Page 136 of Sun Warrior

“I love that story,” Danita said, stroking Bast’s soft coat but meeting Antreas’s gaze.

“So, you understand now why Bast biting me was the happiest day of my life?”

“I do. Well, actually, I think the happiest day of your life was when you didn’t die from her bite,” Danita said, smiling at him.

“You’re right about that,” he said. Antreas paused then. He cleared his throat and drew a deep breath. “Danita, may I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“May we start over? Act like we’re just now meeting? I feel like I was a stupid fool when we first met and I—”

“Yes,” Danita interrupted.

“Yes?”

“Yes, we may start over. I’d like that,” Danita said.

“So would Bast.”

“But not you?”

“Sorry, I’m still messing this up. Yes, I would like to start over, too.Um, Bast and I found something for you.” Antreas reached behind him, pulling four long feathers from the satchel he carried strapped across his back.

“Oh! They’re raptor feathers! They’re beautiful! There are so few raptors left. We almost never find their feathers.” She reached for the feathers eagerly but pulled her hand back. “You should keep these. They would make a valuable trade.”

Bast coughed and shifted position, laying her head on Danita’s lap. “Bast says they’re for you. She found them. I just carried them to you. Bast would’ve gotten them all slobbery.”

The big feline slitted her eye at her Companion and sighed dramatically before rolling over and repositioning herself across Danita’s lap.

Danita giggled. “I think I got that without your translation.”

“Good. I’m not going to repeat what she just said.” Antreas offered the feathers again. “Please take them as a gift. From Bast. And from me.”

Slowly, Danita took the feathers, taking her time to examine and comment on the beauty of each one before she leaned down and kissed Bast on her nose, saying, “Thank you! I love them.” Her gaze lifted to Antreas. “And thank you, too.”

“You are very welcome. I’m glad they make you smile. I like your smile. Uh, so does Bast,” he added hastily.

Danita cocked her head, studying him. “You know I was attacked not long ago by a group of males, don’t you?” Her voice quiet but as steady as her gray-eyed gaze.

“I do. I’m sorry about it. I wish I could have stopped it from happening to you. So does Bast.”

“I know she does.” Danita blinked quickly as she stroked the sleepy feline. “But no one was there to stop it. The Clansmen. They hurt me. They raped me. I—I’m not sure if I can ever be like a normal girl again.”

“Normal is overrated,” Antreas said.

Danita looked up at him, her eyes awash in unshed tears.

“I’m not normal, either,” he continued. “Lynxes always choose a Companion of their own sex, but Bast chose me. Lynxes are always solitary. They mate and have young, of course, but the male felines don’tlive with the female felines and the kittens leave the dens, never to return, when they have barely weathered one winter. I’ve never liked the idea of living such an isolated life, and neither has Bast. So, Bast and I, we’re not normal, either.”

“I’m glad you’re not normal,” Danita said.

“For the first time in my life, I’m glad, too,” Antreas said.

They stared into each other’s eyes for a long time while the feline between them pretended to sleep, even as her rolling purr gave her away.

CHAPTER 30

Nik was standing in the center of a circle of women who were seated cross-legged around him, listening intently as he explained something with great animation. Mari made her way closer, trying to get within hearing distance without interrupting. She settled for sitting, her back to a log, close enough to catch about every fifth word or so.