by Hope Hart
I’m no dummy. Drying and brushing my hair is a nightmare, especially without a hair dryer. Not to mention, my arm isn’t likely to make the task possible.
“Sure. Um, that would be awesome. Thanks.”
He helps me rinse and then washes my hair once more until it smells clean and sweet and the water around me is a dull brown.
“Ew.” I wish I could rinse off in a shower, but I’m still a hell of a lot cleaner than I’ve been in days.
“Wait here,” Terex says. He returns almost at once with a long, wide piece of cloth and gestures for me to stand.
“Um.”
His eyes are stern. “I will not look. Are all humans so shy with their bodies?”
They are if they’ve been tormented like I was. “We’re all different, just like you guys.”
“Well, you have no need to hide your body from me. I have told you I will not tumble you until you ask me to.”
He frowns at me as if I’m doubting his honor, and I sigh. “Terex—”
His eyes darken. “I like my name on your lips, tiny female. Now, step out of the bath before the water is cold.”
I take a deep breath, but he’s true to his word, keeping his eyes on my face as I get to my feet. He holds the cloth up in front of him while I step out, and I make him look away while I take it from him, pulling it under my elbow in an attempt to wrap it around me toga-style. I quickly realize that this is impossible with one arm and blow out a frustrated breath.
“Can you—”
Terex immediately recognizes the problem and helps me wrap the cloth around me. My hair is dripping, and he wrings it out over the bath and then reaches for another piece of material, gently patting my hair and removing the excess water.
Then he drops to his knees in front of me, drawing a squeak from my throat.
“What are you doing?”
“Drying you, tiny female. Will you allow this?”
I sigh, realizing that I can’t do it myself, and I’m so tired I have almost nothing left in my tank. Maybe if I think of him like a doctor, it won’t be so bad.
“Fine.”
I keep my eyes on the wall of the kradi, ignoring his hum of approval. He’s quick and methodical, patting the cloth along my body while keeping it mostly wrapped around me. He starts at my legs and moves his way up, making sure to dry the insides of my thighs. I wince as the cloth swipes over my chafing.
“I know, Ellie. I have more salve, but for now, we must make sure it is dry.”
By the time he makes his way up to my breasts, butterflies are having a party in my stomach, and my nipples are hard, poking through the cloth.
He curses, low and rough, and heat sweeps up my cheeks.
“You are gorgeous.”
I drop my eyes to his, stunned, and his eyes are dark as he looks up at me. I bite my lip, and his gaze immediately lowers to my mouth.
He seems to shake himself and gets to his feet, moving back toward the fire and then returning with a huge piece of fur.
“I will find you clothes in the morning, but for now, we can wrap this around you,” he says.
He helps me into it, and I attempt to ignore the feel of his hands dancing over my body. They’re strong and sure, warm and gentle. I sway closer to him, wanting nothing more than to curl up against his hard chest, and he ties the fur so that I can at least take small steps.
“Poor, tired female,” he says. “Soon you can sleep.”
My eyes widen, and I catch myself taking a step back as he leans over and picks up a jar I’ve seen before.
The scary paste that Moni used. The one that made me feel like my arm was being broken all over again before it finally went numb.
I narrow my eyes at Terex. “Moni already did that.”
“And she told me to make sure we reapplied it before you went to sleep. Be brave, tiny female. It’s for your own good.”
I grind my teeth at his patronizing tone, but there’s no denying the fact that while it hurts like a bitch, whatever is in that magic paste has also massively decreased the swelling and even briefly numbed my elbow before I started moving it while trying to get unchanged.
“Fine.”
Terex steps aside and gestures for me to move in front of the fire. I sit on one of the large cushions close enough that I can feel the heat of the fire on my face. My eyes instantly attempt to slide closed.
“Ah, Jesus Christ, give a girl some warning!”
My arm erupts in fire, and tears spring to my eyes, but Terex holds my wrist, jaw firm. Within moments, my injury is blissfully numb once more, but I scowl up at him anyway.
He grins at whatever he sees on my face and leans down, pushing my damp hair off my face. “There, all finished. Now you can have your reward.”
The heat in his eyes leaves no doubt as to the kind of reward he’d like to offer, but he moves away before returning with a comb in his hand. He helps me back into my sling and then positions his huge body behind me, encouraging me to lean against him while he begins working the knots from my hair.
I can’t help but ask. “Did you really want to brush my hair when you first saw me?”
He pauses and then resumes his brushing. “I don’t lie, tiny female. And never to you.”
Chapter Six
Ellie
I wake with a jolt. Where am I? I’m warm and cozy, but my elbow is howling at me, not pleased by my sudden movement.
“Relax, tiny female. You are safe.”
Safe.
I mouth the word to myself while I frown. I’m lying next to Terex, his warm body at my back and the warmth of the fire at my front. I’m leaning against a mound of pillows, and my heart flips as I look around. Terex has created a cocoon for me, making sure I’m sitting up slightly and pushing pillows up against either side of me so I wouldn’t roll onto my arm in the night.
Aw.
My stomach is screaming at me. My last memory is the feel of Terex brushing my hair, and he must have figured it was better to let me sleep. I could definitely roll over and sleep for a few more hours, but I’m so hungry I feel nauseous, and my stomach growls loudly at the thought of food.
Terex sits up and raises an eyebrow at me, obviously amused. “Such a fierce sound for one so small,” he says, and I glower at him.
“Feed me, and I’ll let you live.”
He tilts his head back and laughs, and I stare at him, stunned. It’s not fair that this guy is so gorgeous.
I attempt to keep my eyes off his chest, but that lasts about three seconds. Within moments, my eyes drift back to the play of muscles, which flex and roll as he moves. He’s not wearing a shirt, and the blue scales along his shoulders glint in the light of the fire. I open my mouth to ask him about them, but he’s already moving, and a choked sound escapes me as I get an up close look at his toned butt.
“Put on some pants!”
Terex sends me an amused look over his shoulder, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was posing for me. I grab the pants he wore yesterday from the floor next to the bed and throw them at him with my good arm, instantly squeezing my eyes shut as he turns to catch them.
Okay, I may have cracked one eye open, but so would any red-blooded woman.
It turns out his huge sword wasn’t overcompensating for anything.
I force my eyes shut for real this time, waiting until I hear him pull on his pants before I open them again.
“Are you a virgin?” he asks suddenly, voice curious.
“No, I’m not a virgin, thank you very much.”
But to be honest, sex hasn’t been much to write home about.
“Ah. So just shy. Soon you will learn not to be shy with me.”
No, I won’t.
Terex hands me a plate, and I begin inhaling my food as if he’s going to take it away. His eyes light with pleasure as he watches me, and he hands me a cup of water before reaching for a plate himself.
I groan as I bite into a piece of something resembling bread. It has the perfect
crust on the outside, and it’s still soft on the inside. I try a range of fruits and nuts, finding that I like the green fruits that taste similar to cherries.
“There will be meat at the morning meal,” Terex says, and I nod, stuffing my face until my stomach no longer aches.
“Wow,” I say finally. “I demolished that. I was starving, thank you.”
“It pleases me to feed you.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I nod, blushing as I turn back to the fire. “When can we look for Charlie?”
“When your arm is healed.”
My mouth drops open, and I whip my head around, meeting Terex’s eyes. “That’s not what we agreed on.”
He frowns at me. “Did you think I would allow you to travel for days while in pain? What kind of male would I be to allow such a thing?”
“Okay, buddy, we’re going to need to talk about the a-word. You don’t allow me to do anything.”
Now that I have food in my belly and I’m no longer actively fearing for my life, I feel a little more confident doing battle with this huge warrior. Even when he narrows his eyes at me.
“I am bigger than you and stronger than you.” He shrugs. “I know how to ride a mishua, and you do not. I know which tribes will be willing to answer our questions and which will attempt to kill us on sight.”
I grind my teeth even as frustration and helplessness shoot through me, and my shoulders slump. Terex sighs and kneels in front of me, waiting until I raise my gaze to his.
“I am not trying to make you sad, little female. I only care for your health. I will take you back to Moni, and she will say when you may travel.”
I nod. Truthfully, I know I’m in bad shape. My muscles still ache, my inner thighs are still sore, and while my elbow definitely feels better, I’m going to need to have it in a sling for a while.
A small bell sounds, and Terex turns, moving to the kradi’s entrance. Murmured voices sound, and I hear a female’s giggle, followed by Terex’s low laugh. A guy like him must be popular with the women around here. I didn’t miss how the few women who were still outside last night ran their eyes over his body when he arrived back at camp, as if checking for damage.
Terex returns, a bundle in his arms. “I have clothes for you.”
I blow out a breath in relief. While the fur is warm, I’m scared I’m going to trip over it, and I certainly can’t leave the kradi while wearing nothing but a blanket wrapped around me.
Terex unwraps the bundle, laying a long dress on the bed. It’s plain but a lovely blue color, and the material is soft when I stroke it. He places a pair of shoes on the ground.
“I looked at your feet last night. I believe these will fit. They are Moni’s granddaughter’s shoes until we can have some made that will fit your feet.”
I sigh. “How old is her granddaughter?”
The corner of his mouth tips up in amusement. “She has seen seven summers.”
These people are so large that I’m wearing kids’ shoes. No wonder Terex seems to think he can tell me what to do.
I pull them on, careful of the bandages Terex helped me wrap around my feet. I’m grateful to have any protection from the unforgiving ground.
“I will get you some boots before we leave camp in search of your friend.”
I smile at Terex, and he reaches out his hand, stroking it down my face. “Beautiful female,” he says, and just like that, the spell is broken.
He’s obviously playing with me, and I move away, reaching for the dress. “Can you turn around, please?”
Terex frowns at me. “What did I say, Ellie?”
“Nothing. I want to get changed.”
“I will help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
His frown turns into a scowl, and he crosses his huge arms in front of his chest. My gaze instantly drops to his muscles, and I see amusement in his eyes when I meet them again.
“I thought we covered this last night,” Terex says. “I will help you—”
“I said I don’t need your help!”
Surprise flickers over his face before it hardens. “Fine,” he says softly. “I need to talk to my king. I will return when I am finished.”
I blink back tears as I turn away, and he curses, pulling on his shirt and boots. I open my mouth to say something—I don’t know what—but he turns and leaves me alone.
Terex
I do not understand this human female. One moment she is gifting me with her sweet smile, and the next she is refusing my help.
I understand that she is shy with her body, but after last night, I thought we had got past that. With her arm causing her so much pain, she needs my help to get ready for the day.
I stalk through our camp, nodding to those who call to me. I do not have time to stop, and truthfully, my mood is too dark to provide the information our people want to know about these females.
I nod to the guard at Rakiz’s door and knock, unsurprised when Arana opens it. Her eyes widen at whatever she sees on my face.
“Terex,” she asks. “Are you well?”
“I am fine. I simply do not understand females.”
She smiles, and I wish it were Ellie gifting me with her smile instead of her angry words.
“Believe me, we don’t understand males, either. The fact that the two have managed to coexist for so many centuries, mating and loving each other through their differences, is a miracle.”
I smile at her, bowing my head as Rakiz enters, and he nods at me, sitting in his favorite spot in front of the fire while Arana hands him his morning meal.
We both turn as an angry female voice hits us.
“I need to talk to him.”
“You are not on the list.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Move your ass.”
Rakiz’s eyes widen, and he gestures for me to open the door.
Nevada stands in front of me, wearing a long green dress. There is no question that she is a beautiful female, but she looks entirely uncomfortable, pulling at the neckline even as she narrows her eyes at me.
“I want to speak to the king.”
“Let her enter,” Rakiz says, and I step aside.
Rakiz meet’s Nevada’s eyes, and tension fills the room. Then he lazily scans her body, and we all watch as a furious flush hits her cheeks.
“Are. You. Finished?” Nevada’s tone is frigid.
Rakiz raises his eyebrow, and she tilts her head, gifting him a look that no female has ever dared to gift him before.
Rakiz gets to his feet, handing his plate to Arana, who watches with wide eyes. “You show no respect.”
“I respect those who earn it. You’ve given me no reason to respect you so far.”
Arana makes a strangled sound and backs out of the room as Rakiz flicks his gaze to her. No doubt the rest of the camp will soon know every word of this altercation.
“Tread carefully, female.”
Nevada narrows her eyes and casts him a look of such disdain that Rakiz steps forward, reaching for her even as she backs away.
“I just found out that you sent a tiny group of men to look for our friends. Without me.”
Rakiz nods. “Yes.”
This answer seems to infuriate Nevada further, but she takes a deep breath even as her hands clench by her sides. “I told you I was going with them.”
I almost laugh. These human females are creatures like we have never seen before. For a moment, Rakiz stares at Nevada in fascination before his face hardens. “I told you that we would discuss the situation. We may discuss it now, but I have made my decision. I have sent some of my best warriors to find your friends.”
Nevada scoffs. “Five. You have a camp full of warriors, and you sent five of them after our friends.”
“I do not need to explain my decisions to you. But since you seem unable to understand how this planet works, let me attempt to teach you. We currently have forces in the North, battling with a tribe that would come and take everything we have
, including our lives if they could. We have Braxian warriors in the East, hunting the Voildi from our territory. If any of these warriors fail, or if an enemy is able to get past our defenses, our tribe will be attacked. Right now, we have just enough warriors to hold this camp. Even five warriors make that questionable. So perhaps you should be thanking me for sending my men into danger.”
Nevada has paled at his words, but her face flushes again even as she stares him down.
I know Rakiz, and he would always have sent warriors after the females. Not just because females are a blessing for our tribe but because he would never allow a female to come to harm if he could prevent it. But Nevada does not know this.
“Thank you,” she grits out. “But you knew I wanted to go with them.”
Rakiz laughs, and I flick my gaze to him at the cold sound. For whatever reason, this female makes Rakiz behave unexpectedly.
“The day I allow a female to hunt Voildi is the day I will no longer be fit to rule this tribe. You would die within days. You have no knowledge of this planet and its dangers, and no understanding of exactly how much danger you would be in.”
“You patronizing—”
Rakiz holds up a hand, and Nevada’s eyes meet mine. Her hand twitches, and I have no doubt that if I were not here, she would attempt to strike my king.
She whirls and leaves, slamming the door behind her, and Rakiz looks at me.
“She would have hit me,” he breathes, stunned. “What kind of females are these?”
“They are not all this way,” I say. “Ellie would not hit you.” I pause. “Unless she thought you were going to hurt her friends.”
To my surprise, Rakiz is no longer furious. Instead, he looks…intrigued. It is no secret that our king has long wearied of his rule. But he is the best ruler we could have, and he would never leave our tribe to experience the slaughter that would come as warrior after warrior was challenged for the crown.
But for the first time in a long time, Rakiz has a hint of interest in his eyes. Interest for something other than killing every Voildi on this planet.