Page 28 of The Hunter

Boots thudded on the wooden steps above. A human was hurrying down at a pace that seemed much too quick for a creature with two legs to safely maintain.

The human peered over the edge high overhead, and everything in Telok stilled.

Lacey waved at the hunters. “Wait!” she called first in English, then in vrix, before resuming her descent and disappearing from sight.

Jaw clenched, Telok listened to her footfalls move steadily lower as she followed the stairs around the massive tree.

A few thornskulls spoke to each other, but Telok’s mind did not grasp their words.

Why was Lacey here? Had Cole forgotten something, or had she come to delay them by saying goodbye? Of everyone who might’ve come this morning, why her?

Cole laughed and rubbed his cheek. “Can’t believe I didn’t remember…”

So, the human had forgotten something. Telok relaxed. A tiny delay was acceptable, even if it wasn’t like Cole to be unprepared.

When Lacey reached the bottom of the stairs, Telok couldn’t keep his eyes from her. Her red hair was gathered into two braids that rested over her shoulders with wispy strands framing her freckled face. She wore dark green pants that hugged her legs and a snug, matching sleeveless vest. The garment was laced in the front, pushing her large breasts up and together.

His finger flexed with the sudden urge to hook a claw beneath that lacing, cut it, and let those mounds spill free. His stem throbbed behind his slit.

He ground his fangs together. The sooner they departed, the better.

A wide smile spread across her face. “I’m here and ready to go.”

Telok blinked at her.

Go?

Only then did he realize she was holding a spear and had a pack strapped to her back.

Those weren’t Cole’s things, they were Lacey’s.

“You…” Telok’s mandibles twitched.

Cole grinned and held out his elbow to her. “Shall we go forth and tame this unforgiving wilderness?”

She moved to his side, slipped her arm around his, and gave him a curt nod. “We shall conquer the ferocious beasties of the Tangle, for though we may be small, we are migh⁠—”

“No,” Telok snapped.

All eyes whipped toward him.

“Huh?” Cole said.

“You, vi’jatai”—Telok pointed at Lacey and then aimed his finger up—“will return to your den.”

Brow furrowing, Lacey withdrew her arm from Cole’s and turned to face Telok. “No, I will not. I”—she pointed to herself then at him—“am going with you. Good luck clawing out this little thorn.”

Telok covered his face with a hand and raked his claws down it with a growl.

How could he put distance between them, how could he keep her out of his thoughts, if she was right beside him in the jungle with nowhere else to go? She’d be even closer than she’d been in Kaldarak. He’d see her, smell her, share meals with her, and sleep near her while they denned in the wild. His every moment would be spent trying to protect her.

And all his willpower would be put toward resisting the urge to rut her.

“Go back,” he said.

Lacey lifted her chin, eyes defiant. “No.”

Cole glanced between them. “What’s going on, man? She’s gone out plenty of times.”