“F’lor,” I say, turning toward her. The only thing that matters is her. I do not care if T’ia hates me. I do not care if the entire tribe thinks I am cruel through no fault of my own. All that matters is F’lor and her good opinion.
And right now, she is looking at me with disgust.
She turns and walks away, and I chase after her, because I cannot stand the thought of her abandoning me. I am her mate. She is mine.
I race to her side and touch her shoulder. “F’lor—”
“No,” she tells me, shrugging me off. Her expression is tight. “It’s not right that this is how she finds out. You need to sit and talk to her. Make sure she’s okay. The woman you love deserves that much, don’t you think? Don’t let resonance influence you so much you forget who you care for.”
“What are you talking about?”
F’lor shakes her head. “You and I will figure ‘us’ out later. For now, you need to go and talk to T’ia before it all gets fucked beyond saving. I’ve got fishing to do, and I want to be alone anyhow.” She gives my arm a pat and then turns away, brushing past R’ven and B’shit who watch from nearby.
I stare after her, and I feel…strange. Unhappy. Why is it that she is pushing me toward T’ia? After we have resonated? Am I not her mate and she is mine? But she is acting strange.
S’teph, the one with the outcast mate, suddenly appears at my side. She gives me a gentle smile and steers me quietly toward T’ia, who remains standing where she is, her expression devastated. “I think we need to sit and talk this out, hmm?”
I do not feel like talking. I want to chase after F’lor and talk to her. I want to touch her and breathe in her scent instead of the offensive ones perfuming the air around me, but it is clear from the expectant looks of the rest of the tribe that they wish for me to talk to T’ia and soothe her hurts.
And she is my friend, so I suppose I should, even if it feels as if I am betraying my mate. Somehow.
Reluctant, I let S’teph drag me forward. T’ia’s eyes are brimming with tears as she watches me, her arms crossed over her chest. Her expression is accusing, as if I was the one that chose resonance and not my khui. I am not unhappy with it, though. Perhaps that is why she stares at me with such misery in her gaze.
“Well, that is all solved,” A’tar says loudly, clapping his hands together. “Now let us partake of this fruit feast you greedy ones have prepared.”
“What fruit feast?” Leezh calls out. “Are you high? Were you chewing leaves?”
I hope thereisa feast of some kind to distract me from T’ia’s heartbroken gaze.
ChapterNine
I’REC
“Does this feel uncomfortable to anyone else? Because it feels awfully uncomfortable to me,” Leezh complains. “Doeseveryonehave to stop and stare? Resonance happens all the time, guys. It’s not like they’re going at it on the beach. Let’s break it up, shall we?”
Normally I find Leezh, the mate of R’hosh, annoying and loud. Today, though, I am glad for her loudness. I am glad for her interfering as I feel the eyes of the tribe focused on us, hot and intrusive. I believe there should be no secrets kept amongst a clan or a village, but right now it feels very uncomfortable to have everyone fascinated with the pain on T’ia’s face and the discomfort on mine. I turn as Leezh shoos curious tribemates away, but I do not see F’lor. She has vanished again, right after seeing me with T’ia.
I need to find her.
I turn on my heel, only to see S’teph step in front of me. “I’rec,” she says in that calm, knowing voice, and puts a hand up. “I know you’re feeling frustrated and trapped by this confrontation, but I feel that you and Tia need to sit somewhere quietly and talk this out before things fester.”
Frowning, I gesture at the shore. “But my mate—”
“Your mate?” T’ia wails. “She’s your mate? You sure didn’t wait very fucking long.”
Everyone turns to stare at us again. A’tam snickers nearby, only for B’shit to nudge him with her arm and give him a cross look.
“In private,” S’teph says again, voice tight. “Come to my hut and let’s have you hash things out. Don’t you think you owe each other that much?”
I think it is a good idea, but I want my mate—my F’lor there as well, because she is an important part in all of this. “F’lor needs to have this conversation too.”
“I agree,” S’teph says. “But it might be easier if you and Tia talk first. And then the three of you can talk once you and Tia are on the same page.”
I grunt, though I do not know what a page is or why I should step upon it. Everything in me wants to rush after F’lor, but I glance over at T’ia and more tears stream down her face. She suddenly looks very young and sad. I think of F’lor, who is older and wiser, and who does not cry so piteously that she makes me feel like I am the worst thing that has ever happened to her. F’lor does not react like T’ia. She would not make me feel guilty like this. Perhaps S’teph is right. Perhaps it is best to talk to T’ia first.
If nothing else, so she will stop her incessant weeping.
“Fine. Let us go.” I gesture at the cluster of huts, my gaze sweeping the beach just in case F’lor has returned. There is no sign of her, though.