Page 99 of Wind Rider

Antreas sighed. “I just gave him something I knew he wanted. A lot. And he led me to the jeweler. Not hospitably, mind you.”

“Antreas! Stop avoiding my question.”

“Okay. Sorry. I gave him my claw.”

Danita felt sick. “Great Goddess! You cut off your finger for this!” She started to pull the necklace over her head, but Antreas’s hand stopped her.

“Please don’t. Please keep it. Dani, I didn’t cut off my finger. I just cut off a claw—more like the tip of my finger.”

“That’s horrible!”

“No, it’s not. I did it willingly.”

“Antreas, do not ever do something like that again. I willnothave you hurting yourself for me. Ever. Promise?”

“I promise,” he said. “Will you wear it? For Bast and me?”

“Yes, but only because you promised.” She let the necklace settle around her neck again.

Then he lay down and opened his arms to her. Danita lay beside him, within the embrace of his arms, her head resting on his muscular chestand the warm, soft length of Bast pressed against her back. That night, for the first time since Danita had been raped and nearly beaten to death, she slept soundly, without one nightmare.

***

The morning dawned clear and cool, with a brisk breeze that would, thankfully, be at their backs. Mari splashed water on her face, shivering and gasping with the cold, and then brushed her teeth with a willow stick. Beside her, Nik did the same. They were at the edge of the river, where they’d moved after they’d reluctantly left the privacy of their hidden ledge, though the intimacy they’d shared the night before clung to them.

Nik dried his face with his shirt and sniffed the air. “Is that eggs? Gull eggs?”

“Oh, Goddess, I hope so! Antreas said egg season is short, but I hope that doesn’t mean it’s over yet. Let’s go see.”

As she turned to hurry back to the campfire, Nik snagged her wrist, pulling her against him. “Last night was perfect,” he said after he’d kissed her thoroughly.

“Yes, it was.” Mari leaned into him, thinking how much she loved being close to him.

Laru ran past them, carrying a huge stick, with Rigel on his heels, barking like a crazy creature as they threw sand on their Companions.

When Mari opened her mouth to tell them to behave, Nik pressed his finger to her lips, and then kissed her again quickly.

“Let them play. They need to burn off energy. They’ll be lying on those ballasts all day. It must get old for them.”

“I hadn’t thought about that,” Mari said as she and Nik made their way to the campfire, hand in hand. “But you’re right. The canines do need to keep up with their exercise. Do you think they might do some swimming beside the boats?”

“That’s a good idea. After we greet the sun, I’ll talk to Antreas about it. In spots where the current is placid and there are no ruins, I think it would be a great way for them to exercise.”

Nik and Mari joined the Pack where they were circled around thecampfire. Sora was poking some wapato roots that were cooking in the glowing coals, and Mari was thrilled to see a large pile of gull eggs sitting beside the cauldron.

“Oh, good! There you two are,” Sora said. “I didn’t want to start the eggs until after we greeted the sun. They’re best steaming hot.”

“Just talking about it is making my mouth water!” Jenna said, clapping happily around one of Fala’s pups that she’d snuggled in her arms.

“Is everyone here?” Nik asked, looking around to be sure all the Companions were present.

“I don’t see Davis or Cammy,” Mari said. “Oh, wait, here they come.”

“Yeah, with Claudia and Mariah,” Sora added, winking surreptitiously at Mari.

Surprised by Sora’s wink, Mari watched closely as Davis and Claudia approached from up the beach. They walked so closely that their hands and arms brushed against one another. They were talking, their heads tilted together. Mari’s eyes widened as Claudia laughed flirtatiously and touched Davis with easy intimacy. Behind them, Cammy and Mariah walked side by side, as close together as their Companions. Mari thought Cammy’s tail might possibly wag off his body, and Mariah’s mouth was open in a very pleased-looking canine grin.

“When did that happen?” Mari whispered to Sora.