CASSIE
They got to the kitchen at the same time andCassiewas startled to see the bigBeastKindredstark naked, while something in a pot on the stove was burning.Acridsmoke was filling the kitchen andRavikwas bent over, clutching himself between his legs and howling.
“Ravik, what the fuck?”Severinrushed into the room, squeezed past his friend, and hurried to the stove.Littleblack things were flying out of the pot and he got hit in the cheek and his bare chest in his quest to grab the pot.
“Be careful!Thehandle gets really—”Cassiestarted, but it was too late—Severinhad already gripped it without using any kind of potholder.
“Fuck!”he swore again, sounding very unscientific as he dumped it in the sink and looked at his palm—which was already beginning to blister.
Meanwhile,Ravikwas still doubled over, making mournful sounds.
“What in theSevenHellswere you doing?”Severindemanded, stalking over to his friend.“Whatis this stuff you were cooking, anyway?”
Cassie reached down and picked up one of the little black things…and just as quickly dumped it back on the floor.
“Fikkabeetles,” she said and shuddered.Thetiny, crunchy insects were considered a delicacy by theVisskous, but she couldn’t bear the idea of eating bugs, so she always passed on them.
“Beetles?”Severinechoed.“Butwhy did they explode?”
“They must still have some moisture inside them,”Cassieoffered.“Sowhen he heated them up, they popped—kind of like kernels of popcorn.”
“That makes sense but whatispopcorn, anyway?”he asked, sounding exasperated.
“It’s a snack fromEarth—and it tastes a hell of a lot better thanfikkabeetles,Ican tell you that,”Cassiesaid.
She was going to explain further, butRavikstarted moaning again and she felt awful.Herethey were standing and talking while theBeastKindredhad clearly hurt himself.
“Hey,Ravik?”Shewalked over and began rubbing between his shoulder blades—which was possible since he was still doubled over and not towering above her at the moment.
More moaning noises came from the bigBeastKindred.
“Hurts,” he said at last.“Hurtsbad!”
“Yes, wellIknow what you mean.”Severinstill sounded irritated—possibly because of his burned palm.
“Run some cold water over that,”Cassieordered.Thenshe turned back toRavik.“Comeon, baby—tell me where it hurts.Whathappened?”she asked.
At last the hugeKindredstraightened up.Hisgolden eyes were filled with tears, which tugged immediately atCassie’sheart.
“Hurts,” he rumbled again and she could see red marks all over his bare chest.Butthose didn’t seem to bother him so much—he was still clutching his groin, cupping himself in one big palm.
“What were you thinking?”Severinasked him from the sink, where he was running water over his burned palm.“Whyin the world did you take off your clothes and start cookingfikkabeetles naked?”
“Wanted…wanted…”Ravikseemed to be having a hard time getting the words out.
“Severin—look at his eyes,”Cassiemurmured, pointing.
The bigBeastKindred’seyes were milky again—almost as opaque as they had been when he’d first thrown her over his shoulder the other day.
“Gods, he’s regressed!”Therewas a note of despair in theBloodKindred’svoice.“Hecan’t have been away from your scent that long, but look how much ground he’s lost!”
“It’s all right—maybeIcan bring him back.”Cassieturned to the bigBeastKindredand held out her arms.“Ravik, come down here and hug me.Orletmehugyou,” she amended, since he didn’t seem willing to let go of his groin.
He looked at her with cloudy eyes and it was clear he didn’t understand.
“Down here—come here,”Cassierepeated.
At last she lost patience.Standingon her tiptoes, she reached up and put her arms around his neck.Whatshe wanted was for him to come low enough to smell her hair but he was still plainly distracted by his pain.
