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“Yeah, that’s how I feel, too.” She gives an encouraging smile to her mate as if trying to point this out. “I don’t like a fuss.”
“I would fuss over you if you wished it,” he tells her in a low, intense voice.
“Oh, I know.” Her hand goes to his thigh.
I glance over at my mate, amused. My khui hums a gentle song as our eyes meet and he jogs over to my side. That’s another change in the last few days since we returned and others arrived—our resonance song has lost its frantic edge. I think that means I’m pregnant now, but I haven’t approached the healer to find out. I figure I’ll give it a few more days before confirming. I sure don’t want to bring it up tonight, not with a party on.
Tonight is all about Flor and I’rec, and I’m happy to keep the focus on them.
Skarr collapses dramatically at my feet. “Did you catch my story, Vivi? It was an excellent one, and you haven’t heard it yet.”
“It’s too noisy,” I tell him, running my fingers through his floppy curls as he rests against my legs. “I can barely hear myself think.”
He nods agreement, his gaze moving over the crowd around the fire. Everyone’s here tonight, with bowls of food piled high on every surface. Raven and U’dron have their musical instruments out and Flor and I’rec are seated at the front of the group, wearing crowns made from leaves. I’rec is watching his mate with unabashed devotion, as if nothing exists but her. Flor is eating all of this up, as I knew she would. She chats excitedly with people as they hand her presents, and there are so many faces and voices around the fire that they all blur into one.
“Does anyone know why Sam and Sessah left?” Bek asks, eyeing Skarr. “You are friendly with Ash-tar. What have you heard?”
My mate shrugs. “Just that they wished to visit his family in the Coldtown village.”
“Croatoan,” I correct gently, grinning.
“Bah, as far as I am concerned, it sounds like Coldtown. A bunch of huts inside an ice crevasse? You will catch me dead before I go there.” Skarr leans back, gazing up at me. “Would you like a plate of food, my fierce warrior?”
I nod and he hops to his feet to make me a plate. He’s not wrong, I realize. We’ll never go to the other village, Croatoan. It’s in the mountains, where the weather remains far colder than the cove here at Icehome. It would be dangerous for Skarr, and I’m not about to risk him for anything. There’s nothing over at the other village for me anyhow—just more strangers.
Someone passes me a skin and I sniff it. Fruity. I shake my head, passing it on to Elly and Bek. That drink got me into trouble before. Besides, I might be pregnant now. That changes everything. I resist the urge to touch my stomach to see if it feels any different and look over at Elly and Bek instead. Their little girl is seated happily on her father’s lap, chewing on baked roots. Elly reaches over and brushes a lock of dark hair out of her face, smiling, and Bek gives his wife a look that could melt stone. They’re so happy together.
That’s going to be us, I decide. We can even make a tiny set of skis for our baby when she gets old enough and she can go out into the hills with me and her father. I like tracking, but more than that, I like exploring. I’m not going to be one that stays at camp and never leaves. I want to wander around in the fresh air and snow and enjoy nature.
My dad would have loved this place. The thought of him makes me fond instead of miserable. Maybe if we have a boy, we could name it after my father…if I ever remember his name. If not, well then, we pick something else. I’m not going to stress over who and what I am any longer.
The music gets louder and someone—Vaza—starts singing in a low, ululating voice that decides it wants to hit all notes at once. I try not to wince, because Vaza is giving it his best, but alien singing is definitely an acquired taste. Someone claps their hands and two of the children get up and start dancing by the fire, which makes Flor laugh with delight. She’s having a wonderful time at her ding ding feast.
I look for my mate, wondering if Skarr is much of a singer. He’s not paying a bit of attention to the antics by the fire. He’s busy loading a plate with food from several bowls while deep in conversation with Valmir. The cat-like splice has been slinking around camp in a crappy mood for the last few days now, and Skarr told me this morning he resonated to April, who refused him. I scan the people by the fire, but I don’t see April. No doubt she’s avoiding resonance.
She’ll get over it soon enough. I think about how hard I tried to get away from Skarr at the beginning, not realizing that underneath all that bluster was a very tender heart and a man who turned out to be exactly what I needed. She probably won’t want to hear from me, but maybe I’ll find her in the morning anyhow and offer moral support.
Skarr returns after a few minutes, thumping down onto the ground at my feet again. He holds the plate up to me and I pick up a rib of something, giving it a nibble. “What was that all about? You and Valmir?”
He shrugs and eyes my rib. I hold it out to him and he takes a bite, then licks his lips meaningfully. “Doesn’t taste as good as you.”
My face gets hot. “Don’t change the subject.”
He just smiles wider, sending me a heated glance as he relaxes at my side. Mari steps over his sprawled legs, carrying her child to bed, and Liz and Harlow bring out bowls of dried fruit and offer tidbits to everyone. Skarr continues to eat the rib in the most blatant way possible, his tongue sliding along the bone and making me blush.
When the others finally get past, I lean in close again. “So what was it with Valmir?”
“He resonated to April and she is not impressed. He wants to win her with a show of strength. He wishes to fight me but insisted I throw the battle, and I said no.” He licks his lips. “I asked him‘how would that look to my mate? He said you were already under my mind control and it didn’t matter.”
Oh lord, not the whole “mind control” thing again. “There’s no mind control—”
“If you say so, my mate.”
“—and tell Valmir he can’t go around punching people to try and impress women. It doesn’t work that way.” I pluck a mushy root from the plate and taste it. It’s covered with spices and falls apart in my mouth, forcing me to lick my fingers.
As I do, Skarr’s gaze focuses on my mouth. “I punched Chalath and I got you.”
“That was coincidence.”
