Page 41 of His to Worship
“I’m okay,” I reply, squeezing his hand reassuringly. He continues staring at me, not believing me. He always seems to know when something is up. “Well, I’m just a bit cold.”
He pulls us to a stop, but says nothing to the group. “We will catch up quickly enough. It is a straight path ahead,” he says when he sees my look of concern. He rearranges the things he carries and with his arms now free, he holds them out to me.
“Kuvier, you can’t carry me,” I protest, staying where I am. I don’t feel like dealing with extra comments from Krissy or any good-natured, but still annoying, ribbing from the others.
“And why can I not?” He reaches forward, snagging me by the wrist. He pulls me closer, his body heat offering some relief from the biting chill. “Are you not my mate?”
“Yes, but—”
“So then it is for me to determine how to care for you.” I bat halfheartedly at his chest.
“Yes, but the other girls don’t get carried.”
“My Sedona, with all respect,” he levels me with a stare, “I do not care about other females. One day, they may have a male such as I to carry them. Maybe not. It matters very little. Now come.”
With those final words, Kuvier pulls his cloak over my head and hefts me into his arms. I’m clinging to him like a koala, buried underneath the weight of his cloak that now wraps around us both. Despite my reservations, I can’t help but burrow deeper into the warmth. Between the cloak and his body heat, I feel better already.
“Hold tight.” That’s the only warning I get before Kuvier takes off at a jog up the mountain path.
The sudden movement startles me, but I quickly adjust, wrapping my arms around Kuvier’s neck and holding on tight. The world around us blurs as he maneuvers through the rocky terrain with impressive agility, his strides sure and strong despite the icy ground.
I steal a glance ahead of us and see that we’ve already caught up with the rest of the group. In fact, we are squarely in the middle of the group now, and Kuvier is keeping pace easily. Krissy catches my eye and scowls. My ears heat and I duck my head back into Kuvier’s neck, choosing to ignore the world around us, otherwise I’ll die of embarrassment.
Kuvier keeps us moving, and for a some time I ride along in silence. A while later, Enikk pulls the group to a stop. I would never admit it, but I’m glad for the break. My feet are killing me, but I refuse to join Krissy in complaining, especially with me having it easier than everybody else. All of us gather around Enikk to listen. I lean my body against Kuvier, using his body to take the load off of mine. He rests an arm on my shoulder as his tail wraps possessively around my waist.
“‘We are about to enter the deepest parts of the Blood Mountains,’” Xiomara says, repeating Enikk’s words to us in English. He rumbles on a bit longer before she speaks again. “He says we are about halfway to the cave that we will rest at tonight. He says that going forward, we have to keep our eye out for anything unusual.”
“Define unusual,” Meghan quips back, earning a smirk from Renata.
“Anything that looks like it wants to eat us,” Renata replies dryly, scanning the surroundings with a wary eye.
Krissy scoffs, shifting the weight of her pack. “Great, just what I wanted to hear.”
Xiomara relays back to Enikk and Kuvier what is being said. Enikk chuckles, a sound that carries warmth despite the chill in the air. “Enikk says that you’ll be fine, Krissy. Just stick close and watch your step.”
We all take a moment to eat some of the leftover dried meat and drink some water. Enikk continues ahead of us, leaving Amari with me, to scope out the cave. Kuvier tells me it’s to make sure it is empty and safe.
When he’s ready, Kuvier rounds us all up and we are back to walking. His hand finds mine as we walk and our fingers interlace.
TWENTY-SIX
- kuvier -
Our first day is slow, but we make it to the cave before the final sun sets over the mountains. As we all file into the hunter’s cave, I’m relieved that unlike last time, it is empty. I place Sedona on her feet and she immediately moves away, springing to help the other females unpack and start dinner.
She complains about being carried, but I know that she secretly enjoys it. It is the judgment of the others, especially the flaxen haired one, that she actually hates. But, she does not know how long I have waited to have her. Nothing will keep me from caring for her.
I turn to Enikk, who is watching his mate with a look of longing and agitation. I tap him on the shoulder and tilt my head toward the cave’s mouth. We move towards the entrance to speak in private. The curly haired female, called Xiomara (I have finally learned how to say it), is quite nosey.
“You look troubled, clansman,” I say, studying his tense expression and rigid body. I have a guess as to why, but I choose to let Enikk tell me for himself.
He runs a hand through his mane. “I am growing worried about returning to the clan,” he confesses. “You know as well as I that I am the youngest male. Some may feel, ‘why should Enikk receive a mate when we have waited so long?’ Pah! My mate barely stands my presence. What hold do I have to claim what is meant to belong to me?”
“Your mate was chosen for you by the Great Mother,” I state simply. Though I have learned more about Sedona and these humans, the belief that they are gifts has not swayed. “That is all the claim you need to fight for what is rightfully yours.”
“If I didn’t think it would make Amari hate me,” Enikk admits in a shameful, whispered voice, “I would steal her away and keep her for myself.”
I understand his turmoil all too well. “I know the feeling,” I concede. “But our females need to be with their people. You see how they love to commune and chatter. We cannot separate them.”