Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
She continues to watch me. I glare back. It's as if we're waiting for the other to respond first.
"It's been two days," April says finally. "You should walk a little. Come with me."
"Why, so I can be around the others and their screeching children? So they can all tell me stories about people I don't know and things I don't care about?" Why is she so set upon not being alone with me?
"You should want to be around people." April gives me an exasperated look, as if I am missing the obvious.
Want to be around these people? I'd sooner want to dive headfirst into ice water. "Why?"
She twirls a finger in a bit of decorative fur on her collar. "Because you're going to be living with them? You should have friends. More friends than just Skarr, anyhow."
I scoff. "Skarr is not my friend."
April makes a face back at me. "He's literally your best friend. You talk to him all the time when he's here. I wouldn't be surprised if the two of you are saving up your secrets so you can compare notes when he gets back."
Does she think I have a fondness for Skarr? "He comes up and talks to me. I do not seek him out."
"Do you seek anyone out?"
"You," I say.
She doesn't smile. "Other than me?"
I do not, but I know that answer will somehow disappoint her. "I fail to see why this is important."
"You know what? It's not. Never mind. Forget I asked." She gets to her feet, and again, I somehow feel that I have placed a wedge between us that I did not know was there. "Do you want me to bring you dinner later?"
"Maybe," I say, scowling up at her. Why is she so frustrating?
April gets to her feet, shoots me another disappointed look, and then leaves. I'm left alone in the healer's hut, stewing and wondering what I did wrong. How the kef did I manage to mess this up while lying on my back? I don't understand. I don't understand her, and I don't understand the situation at all.
I glare at my surroundings for a time, irritated. The flap opens and I sit up, hoping that it is April. That she's come to keep me company after all. That she's back to her usual prickly self and everything is fine.
A large sa-khui male glares down at me with a dour expression. Blood drips down his hand and he keeps it curled to his chest. He eyes me like I'm a problem. "Is the healer in?"
I point at the leather curtain that closes off Veronica's private quarters from the healing alcove.
He shakes the chime to announce his arrival, and the healer emerges with a startled squeak. "Oh my god, Bek! You're dripping blood everywhere!"
The male sighs as if aggrieved. "There is not that much blood. It is a tiny wound, but my mate wanted me to have you look at it." He holds his hand out, but his expression tells me that he fears this is an overreaction. "Please check it for me and put her concerns to rest."
"Tiny wound? You nearly sliced your finger off." She examines his hand and shakes her head. Then Veronica points at the floor. "Sit down next to Valmir and I'll get some bandages."
He sits where she indicates, still holding his hand to his chest as the healer disappears inside the other portion of the hut. We stare at each other.
"It's a small wound," he says grudgingly again.
"You don't have to explain yourself, friend."
He harrumphs, as if my response irks him. I seem to be irking everyone today. "When you are mated, you will understand."
"That's a keffing relief, because right now, I don't understand females at all."
"I didn't say you would understand them," he admits. "They are impossible to understand sometimes. But you will want to please them at all times because making your mate happy is what you want most." He waves his good hand at the surroundings. "And that means letting the healer fuss over you."
Veronica returns, setting down a stool between us. She squats on it while she tends to Bek's hand, and the other hunter is silent. His words are echoing in my ears, though. Here is a male who admits he doesn't understand his mate, but he loves her anyhow. Is this something that I should be aware of? Am I supposed to be constantly confused by my female? Or is there some other information I'm missing entirely?
All is quiet in the healing hut, the only sound that of breathing and my occasional tail thump.
"There," Veronica finally says. "All better. Try not to get it wet for the rest of the day."
"Why?" Bek asks, and he sounds as surly as I do when I am told something without an explanation.
"Because you don't want it to get infected?" She gives the wrapping covering his wound a little pat.