Page 72 of Theirs to Crave
The braids Revik had woven into my hair were all different sizes, twisting around each other and the mass of my hair he’d left loose. I didn’t have a mirror to check, but it felt good. A quick trip of my fingers ensured nothing was too wild after my less-than-restful sleep.
I’d wanted them to react to my new look the way I’d done when I saw them in their fancy dungeon gear. Instead, they avoided me like I’d started using crap as lotion.
Hurt and confusion fanned my anger, bringing my petty side to fiery life.
“Lit,” I moaned breathily, twisting so my breast pressed against Zafett’s arm.
He made a strangled noise, and my cheeks hurt from fighting a smile of triumph. I knew he wanted me, damn it.
I should probably feel bad for pushing him. There might be a good reason the three of them kept putting walls up between us. Like, maybe they were sane.
Or maybe their relationship wasn’t open to new partners.
Mierda. Now I did feel bad. I’d been “the other woman” for a while when I was a wee baby eighteen-year-old, and I’d promised myself never again. I wasn’t about to break that promise.
I was just sofrustrated.
I sighed. Patting Zafett’s arm, I continued walking in the general direction I thought the village was, abandoning my limp. But I wasn’t a saint, and I couldn’t stop myself from swaying my hips with each step. The pause before he caught up with me was a salve to my wounded ego.
He stayed close for the rest of the trip to the village.
My petty heart was grimly satisfied every time he snuck a confused look my way.Sucks to not know what the fuck is going on, doesn’t it?
???
“Damn, sugar! If I’d’a known we were dressing up today...well, I wouldn’t have done anything different. But, ooh, mama! Look at you!” Ria whistled.
I cocked a hip, preening. That was more like it.
Zafett muttered something about going to help people and took off. I tried not to feel abandoned. I was surrounded by my family, after all. That’s what I’d wanted, right? No Mariano yet, though I was sure he’d be here soon. We’d agreed to visit as soon as the storm broke.
“Bright morning, Estrella!”
I shook off my funk and returned Yin’s hug. Being embraced by my Abuele was cozy, like being snuggled into a blanket. A scratchy blanket. I frowned. Xyr skin—usually soft as a snake’s—was rough and dry. Was xe sick? Did the Quoosalk molt?
“How go—” my Abuele started, then hissed. Xyr silvery eyes fixed on my shoulder, where a fresh bruise bloomed. “What happen?!”
The others fell silent, their stares heavy.
“Oh, that. They have dragons on this planet. Did you know?”
???
They had not known, and they had many—very loud—questions. It felt just like home.
Yin bustled me onto a cushion by the nearest fire. Unlike the others snapping beneath the massive roof of theerralaytuh—the village center—this one was markedly empty.
For all their demands for answers, no one seemed inclined to be quiet and let me talk. I was about to shut them down, but Yin did it for me with a single, disapproving hiss. Halfway through the story of theva’grevattack I had to start over, because Mariano showed up and had a hissy fit.
“That’s fucking wild!” Ria said, eyes bright with excitement.
“¡No me digas! It wasterrifying.”
Cass closed her hand over mine. “I’m glad you’re all okay.”
“Me too. But enough about me, tell me everything. What are your families like? Are you being treated well?”
Therry broke into a huge smile. Xe’d chosen a gay couple who’d turned out to have twin girls—somewhere in the toddler age range—and was getting along with them fantastically. The three of them were learning Teterayuh together.