The chief of the aliens narrows his eyes at me. He crosses his arms. “Your situation is different.”
“Oh, are we throwing situation into the mix? What about if I was resonating to Aehako and I kidnapped him? Would you still let me stay in the caves because I have a vagina?”
He frowns and looks over at Georgie. “Va-shy…?”
She pinches the bridge of her nose. “Girl parts. She’s referring to her girl parts. Liz, what the hell is your problem?”
“I want my mate back!” I bellow. “That’s my fucking problem! If he can’t come back to the caves then send me with him!”
“You would leave the comfort of the tribe behind?” Vektal asks, and he’s not pissed anymore. He just seems weary. Like I’ve exhausted him. Good.
“It’s not my tribe.” For some reason, I suddenly feel as tired as Vektal seems. Tired, and just sad. “You guys forget that about six weeks ago, I had an entirely different life. Then I’m captured by aliens and no one asks me anything. They don’t say ‘Hey Liz, how do you feel about being sold as meat? Or a slave? You cool with that?'” Georgie rolls her eyes but I continue. “Then we land here and again, I’m captured by aliens. And again, I’m told what my fate is going to be, except this time it’s wife and baby maker. No one asks if Liz wants kids. No one asks if Georgie does. No one asks us anything.” My voice trembles a little. I hate that I’m still emotional over all this shit. “But we go along with it. And I meet Raahosh, and at first I can’t fucking stand the guy, right? But then as time goes on, I realize that he’s just trying to take care of me the best way he knows how. And when I stop being so irritated with him, I realize that I like him. He’s smart and caring and determined. And then I fall in love with him. And then, boom, you take him away from me again.” I swallow hard around the knot in my throat. “He’s home to me now. So, yeah, I would leave everything behind for him. He’s mine and I’m his. You’d do it for Georgie. I’m doing it for him.”
Vektal sighs again, but there’s a hint of a smile and a shimmer of tears in Georgie’s eyes. She understands, even if her mate doesn’t. He looks over at her and his expression softens. He pulls his mate against him and tucks her under his arm, perhaps imagining himself in Raahosh’s place. “There must be rules,” Vektal says again. “There must be punishment.”
“Make him live with Liz,” jokes Aehako. “That’s enough punishment for anyone.”
I don’t even protest that one.
Vektal rubs his chin. “I shall think on what you say, Liz. And I shall discuss Raahosh with the elders. It is ultimately my decision, but…I shall think on this.”
“I have things to say, too,” Georgie murmurs, and puts a hand on his arm.
His expression softens as he looks down at his mate and nods. “We will talk as well.” He turns to the man standing in front of me. “Aehako, get the hunters and find Raahosh and bring him back. We will talk.”
Aehako lifts his chin and nods in my direction. “I’m being held captive.”
“Whoops. Sorry.” I hand him back his knife. “You’re free to go and stuff.”
He grabs me and pulls me against him and ruffles my hair like a big brother. “This was a good idea,” he murmurs in my ear before he releases me.
Then, Georgie steps forward and takes my arm. “Come on. We’re not taking our eyes off you for another minute.” She peers past me to her mate. “And hide your knives, Vektal.”
• • •
I’m waiting impatiently in the caverns for what feels like hours. Days, even. Since I’ve proven that I can’t be trusted, two men are posted at the entrance to the bachelorette caves, both mated males who won’t be swayed by any of the human charms, I suppose. Tiffany has managed to make a pair of knitting needles out of bones, so I take the extras and make arrows. Even though I’m not allowed to hunt (which is bullshit), I can at least do what I’m good at, and that’s make weapons.
It’s either that or go stir-crazy waiting.
I’m not allowed knives, of course, so I can’t do much more than select good arrows and then rub the head against a rough rock, sharpening it like a pencil.
Vektal’s been in his cave all day, and I’ve been told a few people have gone in and out. Georgie’s been gone, too.
So have Aehako and his group. Not that I’m worried or anything. But…what if they can’t find Raahosh? What if he’s so tired and hungry that he’s been careless and hurt himself? My mind is full of worry. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose him.