Valiant(52)
“So you are Valiant’s mate.” The woman didn’t hide her amusement. “You’re so small. I believed he would pick Sunshine. She’s as tall as I am.”
“Sunshine?”
“One of us. He has been looking for a mate. I had to see for myself the human woman I heard about from last night. They said you were small the way Ellie and Trisha are. They were right. Are all of your woman about your size? I don’t get to be around many of your females.”
“I met Trisha last night, right? The pregnant doctor? Who is Ellie?”
“She’s a human mate to Fury. He is canine but they are not here. They live at Homeland. She is my good friend. I came here with some of our women months ago to help with the opening of Reservation. I miss my friend and I wanted to meet you. I enjoy being around human females.” She grinned.
Tammy smiled back at her. She saw the woman’s grin swiftly turn into a tense line when her gaze fixed on something behind Tammy. She guessed Valiant had entered the room. The growl that rumbled a second later dispelled any doubt. The New Species woman backed toward the door, her gaze dropping to the floor. Fear showed on her face.
Tammy spun and put her hands on her hips. “Don’t growl at her.”
Valiant’s angry glare shifted to Tammy. “I don’t want anyone near you.”
“Deal with it. I’m making a friend.” She turned back around and smiled at Breeze. The woman looked surprised as her gaze lifted to meet Tammy’s. “Don’t mind him. He’s,” she shrugged, “protective.”
Breeze nodded. “He has reason to be. Some of our people don’t tolerate humans.”
“Well, you aren’t one of them. You said so yourself that you are friends with women like me. It was really nice meeting you. I hope I get to see you again soon.”
The woman flashed Tammy a smile. “I will be delivering all your food. No one else wanted to.”
“Because they don’t want to see me?”
The woman’s gaze flashed to Valiant as she shook her head. She glanced at Tammy. Her attention returned to Valiant. “I’ll see you again at lunch.” The woman fled, closing the door behind her.
“They are avoiding me.” Valiant walked to the cart to remove the lids on the plates.
Tammy frowned. “Why would they do that?”
“I frighten them. I’m not,” he shrugged, “social.”
“You mean because you roared at them last night when they stared at me?”
“Yes. Exactly.” He nodded. “Let’s eat.”
Tammy and Valiant moved the food to the coffee table. Someone had sent a few different drinks. Tammy lunged for the chocolate milk. Valiant made an unpleasant face.
“What’s that look for?”
“That stuff is disgusting.”
“Chocolate milk?”
He nodded. “It makes me sick.”
She hesitated. “Oh. I see.”
“What do you see?”
“Well, I had a dog once. He ate a candy bar and threw up. It’s probably that animal DNA of yours. I love chocolate.”
“I’m not a dog.”
She managed not to laugh at his horrified expression at the mere thought of being accused of something he obviously thought was insulting. She found it cute. “You’re a lion. I bet chocolate makes lions sick too. It probably doesn’t agree with your stomach.”
He set the plate of meat in front of him. Tammy noticed for the first time what had been brought to him for breakfast. She couldn’t help but stare. Four thick, partially cooked steaks dominated the plate, nothing else, and they were really rare. Blood pooled under them as though it were gravy.
“That’s what you eat? Is that even cooked inside?” She managed not to shiver with dread.
He took a bite. Tammy verified the meat was almost raw after he bit into it. She forced her eyes away. Valiant ate barely seared meat. She studied her food, grateful she’d ended up with a typical breakfast of bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs and toast. She wouldn’t have touched them if they’d brought her mostly raw steaks.
“Do you want some? It’s good.”
She shook her head. “It’s all yours. I only eat my steaks cooked all the way through and with some steak sauce. A nice baked potato to go with it too.” She hesitated and glanced at his plate. “How many pounds of meat do you eat in one sitting?”
He shrugged. “A few.”
“Is that all you eat?”
“No. I eat deer too. Cows are good. I enjoy chicken and pork but I want them cooked more. Fish raw is excellent. I catch them with my hands from the river. I will catch you some when we move to my house. You probably want them cooked though.”