Chapter 16
Elodie
“Can you believe the Krijese are leaving the mountains and joining their tribe with ours?” Riley asks.
She carries Stella, and Astrid carries Niella as we take our daily walk through the village. The two women joined me one day almost three weeks ago and now it’s become routine.
I’m still processing the fact I’ve been living with the Tavikhi for over a month. That it’s been over a month since Ortak and Gannen found me in that hole in the ground.
“At least now your guys don’t have to keep traveling back and forth between the Krijese village and ours every few days to spend time with you,” Astrid points out with a smirk and wags her eyebrows.
I’ve dealt with her teasing every day for weeks and it still makes my face heat. “They’re not my guys.”
She and Riley share a look. I swear, even the two toddlers give me the side eye.
“Ortak and Gannen have been here as often as three times a week—every week—for the past month and stay from before the evening meal until it’s almost too dark for them to safely make it back to their village,” Riley notes.
“You and Ortak sit so close together at the top of the hill overlooking the arena you might as well be sitting in his lap. The way you lean into each other when you’re talking is pretty intimate, especially given the fact Ortak rarely takes his eyes off you. ”
“Not only that, but every visit, Gannen brings you a small gift,” Astrid adds. “That kid worships you. And his father wants to worship you in far sexier and more naked ways.”
I cover my face, but a small laugh still bubbles up. “Oh my god, stop.”
“You know it’s true,” Riley says.
Fine, yes, everything they’re giving me a hard time about is true.
It would be disingenuous of me to deny it.
Except not once in all this time has Ortak made a move or suggested the idea of us becoming more than friends.
Sure, they’re here almost as often as they are in their own village.
And yes, we sit really, really close and are always finding ways to touch each other.
That’s it, though. It never goes any farther than that.
Ortak’s never even tried to kiss me, and I know for a fact he knows what it is. Gannen’s told me how often Iris and Kala kiss. Maybe it’s not kissing in the same way that humans kiss, but only because of the way Krijese’s mouths are formed. Still, he hasn’t tried.
“What’s that look on your face?” Astrid asks. “It’s as if you swallowed burim root.”
No way am I telling them I was thinking about Ortak kissing me. Or not, as the case may be. “It’s nothing.”
Thankfully, she leaves it alone as we finish our circuitous route and finally come to a stop outside my tent where we started.
“London said with all the warriors sent to help the Krijese, she guesses they should be here shortly before the evening meal,” Riley tells us. “There are only twenty-nine members of their entire tribe. I’m not sure how much stuff they actually have.”
None of the three of us have ever been to the Krijese’s village to see it for ourselves. My only vision of it has come from Ortak and Gannen describing it, but I’ve never been able to draw a clear mental picture.
“Whatever they might be missing—if anything—my guess is they can get it here,” Astrid says. “They’re our family now and we take care of ours.”
It’s amazing that she truly means it. The two women wave their goodbyes, and I enter my tent to rest for a little while.
My endurance has increased drastically with how often I get out and exercise.
Hopping around on one foot and crutches is a pain in the ass, but it’s better than being stuck inside.
I sit to take off my shoes and grab the data pad from the table beside me.
The Tavikhi remain a primitive tribe, but their Bohnari neighbors have traded a few tech items for their supply of the kanet leaves that grow on this planet. The Bohnari’s reason for needing the plant is super hush hush, but apparently it’s a strong one.
Whatever it is, I’m grateful for it since I can reap some of the benefits of their exchange.
Like having access to a data pad so I can read and play games.
I’ve even taught a few of them to Gannen and we’ll play against each other during some of his and Ortak’s visits.
The little shit is a natural and beats me almost every single time.
I love how excited he gets when he does.
He’s mastering the art of trash talk as well, which always makes me laugh.
I open up the book I’d been reading—some high-stakes thriller about this guy who has amnesia, but ends up being a former government agent on the run from whoever’s trying to kill him—and dive back in.
From what I can tell there are quite a few books with the same character, and they were all written over three hundred years ago.
I’ve tried reading books published within the last century, but they were all manufactured AI slop generated by an emotionless machine.
A slap on my door flap jerks my attention from the story. “Elodie, they’re here!”
Already? “Coming.” I yank my shoes back on and hop outside. It’s then I notice how far the sun has traveled across the sky. How did that much time go by without me realizing?
Riley, Zalik, and Stella are next to my tent. I turn in the direction they’re looking and my heart leaps at the sight of Ortak and Gannen walking toward us. They’re each dragging a sled behind them stacked high with their personal belongings strapped to it. I move quickly to meet them halfway.
“You’re here.” I pull a grinning Gannen into a long, tight hug and then do the same to Ortak. I breathe in his woodsy scent and enjoy the muscular hardness of his chest beneath my cheek far too much. Reluctantly, I draw back and stare up at him. “I’m so glad you guys finally made it.”
“Gogo said we will be placing our tent next to yours.” Gannen practically bounces with excitement.
I grin. “That’s what I heard.”
It had been my idea, in fact. Having them right next door was as bold as I’d been able to make myself. Since Gannen and Ortak would be living here now, why shouldn’t they be close by to me? It only made sense, right?
“Cecily has told me of this human practice called a sleepover. Perhaps we can do this thing this turn? I can sleep in your tent with you or you can sleep in our tent with us,” Gannen suggests.
My face flames and I can’t even meet Ortak’s gaze. Behind me, Riley laughs, but tries to cover it up with a cough. I send her a dirty look over my shoulder and squeeze Gannen’s shoulder. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Alright.”
I swallow and finally glance at Ortak. The only complaint I have about his features are that they’re impossible to read. I can never tell what he’s thinking or feeling, which makes me nervous.
“We should probably get your tent put up so you can start getting settled.” I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants and grip my crutches.
“Gannen and I will construct our dwelling. You will sit to rest your legs and keep us company.”
I glare. “Oh, I will, will I?”
Ortak either doesn’t hear my sarcasm or chooses to ignore it. “Aye, you will.”
As if sensing my smart mouth is about to get me in trouble, Zalik steps forward. “I am happy to assist Ortak and Gannen, if you do not mind Riley and Stella joining you.”
I’m well aware the task will go a lot faster without me since I’m not at one hundred percent, so I don’t argue. I sure do plan on having a little chat with Mr. Bossy later, though. For the moment, I give Zalik a sweet smile. “Thank you for your help, and of course I don’t mind if they join me.”
The Tavikhi fists his chest.
“Come on, El.” Riley links her arm with mine. “Let’s let the men do their manly thing.”
She tugs me over to the narrow two-person seat that’s right outside my tent and almost pushes me onto it. I barely have my crutches on the ground at me feet when Stella is plopped onto my lap without ceremony and Riley sits down beside me. “Sheathe the eye daggers.”
I blink and look over at her. She raises one brow—a skill I don’t have—and I sigh. “Fine, but I’m still annoyed at Ortak for being such a…man. I don’t take well to commands.”
Riley rolls her eyes. “You and I both know he was never going to let you help considering you only have one working leg at the moment.”
“So? That doesn’t mean there isn’t some way I could assist.”
“There is,” she points out. “By sitting your butt down and staying out of the way.”
I gasp. “Rude.”
Stella echoes the sound and flails her arms and legs with a sweet giggle. Riley shrugs me off. “Maybe, but no less true.”
“Fine.” I grumble a few curses under my breath, but Riley only laughs, as does her daughter.
The guys have already gotten started, and, annoyed or not, I can’t help but stare at Ortak while he works.
His muscles bulge and flex with each movement his body makes.
His back is sculpted and a work of art. It’s like an artist took a chisel and carefully crafted each line and slope.
He bends to pick up a tool, and I nearly swallow my tongue at his perfect, peach-shaped ass.
Riley elbows me and grins madly. “The view’s a whole lot better from over here, isn’t it?”
The pulsing beat in my lower belly and dampness between my thighs suggest I agree with her. “I guess.”
She barks out a laugh so loud it draws the attention of quite a few people, not the least of which are the three males closest to us. Stella jumps at the sound.
“You’ve got it so bad for him.”
I duck my head and avoid answering despite the fact it wasn’t a question.
It doesn’t stop me from sneaking peeks at Ortak and squirming in my seat while I press my legs together to try and ease the ache.
Thankfully, it takes them less time than I expected, and at last, Ortak and Gannen’s new home is upright, secured, and ready for them to bring their things inside.
Riley stands and plucks her daughter from my lap. “My work here is done.”
She walks off and joins Zalik, who steps back to admire the task he helped complete. I secure my crutches under my arms and make my way over as well. I stop next to Ortak, and Gannen shifts to my other side.
“It looks great.” Their tent is about the size of mine, but it’s shaped differently.
Whereas mine—and the rest of the Tavikhi’s—have an arched ceiling with a single smoke hole in the top, the Krijese’s tent ceiling has two pointed humps with a sagging center between them.
It kind of reminds me of a circus tent I once saw a picture of in a museum.
I glance around. The Krijese tents that are now spread throughout the village resemble each other, but differ in appearance from the Tavikhi ones. Despite the fact, they all manage to complement one another and blend in nicely together.
“We will leave you to get settled, unless there is anything else you wish for help with,” Zalik says.
Ortak shakes his head. “You have my thanks for your assistance with this. Gannen and I can do the rest.”
The two adults clasp forearms, and when Zalik does the same with Gannen, I’m pretty sure there are stars in his eyes as he stares up the Tavikhi. My heart swells at the gesture and how much I know it means to the young Krijese, who soon won’t be so young anymore.
I wave goodbye to Riley and Stella and the small family heads off. I turn to Ortak and Gannen. “Before you tell me no, I’m telling you I’m helping bring your things inside.”
“Elodie.” Ortak’s tone and the tilt of his head feels patronizing.
I jab my finger into the center of his chest. His firm, muscular chest. “Don’t you ‘Elodie’ me, mister. I’m helping and that’s final.”
His coal-shaded eyes widen. Gannen’s mouth slit separates and folds outward partway like he’s gaping in complete shock, but he quickly closes it. The two of them stare at me a minute longer, before finally, Ortak inclines his head. “We are grateful for your assistance.”
I nod back and hop over to one of the sleds containing their belongings. They join me and we get to work.