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She leans forward, bringing her mouth to my ear. "Because we're too loud to have sex in your parents' cavern, so if you want to get inside of me again, you'll work very, very—" She bites on my earlobe. "—quickly."
"You're right," I say while a shiver tears through me. "It'll get done faster than three weeks."
We bathe, dress, and pack away the few things we have here. I watch Leah while she looks around the two-room cavern we've shared for over three weeks now. Just the two of us, together in our own little world, away from all the troubles and problems that are surely awaiting us back in my village. I take a deep breath and whisper goodbye to the cavern, and then she turns to face me.
"Take me home."
I extend my hand to her and kiss the back of hers when she interlocks our fingers. "With pleasure."
"Do we have to go above ground to get there?" she asks as we begin walking.
I carry a lit candle for her to see as I lead her through the tunnel from the hole to where we've been.
"No. We can get there staying underground."
"Then, how has no one found us here?"
"I think I'm the only one who knows there's even a cavern here. I followed the male who was building it one time, curious as to why he was building so far away from all the other caverns. I didn't expect to have to follow him so far though. He never finished it and I had forgotten about it until we were dropping through the hunting hole, and I was looking at the series of tunnels, remembering when I had walked down one to his cavern."
"What's down the other tunnels?"
"Some lead to other hunting holes in different parts of the forest. Some are the beginning of very long journeys to the other villages."
A wave of excitement rushes through her and she exclaims. "Winter. What do they do for the winter draft?"
I grin over at her. "A hunt."
"Hunt?"
"Thirty women are brought to chosen grounds each year. Those who are mates are hunted down and taken back to the village."
"I don't know if I like the sound of that."
"I would say it's better than being told you're going to be eaten alive all your life."
"True." She chuckles.
I talk to her about any and everything I can think of as we walk, trying to keep her thoughts from spiraling down the path of doubt and anxiousness that's trying to consume her. She wants them to accept her, and more, accept us together. She wants my parents and brothers to like her. She wants her sisters to see and appreciate her as this new version of herself.
Then, we're getting close enough that the chatter of many voices and laughter reach us. Her hand tightens on mine to the point of pain, but I don't say a word. Two Grounders are at the entrance to my village, standing guard. Seeing them causes concern to rush through me. We hardly ever place guards here, as only monsters would be using these passageways. If my father is worried that humans may even attack this way, then things are worse than I thought.
Their eyes go over me and Leah as we approach, eyebrows raising in curiosity. I blow out the candle now that blue lights are running along the length of the tunnels here.
"Kayo," the one on the left says, "you've come home."
"Of course, I have." I respond. "With my mate, Leah."
"Welcome." The one on the right offers her a smile that she weakly returns. "You've come at an interesting time."
"It does sound more lively than usual." I nervously chuckle. "What's the occasion?"
"Your brother's bonding ceremony."
With that, I hurry past them, pulling Leah along with me.
"Shit," I curse.
I can't believe I missed it. It's not something I ever would have, had I known. My feet eat up the distance separating this part of the village, cavern after cavern from the middle of the village, where the market would usually be, but today, I know I'll find tables laden with various foods, gifts for the newly bonded mates, humans and Grounders dancing and holding each other close as they remember their own ceremonies.
