Page 40 of The Hunter

Plants and mushrooms were already glowing on the jungle floor in soft purples, blues, and greens, and the bits of sky visible through the canopy were dark. Telok kept his eyes roving. If only his thoughts could move on as well. But that didn’t seem possible while he could still hear everyone talking and chittering, while he could still hear Lacey.

Before long, Garahk declared it was time to head up to their sleeping place. Steadying himself with a deep breath, Telok returned to the others. Perhaps sleep would offer some solace.

Elharat was smothering the fire with dirt and water.

“Without all this glowy shit, I wouldn’t be able to see a damn thing,” Cole said as he gathered his bag, bow, and spear.

Lacey chuckled, hauling her backpack up and slipping her arms through the straps. “Too bad we don’t have vrix night vision.”

“Right? That would be sick.”

Telok couldn’t understand why being able to see in the dark like a vrix would make a human ill, but he could not bring himself to ask.

“Cole, come,” Okkor said, gesturing for Cole to climb atop his hindquarters.

Grinning, Cole strolled over to him. “Let’s do this!”

Lacey tipped her head back and looked up.

Koss moved to her, settling a large hand on her shoulder, and said in vrix, “I will help you climb, hyu-nan.”

Lacey smiled and nodded. “Kir vishaax niit.”

I give thanks.

Telok’s free hands curled into fists, and his claws bit into his palms. Every thread of his being pulled toward her fiercely. Again, he dug his forelegs into the ground, this time meaning to root himself in place, to prevent himself from intervening.

I will not go to her.

Turning away from Lacey, Koss drew a silk strand from his spinnerets. Lacey adjusted the lay of her backpack over her shoulders and picked up her spear.

A growl built in Telok’s chest, deep and raw.

Koss sank down and gestured for Lacey to climb onto his hindquarters, offering the strand in one of his hands—undoubtedly for her to use to lash her body to his.

She would be astride another male, her chest and those soft breasts pressed against his back, her thighs snug around his waist, her hand on his abdomen. She’d leave her scent upon him, and his scent would be left upon her.

No.

That word resonated so deeply through Telok that he didn’t know if he’d merely thought it or said it aloud. It swept him forward on a surge of rage, and the distance between him and Lacey vanished in an instant.

She placed a hand on Koss’s arm to steady herself and raised her leg.

Fuck no!

Before Lacey could fully swing her leg over the thornskull, Telok grasped her hips with his upper hands and hooked his lower right one beneath her thigh, plucking her up and away. Lacey gasped, dropping her spear as she flailed for something to hold onto.

Releasing her leg but not her hips, Telok stood Lacey on the ground, snatched the silk strand from her hand, and tossed it back to a bewildered Koss. “I will help her.”

“Telok!” Lacey admonished.

“Be silent.” He drew a strand of his own silk from his spinnerets, passing it to his waiting hand with a rear leg.

“Don’t tell me to be quiet. That was rude of you.”

He held the silk out to her.

She glanced down at the rope, looked back at him, and crossed her arms over her chest. “You should apologize to Koss.”