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I pressed a can of water into Zo-Fee’s hand with a command. “Drink.” I’d refilled our water cans every time we passed a stream, and their filtration units were rated to take care of any impurities known for this planet. We had plenty, and staying hydrated would help her.
She didn’t argue, simply took it and did as I’d asked.
Admiration filled me yet again at her practicality. People without common sense irritated me. Thanks be to the Goddess, my fated mate was not one of those.
Next, I offered her a ration bar, taking only one for myself. Although I’d packed a few extras, there hadn’t been room for more. The extra day of our trip would cut into our stores, as would feeding the kreecat, so I’d been at half rations for the past day. Zo-Fee didn’t realize that me eating only one bar per meal was less than normal for a Zaarn, and I wasn’t about to tell her.
I would go without food completely before I’d have her hunger for even a moment.
The increased altitude and reduced trees meant more wind found us, brushing over my face with welcome coolness.
Zo-Fee flapped the edges of her stealth cloak open, letting the wind inside. “Oh, that feels so good!”
Underneath, her thin garments clung to her, soaked with sweat. I’d been right to force her to drink water often—she clearly needed it.
Her scent came to me, rich with exertion, and the damp fabric clung to her curves, outlining her breasts. The tip of my tail pushed against the material covering my back, buzzing like mad, eager to get to her. I pulled my stealth cloak tight and ground my teeth together as I fought with the randy thing.
“Are you okay?” Beautiful brown eyes full of worry searched my face. “Did the painkillers wear off? Is your injury bothering you?”
Her concern speared into my heart, cracking me wide open. It had been years since anyone had worried like this about me. Oh, Tark and my fellow Daredevils cared, but it was in that silent, watchful way males had where we didn’t speak of it.
Such open concern, given so freely! I didn’t know what to do with it or with the way it made me feel.
I wanted to lay my head in her lap and let her run her fingers through my hair. And I wanted to leap to my feet and run far away from this rawness she tore open in my heart.
My family had been like many on Zaar. Growing up, daughters were doted upon because they were the future of the planet. The ones who would remain. Sons, on the other hand, were a plentiful excess. Each year, almost three times as many more males were born than females. No one knew who the lucky males would be, so many families tried to not get attached so it would hurt less when the unmated males were banished to Roam.
As soon as we were old enough to realize the discrepancy in how we were treated, my sister Poveli had gone out of her way to offer me her love. My mother would tend my scraped knee with a cool efficiency. My father would offer gruff advice on how not to fall next time. My sister would give me half of her dessert, even though she loved sweets as much as me. Then she’d tease me until I gave in and ate it, wearing a triumphant grin the whole time.
Poveli’s face hadn’t smiled when I left home. The day of my banishment had been the last time anyone had looked at me with the care Zo-Fee now showed me. It was too bittersweet, because it could all disappear just as my home had faded from the viewscreen when the shuttle flew me away from Zaar, never to return.
I could not bear the pain pinching my chest. I could not breathe.
I leaped to my feet. “You should call for the kreecat. We should get moving.”
Hurt crossed my mate’s lovely face, and I hated that I had done that to her, once again.
It only made me walk away more quickly.
CHAPTER NINE
Sofie
Raxnor stalked away from me, every muscle in his body tense.
He was in pain, but I didn’t think it was from his injury this time. The open vulnerability of his face when I’d touched his knee and asked how he felt made my heart ache. He’d looked lost, like he didn’t know what to do when someone cared about him.
I choked down a sob.
This big, grumpy male thought he didn’t deserve my concern? After all he’d done to save me? The danger he’d willingly thrown himself into? Well, I’d just have to prove him wrong.
Shoving the last bite of bar into my mouth, I climbed to my feet.
I tried to clear my thoughts, then used my mind to call out,“Lila!”This morning, Raxnor had mentioned that I should be able to talk to her without saying things out loud, so we’d been practicing as we hiked.
“Friend?”Her voice sounded faint. We must be at the edge of our range.
“We’re walking again. Are you done eating?”
