Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
"What do you think?" I ask in a low whisper.
His thumb strokes my bare arm under my short sleeve. "I think they like to talk a lot. And someone handed me food every time I made eye contact."
I smother my giggle, because he's not wrong. "We must look hungry and pitiful."
"But they are…kind," he admits. "And full of advice. And it is good advice. They are not all like Valmir."
Thank god for that. I'm sure Valmir is fine in small doses. I touch Corvak's bare chest. He's no longer wearing a deep rust-red tunic given to him earlier. It hangs on a hook nearby, and I have to admit, he looked really good in it. I don't know where it came from, though. I was pulled between people all day long, and I know he was, too. I pluck at his nipple, teasing. "They dressed you, too?"
He chuckles. "We must indeed look pitiful."
I sigh, because I know it has to wound his pride that we're taking handouts from people he considered enemies not so long ago. It was nice to not have to scratch out survival for a meal. To have a hot, delicious bowl of food handed to you. I don't mind working, but when there's no end in sight, it wears on you. I draw little circles on his chest, because he's quiet, and I don't want to influence his thoughts too much if he hates it here. "I saw two women and a man attaching hides onto frames and scraping them. Very Clan of the Cave Bear, but I'd like to learn how to do that so we can make our own hides."
You know, just in case we don't stay.
"I want you to rest until you feel better," he says.
That doesn't tell me what he's thinking. "And…then we'll head off into the mountains again?"
He pauses in his stroking of my arm. "Do you want to?"
"I want to do what you want to do," I answer cagily, trying to keep emotion out of my voice. "I don't want to stay if you're miserable. We need to do what's best for both of us. I'm willing to leave if that's what you need to be happy. I'm not emotionally attached to being here, but I do know that I'm going to be miserable as hell if you leave without me."
Corvak rolls over in bed to face me. His gaze locks onto mine, and he traces my jaw with his fingers. "I would never leave you behind. Never."
A knot forms in my throat. "Good."
"A few times today, I felt overwhelmed," he confesses. "There were so many people, so many faces, and everyone wanted to talk to me…and I did not know what to say. I do not know how to make friends."
"Just be yourself. Look at Valmir. He's not trying to impress anyone. He's an asshole and he doesn't give a shit. And they didn't kick him out. He's part of their family as much as anyone else."
He chuckles. "I noticed. I just…I want to be good at this. I want us to be a good family. I don't want you to feel disappointed in me."
"Never!" I press my hand over his and hold it to my cheek. "Don't ever say that. You're the bravest, strongest, smartest guy here."
"I am not," Corvak admits. "There is a lot we can learn from these people. Many of them were gladiators before—Thrand, Ashtar, Vordis, even Valmir—and I can learn from them how to be a good warrior if there are no battles to be fought." He pauses and then continues after a moment. "Did you see Gren? He looks just like me."
"You're handsomer." And he is. Gren is like a pale copy in my eyes. Gren’s features are slightly different, his tail long, his eyes less curious. But I'm biased.
"Even so, it is good to see a face that looks like mine." He slides our joined hands down and presses them over my heart, where my khui is humming softly. "It feels like having a family. And there is a healer here, and she can look after you. Many of the females have had young, and they will know what to do when ours comes."
"So…?" I prompt, wanting his answer. "Stay or go?"
"Stay, I think." He says the words slowly, as if tasting them. "If we view all of this as a battle strategy, it makes sense to have allies and to hone our skills."
"You do realize everything isn't a challenge?" I ask, teasing.
"It never hurts to be prepared."
I laugh, and it feels good that we're on the same page. I give his shoulder a gentle push and tip him onto his back, and then I lean over him and kiss his smiling mouth. "I love you, Corvak."
"I love you, too, my Aidy." He pauses. "Can I ask you something?"