Page 69 of The Hunter

He grunted, eyeing the bird. “No. They are clever. They often watch vrix, but do not follow.”

“Do they eat…meat?”

“Yes. Fruit and seeds, also.”

Lacey pursed her lips to the side. “Should we toss it some food?”

“Dak! No, no food,” Ayali called from the rear.

Turning to face the big thornskull, Lacey walked backwards. “Why not?”

She didn’t miss how Telok eased closer, his lower hand reaching toward her as though ready to steady her should she stumble.

Garahk, positioned between Lacey and Ayali, chittered. “You feed, larkhet calls. More come.”

Lacey faced forward again, looking up at the bird, which still watched intently. Her mind presented an image—dozens of vibrant larkhets swarming the hunting party like a flock of seagulls at the beach after someone just made the mistake of unwrapping a sandwich.

But larkhets had beaks and talons that made seagulls look about as threatening as plush toys in comparison.

“Yeah, I can see why we don’t want to attract more.” A crooked grin spread across her lips. “It’d be the most beautiful flock of killer birds ever, though.”

“Nothing will harm you,” Telok declared.

She glanced at him to see his fist tight around his spear, his mandibles spread, and his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. Not that she’d ever want him to have to kill a jungle full of animals for her…but she believed he absolutely would if it was necessary, and that knowledge made her stomach join in on that feeling she refused to name.

It also fanned the flames that had been burning in her core for the last few days. The jungle heat had nothing on her lady parts.

Please don’t let him smell me.

Wait! Please don’t let them smell me.

Please don’t let them smell me, please…

With that mantra repeating in her mind, Lacey continued onward.

Last night, Garahk had said they were nearing their destination. She knew the end of their trek was approaching. The end of this leg, anyway. But when Droztar called from up ahead that he’d found tavitahl’ani’losa—Hunter’s eyes—her brain didn’t immediately comprehend what that meant.

Had they finally found what they’d been searching for?

The group caught up to Droztar, who was crouched at a patch of vegetation. He brushed aside some taller leaves to reveal what he’d found. The lone, short-stemmed plant stood only a few inches high, with a cluster of flowers that had pointed, crimson petals at the top.

Droztar plucked the flower, rose, and held it to Garahk, who accepted it delicately and presented it to the others.

The flower’s subtle but unmistakable fragrance hit Lacey; she recognized it from the tea Diego had brewed for her during her mega period.

Lacey leaned in for a closer look. Each blossom had an almond-shaped, yellow center. Like Vrix eyes.

She eased from one side to the other. The eyes looked as though they tracked her every movement. “Creepy. It’s like they’re watching me.”

Cole peered over her shoulder. “So when the bird does it, you’re fine, but the flower creeps you out?”

“Dude, considering that there are plants on this planet that can literally eat us, why wouldn’t you be creeped out?”

“Point taken. You are absolutely right. Creepy little fuckers.”

Garahk gently curled his fingers around the little flower. He spoke in vrix, projecting his deep voice for the entire party to hear. “We are close. We must watch for more and make our wild den where the Hunter’s eyes are many.”

Telok hunched slightly so his head was closer to Lacey’s ear. “These flowers like shadows. They grow near the ground, beneath other plants. If you look with all eyes, you will see red.”