corner of my eyes, I notice Fer’ro’s blades rise part way as he watches me and I promptly silence myself.
I can’t tell if he’s about to attack me or not.
Maybe he’s like one of those predators that attack when you’re not looking.
For that reason, I keep my gaze on him as I pull the branch toward me.
It’s pierced right through and the fish flaps, trying to get off it.
Fer’ro watches the fish move.
“Sustenance?” he asks.
“Yes.”
He stares at it before he stands.
“You are a good hunter,” he says.
That sob that’s lodged in my throat constricts the muscles there.
Is that it?
Have I passed the test?
FER’RO
The fire crackles under the morning star that blesses this planet.
Er’th they call it. Hyu’mans they call themselves.
Strange designations that Adee’ra exposed when I asked them of her.
They required the fire once more, though their star has risen.
I obliged.
I lit it for them on top of the embers that had died the night before.
I am as surprised as my brethren when Adee’ra pierces the sea creature with another stick.
At first, I think she is simply doing so to make it easier for her to tear into its flesh.
But then, she stretches it over the flames, turning it periodically.
Ga’Var bristles and I hear a few discontented clicks from the others.
They have gathered near to watch her…prepare the meal.
At the sounds we’re making, Adee’ra glances up at us and pauses.
She looks back at the meal then at us again.
“Do you want some?”
Not one of us moves.
We cannot respond.
She is asking…all of us this?
Every single hackle on me itches to rise.
For a moment, I forget that she is not Vullan. She has no idea of our customs.
But it seems Ga’Var has completely forgotten for he thrums and I hiss at him.
Adee’ra pales and I am immediately regretful.
I do not mean to scare her.
I scared her earlier too, while she hunted.
But that time, I was simply surprised by her battle cry.
I reacted involuntarily.
Ga’Var ignores me and takes a step toward her.
Anger flares within me immediately and my hackles rise.
“No,” I click.
He stares me down. “Why rekking not? She has offered.”
My teeth clench so hard I have to ball my fists to prevent my hackles from rising farther.
If Adee’ra sees me in my true fighting form, any progress I have made with her so far will be lost. And…I do not know why I care about losing this progress so much.
“She does not know what she offers. Stand down.”
Through the corner of my eye, San’ten steps closer. “It doesn’t matter. We cannot oblige anyway. Look at them. They are weak, feeble, beings. A mating with one would certainly break its bones and kill it.”
Ga’Var glances at Adee’ra and the mere fact he is looking her way, contemplating it, sets me on edge.
“She is not Vullan. She is not inviting you to her feathers.” I pause, waiting for my words to sink in. “Adee’ra does not know that offering you sustenance is an invitation.”
Why should I have to explain this?
It should be clear to him.
I sense that Adee’ra stiffens at the sound of her name.
She and the other female exchange glances but Ga’Var isn’t backing down.
“Um,” her voice seems to still the air around us. “We can share. It’s not a problem.”
My gaze falls to her then to the sea creature. Its outer skin is being roasted by the flames and I cringe a little at the loss of nutrients.
It is already dead.
Why is she killing it again?
But what I focus on is the fact the thing is so small.
It will hardly feed her and the two other females, yet she is innocently trying to share it with us.
I sense when Ga’Var backs down the moment his shoulders relax.
“It is fine, little female.”
Adee’ra pauses a little.
It is the first time someone other than myself has spoken to her. I hide my surprise. Ga’Var’s ba’clan have assimilated the language too. Shortly, the others will follow and we will all speak the language of this land.
“You eat, Adee’ra,” I say to her as I grip my womb mate by the shoulder and pull him away.
Chapter Thirteen
ADIRA
I don’t know what the hell just happened.
I stare at Fer’ro’s back as he almost hauls his friend toward the water.
The others still sorta hover around us but I am getting used to their presence.
Slowly.
It doesn’t seem like they want to share the fish. I never expected them to, but because they are hovering, watching, it was rude not to offer.
Either way, more for us.
The fish is small anyway, but it’s better than nothing.
“It looks so good,” Sam murmurs, her mouth practically watering.
Mine is too. I have to swallow several times so I don’t drool over myself.
“It smells even better,” I almost moan.
One of the aliens, the dark-eyed one, makes a click that’s sort of high-pitched and I’m beginning to sense it means disbelief.
I’d heard it when I offered them some of the fish in the first place.
I almost chuckle.
It’s obvious they think the fish is gross.
Well, their live spaghetti is worse.
“Think it’s done?” I ask Sam. I was never a good cook but the way I feel right now, I could have probably eaten the fish raw.
“It smells done.” Sam literally drools and a small laugh bubbles within me.
It withers on my lips.
When was the last time I laughed?
I freeze, staring ahead but not seeing anything.
It almost feels…wrong to feel happiness.