“They all have beading,” I tell him. “I like beading. It’s pretty.”
He sighs heavily and then pulls out a knife. Before I can ask what he’s up to, he takes my favorite tunic and slices off the decorative beaded fringe on the sleeves. “Now you can wear this one.”
I gasp in outrage. “You just destroyed hours and hours of work.”
“Useless work,” he agrees. “You will not do it next time you need a tunic.”
I don’t point out that I didn’t do it this time. One of the other women gifted me that tunic and I’m pretty sure she worked really hard on it. But I put it on and then put on the pants he gives me, trying not to frown at him. I’m a little sore in deep places after last night. Okay, a lot sore, but I’m pretty sure I can ignore it. I told him I’d do this, after all.
I want a baby. I want a mate. And after last night, I want more time with O’jek. Funny how the bad sex has made me think about what it’s going to be like when it’s actually good between us. Bridget made it quite clear that when she and A’tam got together the first time, it was awful and she didn’t want anything to do with him. Last night was pretty…not great. But it doesn’t make me want to run away from O’jek. It makes me want to figure it out so we can have really great sex once we get all the kinks worked out.
“Boots,” he tells me. “And move faster. You are dressing so slow the moon will be up before we leave this hut.”
“I didn’t think we’d be getting up before dawn to go hunting,” I mutter, grabbing a boot and pulling it toward me.
He’s silent, and when I glance over at him, he’s downright incredulous. “When did you think we would be hunting, D’see?”
“I don’t know. After breakfast?” I shrug, shoving my foot into my boot and lacing it. “I guess I didn’t give it much thought. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay here in the hut and get back under the furs?”
“You asked for my nights. I get your days,” he says, his tone firm. “That is our agreement.”
Well, fudge. Pouting, I pull on my other boot. The moment I get to my feet, O’jek has my outer wraps, and he tugs them over my head and then binds them to my chest, dressing me as if I’m a toddler. I guess he got tired of waiting for me to dress myself. I obediently stand still as he layers me, and when he puts a spear in my gloved hand, I try not to grimace. He really expects me to stab something?
“Come,” he says. “We will grab food and then we will head out.”
I bite back a groan.
CHAPTER 9
O’JEK
“Is that Daisy?” L’ren jokes as we head toward the fire. “Before dawn? Girl, do you feel well?”
I glance over at my mate—strange to think that D’see is my mate now—and she smiles brightly, her red and shiny burned cheek stark in the early morning light. There’s a hurt glint in her eyes, though, and I can tell that the teasing bothers her. Did she not realize how the others view her? That they treat her like an exasperating, lazy kit they must all coddle? But she puts on her cheery expression and answers L’ren. “I’m going hunting with O’jek today.”
“Hunting?” L’ren’s eyes go wide, her hand at the small of her back. Her pregnant belly sticks out far in front of her, and it makes me wonder what D’see will look like with our kit inside her. The thought makes me fill with warmth.
“Yep, hunting! I am turning over a new leaf,” D’see declares.
I note that she does not tell anyone of our mating. Perhaps she wishes to keep it secret for now. Or does she not like the thought of others realizing that she has chosen me instead of I’rec or R’jaal? I say nothing, watching as she moves toward L’ren by the fire, taking the bowl offered to her and chatting about the day’s weather and why L’ren is up so early.
A hand claps on my neck, and then U’dron throws an arm around my shoulders. “Brother, are congratulations in order?”
I eye him warily. “What do you think you know?”
“I’rec has told me your exciting news.” He grins at me.
Of course I’rec has. I am not surprised. But U’dron seems full of joy and he is my brother, so I nod at him. “We are choosing to be mates. I am going to teach her to hunt and take care of herself, and in exchange…”
“She takes care of you,” U’dron says with a laugh and slaps a hand on my gut. “Sly one. It is a clever bargain.”