Page 54 of Theirs to Crave
“Yin Kyusalkata, Estrayuh Hyunanata, zha’a naisatal eh rai,” Saytireka pronounced, spreading her hands wide and motioning us forward.
Shit, was thatmyname?
Oh, no. I was a ball of anxiety, not a diplomat. My chest burned as black creeped at the edges of my vision, and I stumbled back. Shane caught me by the shoulders, pulling me into his firmly muscled body. He was so hot against my suddenly chilled flesh.
His hand spread over my ribs, sliding beneath my freely hanging breasts to pull me closer. My thoughts scattered, and I gasped.
“There you go, gorgeous. Breathe for me.” Shane whispered the words into my hair, cuddling his body around mine.
I exhaled, shuddering.
“Very good. Again...” His chest rose and fell against my back, and my eyelids drooped as I relaxed into his embrace, following his lead effortlessly.
Wait. What?
I straightened, spluttering. “You—did you justflirtme out of a panic attack?!” I could feel him shaking with laughter.
“It worked, didn’t it?” He gave me a squeeze, his touch affectionate rather than sensual, as it had been a moment before. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
“You’re a menace, Shane Yun,” I muttered, but when I stepped to where Yin waited for me, it was with a pinch of confidence. Together, Yin and I walked toward Saytireka and the other village leaders.
Just a small meeting of species. Only the fate of our entire family on our heads. No pressure.
I couldn’t read Saytireka’s expression. Her face was so like Zafett’s, but there was a distance there I’d never seen from him. I suddenly realized—with full body horror—that he,his mother, Litha, and Revik had all just watched me get groped by Shane.
Por favor, Dios, let the ground open up and swallow me whole.
Not that there was anything between Zafett and I. Or Revik or Litha, for that matter. I snuck a peek at Zafett, but he was looking at the ground, his claws slicing gouges in the thick moss.
I took a deep breath and squeezed Yin’s hand. The telenovela that was my make-believe almost-love life would have to wait. We needed to figure out how to get the Teterayuh to let us stay, because I was pretty certain we’d be dead in a week if we tried to rough it on our own. Somehow, I doubted the Teterayuh strapped themselves with weapons because this was a “safe” jungle.
Saytireka spoke at some length. Going by her tone and the musical flow of her words, it was a lovely speech.
I understood none of it.
After some back and forth translations with Zafett—who still wouldn’t look at me—Yin and I came to the conclusion that Saytireka was offering to let us stay in the village.
I bit my lip and snuck a glance at my—not my three. At the three Teterayuh who’d rescued us.
“Het. Relyat,” I said, firming my spine and squeezing Yin’s hand.Yes. Thank you.I tried to look dignified, calling on the memory of my Mamá to hold my head high. My little familyneeded me. Together, we’d make it through whatever came our way.
Together.
Chapter 16
Zaf
“Come, my child. Bring your sky people. We have prepared a feast. We will eat and speak.”
My mother turned without waiting for a response and strode towards the village. My father nodded to Estrayuh and Yin before following in her wake. He would wait and watch before forming an opinion, as was his way, but at least he wasn’t obviously hostile. Unlike my mother.
She hid it with all the right words and empty smiles, but I knew her.
“Look at her tail twitch!” Aksha cackled. She knew my mother as well. I knelt by her side, submitting to an ear rub as if I was still a child. “You did well, Zafett. You and your mates.”
I bowed my head in thanks.
“Now go gather up our new kin. I want to harass your mother some more.” Aksha tugged my head fur, then flexed her fingers with anticipation.