She leaned into him, and for one tempting moment, the records seemed considerably less important. Then he lifted his head.
“Tomorrow night,” he said.
“Tomorrow night.”
He started to prepare for his journey. She remained where she was for another moment, thinking about the next day. She wasn’t afraid of being away from him tomorrow. She had Tess.She had work she wanted to do. She had an entire day that belonged to her, and she was looking forward to it.
But as she watched Njkall move across the room, broad and white-furred and familiar, another realization followed close behind. She was already looking forward to him coming home.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Njkall had been listening to two grown males argue over grazing rights for the better part of an hour when he realized he was thinking about his mate and the sweetness of her mouth when she had kissed him goodbye.
That is not helpful.
“The valley has belonged to our clan for four generations,” Harlak said for what Njkall suspected was the fifth time.
“Your clan hasn’t grazed there in twelve years,” Grath countered. “You abandoned it.”
“We did not abandon it. We chose not to use it.”
“For twelve years.”
Harlak waved a dismissive hand. “A temporary decision.”
He dragged his attention back to the dispute. They were gathered in Harlak’s meeting cave, a broad chamber carved into the side of the northern ridge. A fire burned in the central pit, throwing enough heat to make the journey worthwhile, andseveral members of both clans sat along the walls pretending not to listen.
Every one of them was listening.
“Harlak,” Njkall said.
The older male stopped arguing with Grath and looked at him.
“Did your clan graze the valley last winter?”
“No.”
“The winter before?”
“No, but?—”
“The winter before that?”
Harlak’s jaw tightened. “No.”
He turned to Grath. “Did yours?”
“Yes.”
“Did Harlak’s clan object?”
“No.”
“Because we didn’t know they were doing it,” Harlak growled.
He regarded him steadily. “You didn’t know another clan had been grazing animals in a valley you claim to have been carefully guarding for four generations?”
Silence descended on the cave. Someone along the wall coughed, and he suspected it concealed a laugh.
