Page 39 of The Hunter

Telok shifted his foreleg, knocking its bent joint sharply against Cole’s knee.

“Hey!” Glaring at Telok, Cole scooted a couple feet aside, rubbing his knee. “That defensiveness just tells me that I’m right, you know.”

“Sheevix,” Telok snapped.

Lacey’s eyes flared. Telok had reserved this for her? Had cooked it for her?

Cheeks warming, she turned back to the fire and tried to contain her delighted smile as she brought the meat to her mouth to take a bite.

It was some of the best meat she’d ever eaten…because it had been cooked and given to her by Telok.

CHAPTER 10

As the sun fell, the shadows deepened and thickened, and the air cooled. The thornskulls slowly gathered around the fire, which only seemed brighter and warmer as night approached.

But the heat Telok felt had nothing to do with the flames. Lacey was close enough that he could smell her despite the heavy smoke scent, close enough that he could’ve touched her with hardly any effort.

And gods did he want to.

Would that he could draw her against himself, settle her upon his forelegs and wrap his arms around her. Would that he could nuzzle that fiery hair, feel her soft skin against his hide, and mark her with his scent.

Would that he could rut her and make her his.

His little thorn… His mate.

Soon, all but Ayali had huddled around the small fire. Conversation flowed freely and cheerfully, with words spoken in vrix and English alike, often in the same sentences.

Lacey smiled and laughed, joining in like she’d been on a hundred hunts with their companions. The sparkle in her eyes came from much more than the reflected light of the flames. And when those plump, pink lips stretched and curled up at their corners, when she smiled, it made Telok feel so…full. He wished he could do more than poorly mimic the expression with his mandibles.

“Are you well, Scarhide?” Garahk asked from beside Telok.

Blinking, Telok pried his gaze from the fire-haired human. “Yes.”

Garahk hummed thoughtfully, the sound barely audible over the eruption of chitters at the story Droztar was telling.

By the Eight, when did it become so easy for everyone to read my hearts?

Not allowing himself to look at Lacey again, Telok stood. “I will help Ayali keep watch.”

He withdrew before Garahk could reply, retrieved his spear, and moved several segments away from the others, well beyond the fire’s glow. Clenching the spear shaft, he turned his attention toward the jungle.

When they’d left Kaldarak, he’d resolved to keep distance between himself and Lacey. Yet Telok had been watching her all day, and he had already made her drink from his waterskin, had stood guard while she relieved herself, and had taken a second portion of meat for her, which he’d cooked himself.

And he’d been sitting right beside Lacey only a moment ago, staring. Yearning.

This was only the first day of a long journey, and he’d already faltered several times.

She is sitting there now, surrounded by males…

Barely holding back a growl, he squeezed the spear tighter and dug his forelegs into the ground. Anger blazed through him with each thump of his hearts. It was not reasonable, was not justified, but he couldn’t shake it.

My duty now is to watch, not to defend my mate from challengers.

Telok grunted.

Because…she is not my mate.

Yet no matter how hard he tried to deny his want for Lacey, no matter how determined he was to push her away, he could not pluck this thorn from his side.