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Chapter Fourteen
VITRI
We made good time.Tori was stronger than I had given her credit for.Even knowing she could look after herself, I still thought I would need to slow down for her more than I did.The sun had not yet dipped below the tree line, so I decided we had time to cross the field, hunt a gorae or two along the way, and set up camp near the edge of the woodlands, ready for tomorrow.
Tori followed my instructions and was willing to learn, a look of determination plastered on her beautiful features.When we went hunting, she missed the gorae with her spear but assured me the one I had caught would be enough for both of us as she had filled up onbeetle guts—her words—earlier.
She would make a strong mate, capable but still needing me to look after her.It was the perfect combination because I enjoyed taking care of her.The wonder with which she viewed my world reminded me of a magic I had long forgotten.Things I took for granted and saw as only ordinary were fascinating to her, and although she didn’t often express it verbally, her eyes would widen and she’d gasp quietly at some of the plant life.
It really was a beautiful planet.
It would be more so if it weren’t for the Ghaal, but then again, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t exist, and Tori wouldn’t be here to be my mate.
I shook the thought from my head.This wasn’t about Tori and me but finding her friends and making sure they were safe.
But I’d seen the looks she cast me as we walked, the way her hand squeezed mine for support when she needed to climb over something.The heat from her was excruciating, and I wanted nothing more than to sink my cock into the waiting warmth between her legs.Shuddering, I tried unsuccessfully to keep my thoughts from straying.The longer I was in her company, the harder it was becoming, and I wished I had asked Ilk how he contained his instincts when I apparently couldn’t.
When we stopped, I made a fire, took a stick, and poked at the roots of a small gray plant, shifting it away from our camp.
Tori stepped forward, reaching out.“Oh, here, let me get that.”
“Tori,no!”
She reached out to grip the plant, wrapping her fingers around the stalk, pulling it from the ground, and tossing it to the side.I ran to her, grabbing and pulling her onto my lap, ignoring her squeal of surprise as I stared intently at her hand and moved my fingers across her skin.
“What’s wrong?”Her irritation had vanished, and she sounded panicked.
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself before answering.“Those plants are poisonous to the touch.”Frowning, I studied her skin.She didn’t have the gray dappling that showed the poison moving through her veins and toward her heart.In fact, aside from a slight red rash, her hands weren’t marked at all.Her skin was delicate, and how was it the almost invisible hairs on the plant hadn’t penetrated her skin but could do so to mine?“How do you feel?Do you feel hot?”
“I feel fine.”She studied her hand as well.“Maybe the poison doesn’t affect me.Don’t forget I’m an alien… wooo.”She waggled her fingers in my face, and I crushed her against me, easing my hold when she squeaked in protest.
My breathing was slowly returning to normal.Visions of watching the poison make its way to her heart and knowing I could do nothing to stop it haunted my mind.“Don’t touch anything without asking me first.I can’t lose you.”
Her voice was muffled against my chest.“Deal, but next time something is poisonous, point it out to me rather than trying to deal with it yourself.”
I nodded, sitting her next to me and preparing the fire, trying to calm my still-racing heart rate.As I worked, I kept casting glances at Tori to remind myself she was okay and the poison hadn’t affected her.It was fast-acting.If it had gotten to her, she would already be dying.But she would return my glances, maybe cock an eyebrow at me or smile.
Tori was fine.
It was strange, but as she rightly pointed out, she wasn’t of this planet.Things here affected her differently.I would have to be more careful with food.What if something I selected was poison to her but fine for me?There was no way of knowing without trying, so I would simply need to introduce her to things a little at a time.Once the fire was crackling, I began to remove the fur from the gorae and prepare it for cooking.The meat should be fine, and cooking would remove anything that might be harmful to her.Gorae had been fine for Erica, so they must be fine for Tori too.
“Wooo…” muttered Tori.
I threw her a glance, and she smiled at me.Was she excited for her meal?Was she still joking about being an alien on this planet?Unsure, I returned her smile and got back to work.
After a beat of silence, she did it again.
“Wooo wooowooo.”This time, she waved her arms about, first in front of her and then above her head, back and forth in large sweeping motions.I paused, simply watching her, unsure what to make of her behavior.
“Are you okay?”I asked.Tori turned to me with a jerking motion, and I recoiled.Her pupils were dilated beyond natural for even this dim lighting.Dropping the gorae carcass, I grabbed Tori’s shoulders.“Tori?Are you okay?”
She simply giggled, letting her head loll across her shoulders.“Sure, I’m just watching the fireflies!”
“Fire… flies?”
“The fireflies,” she repeated, standing and swatting her hands through the air.“Aren’t they pretty?”Her voice was high-pitched and dappled with giggles, not like the Tori I knew at all.
My gaze traveled to the discarded rubaee plant she had touched before.
