Page 90 of The Hunter

The winddancers turned their attention to Telok.

Telok narrowed his eyes and straightened his head, posture tensing.

“You’re not supposed to stare at him,” Cole whispered.

In the most conspicuous way possible, the winddancers looked away from Telok like they hadn’t even noticed his presence.

“Telok is your mate, Lacey?” Tas asked.

Lacey’s cheeks flushed as all those eyes again settled on her. “Um… Not…really?”

Cole snickered. “You telling him, or asking him, Lace?”

“We’re not mated.”

“Not yet.”

“There’s…mutual interest.”

Cole snorted. “They eye-fuck each other all day, every day.”

Lacey poked him in the side, making him jump away. “Shut up! We do not.”

He laughed.

Sophia chuckled, eyes falling on Cole. “So, you’re not…with anyone then?”

All Cole’s humor drained through a gaping breach in his normally confident demeanor. “I’m uh… No. I’m not.”

Lacey’s brows rose when Sophia’s smile turned seductive. The woman leaned forward, placed her hands on the blanket, and slowly crawled toward Cole. He watched her, wholly entranced.

Raising a hand, Sophia touched her fingertip to the underside of his chin, keeping his gaze locked with hers. His eyes rounded, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Lacey grinned. She’d never seen Cole so speechless, so flustered, so damned bashful.

Sophia eased closer until her nose was almost touching Cole’s, her voice falling to a sultry whisper when she said, “It just so happens that I’m not either.”

“Oh fuck,” Cole rasped.

Damn. That’s some impressive directness.

CHAPTER 21

Countless things vied for Telok’s attention, tangling into webs that threatened to ensnare his senses—the drone of boisterous conversations backed by joyful music; the scents of the gathered vrix, mixing with those of the many foods laid out and the sweet, subtle smoke from burning sap; the flickering orange flames and the long, restless shadows they cast; the array of color created by the thornskulls and winddancers lounging and dancing all around.

With each passing moment, the small, quiet den Telok had claimed with Lacey grew more appealing, beckoning him to abandon this gathering. He’d been fighting the temptation to return there since this meal began.

But none of his companions were keeping watch, none were alert. He could not leave them unguarded.

Unguarded? The winddancers have several watchers posted throughout Tovuunshai. Vigilance is not the reason you linger, Telok.

His gaze returned to Lacey. Her smile was wide, her eyes bright, and he felt every thread’s width of distance between them in that moment.

I could just take her with me.

I could just…take her.

He firmly drew in his mandibles and claspers as the roar of instinct rattled his body and soul. His fingers curled, digging his claws into his hide, and he clenched his jaw tight enough to make his fangs ache.