Page 49 of His to Worship
He pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. “Thank you, ti khesi,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “You have brought me great comfort on this day.”
Kuvier kisses me deeply, pouring all his relief into the embrace. I respond with equal fervor, my hands tangling in his mane. The world around us fades away until the sound of wolf whistles and playful laughter from the other women brings us back to reality. We pull away, both of us chuckling softly, our foreheads resting against each other.
“Mine?” Kuvier murmurs, his breath fanning across my face.
“Yours.” I say the word with the most conviction I’ve ever felt because I know it’s true.
Whatever might happen going forward, Kuvier has taken my heart for his own and I am never getting it back.
THIRTY
- kuvier -
On our final day of walking, the journey to the village takes less time than I anticipate. The females move with haste they did not have before, and we are within paces of the clan commune far too soon. My restlessness rises as we get closer.
A sense of unease gnaws at me. Threats from every direction loom over us, but we have no choice but to press on. I cannot help but feel that we may be leaving behind the dangers of being caught out here in the Dark Season, but the clan certainly poses dangers of its own.
My concern is made worse by the mate bond. Moving closer and closer to a clan of unmated males, closer to challenges I know will come, has my blood humming. I feel confident in my Sedona’s desire to be with me. Our conversation this morning was everything I needed to hear.
But, I know my Atan, and I know my clan. Something will happen. Something will go wrong. Every instinct is telling me to prepare for a fight. When Enikk makes our first and only stop before the village, I am practically shaking with energy I do not have a way to release.
“We are almost there.” He declares this to the females in their language.
He has been far better about learning their words than me. Where I struggle, it seems to come with ease for him. Of course, he has a greater incentive. His female seems determined to only use the one with the tight curls who knows all of our words to talk to him. Enikk has worked hard in the days since the females hatched to learn more and more of their complicated language. I am once again the luckiest male, as my female enjoys talking in Lieq more than her human words.
“We made good time,” Enikk continues, “We will rest and continue soon.” Everyone seems in agreement as they collapse against boulders or on top of their packs.
I leave Sedona in the circle of females and move just a few feet away toward Enikk, my eyes still trained on her as I talk to him.
He assesses me.“You feel restless as well?”
“The closer we grow to our home, the less at ease I feel.”
“Me as well, clansman.” He shakes his head with a deep sigh. “My scent is nowhere on my female nor is hers on me. We are scented like strangers, not mates. Things will not be easy for me when I reach the clan.”
This pulls me up short. I had not considered the lack of scent today. While I know she smells of me—she has been locked in my embrace for quite a while—I know that the scent I leave on her is not lingering. There is only one way to leave a lingering, claiming scent on her. Arousal scents last far longer than any other.
“I will scent mark my female before we arrive,” I declare suddenly. Enikk nods as if he expected this.
“It is a joy for you that she will let you.” His words are sincere, but tinged with bitterness as his eyes track the movements of his elusive mate.
“I will move further away from the group or Sedona will grow embarrassed.” Plans are forming in my head as I see the many large boulders scattered around us. Some are big enough to block my full form, and I spot one such stone that will do just nicely.
“You will return soon?”
“Yes, I will not be long.” Though we have made good time, the second eye will set and we will want to already be with the clan when there is one eye still open.
I leave Enikk and walk to my mate. She sits on a smaller rock, slightly away from the others, her face pulled into a pensive expression. When I approach, I hold out my hands to her. She looks up at me, but does not move to get up.
“Are we leaving already?”
“No, my mate, I wish to take you over there.” I point to the largest boulder in our vicinity.
Sedona cocks her head, curious and confused. “Why?”
When it comes to her safety, I make demands not requests, but for anything else, my Sedona’s word is paramount. What she wants and does not want is my greatest concern.
“I wish to pleasure away the crease in your brow.” As I say this, I reach my thumb out and carefully smooth over the wrinkles on her forehead, careful of my claws.