There’s a commotion at the front of the caves, and I hear the sound of voices rising. I immediately fling down my arrows and run to the front of the bachelorette cave in the hopes of seeing a familiar head with one horn and a broken stump where the other used to be. “Raahosh?”
“Stay back,” says one of the aliens guarding the cave. His name is Dagesh. Nora’s mate, I think, and he watches me like I’m a snake. I guess he worries my obnoxiousness is going to be catching.
Either that or he’s heard that I was mean to Stacy and is worried I’ll pounce on his mate next. Oh well. Sometimes you have to break a few eggs and all that.
But then a large figure appears in the doorway and pushes the men aside, and I can’t help the girlish squeal of delight that escapes me when Raahosh sweeps me into his arms.
“You’re here,” I cry, and wrap my arms and legs around him like a monkey. He grabs me and holds me tight against him, and then we’re kissing wildly, my hips settling against his as I cling to him. My cootie hums a happy song and I can feel his in his chest…and I can also feel the woody he’s sporting in his breechcloth.
Damn, I missed this man.
“You are crazy, my mate,” Raahosh says in a low voice even as he presses his mouth to mine over and over again, unable to stop kissing me.
“Hey, it got results, didn’t it? You’re here.” And now that my arms are around him, I’m never letting go again.
He holds me close and our chests resonate in a mixed song. To think that I fought this just a few weeks ago. I feel complete with him. I might not have known what good taste my cootie has, but thank goodness for it.
“Come,” Dagesh says and he glances toward the main cavern. “Vektal will talk with you both about your punishments.”
Oh dear. I hear the plural in that statement, and it worries me. But I nod….and continue clinging to Raahosh. They’re going to have to pry me off of him if they intend on separating us again.
My mate only chuckles and his hands go to my ass, cupping it and carrying me into the main cavern with him.
A few ripples of laughter meet our entrance. I don’t care. Let them laugh. I press my cheek to Raahosh's warm chest, hearing his cootie resonate to mine. Please be fair, I say silently to Vektal. Please let Georgie have given you the world’s greatest prostate tickle and convinced you that Raahosh and I need to be together.
There’s a crowd in the main cavern, and the air feels redolent with sulphur and humidity. We pass by a few people and then Raahosh reluctantly sets me down. I hold my breath, tension vibrating through me. I’m terrified of what’s going to happen. If we get a ‘no’ at this point, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to convince Vektal that we should be together.
People are everywhere in the main cavern, a few lounging in the pool but more clustered at cave entrances and seated off to the side. There, sitting on the steps that I’ve come to think of as his ‘chief hangout’, is Vektal. He’s seated between Georgie’s legs, his big arms resting on her knees. His pose is casual, though the look on his face is solemn. Georgie’s face is equally emotionless, though when she meets my eyes, she winks.
And I stop holding my breath.
Everything’s going to be okay.
“Raahosh, son of Vaashan, you have broken the laws of this tribe.” Vektal gets to his feet and clasps his hands behind his back, pacing.
I stiffen and my hand goes to Raahosh’s. He clutches it tightly. This doesn’t sound promising.
“Normally the endangerment of another’s life would be exile. However, the humans are not familiar with our ways, nor are we familiar with theirs.”
“Agreed,” mutters Aehako.
Vektal continues with a stern look over at the hunter, then turns back to us. “The resonance can affect both parties in ways unexpected, and this is what has been decided in this case. Both of you were mindless to your khui, and thus that must be factored in as well.”
My death grip eases on Raahosh’s hand, just a little.
“You and your mate will be exiled to the hunter caves. For the next two and a half years – or until your kit arrives – you must remain out on the hunt for seven days to every one. You must bring enough meat to feed the tribe and fill the ice storerooms for two of the brutal seasons. Our numbers have grown, but our number of hunters has not, and this will be more important than ever.” He levels a firm gaze at us. “You will have no family cave until your punishment has been removed. Should you endanger the lives of another tribesmate at any time, exile will once more become permanent.”
Raahosh exhales through his nostrils. He nods slowly. “Thank you, my chief.”