Chapter 37
As Telok and his companions stood before the winddancers at the base of the steps leading up to Tovuunshai, he felt echoes of the past again reverberating through him.
He recalled the first time they’d met the winddancers, and the first time he and his tribe had met the thornskulls before that. Recalled the first time he’d met Ketahn, Ahnset, Ishkal, Rekosh, and Urkot. Each of those moments carried weight and meaning that had forever changed him.
But time continued moving no matter its effects.
It was a river, ever flowing, with calm stretches and rapids, with bends and falls, changing its currents and course at a whim.
Eight days ago, the pyre flames had freed the spirits of the slain to dance upon the wind.
Nine days ago, Telok had led the hunt to the kurghests’ den.
Sixteen days ago, he and his companions had met Wen’Xal Tas, and had chosen to answer the winddancers’ plea for aid.
Twenty-one days ago, Telok had departed from Kaldarak, wondering how he would be able to protect Lacey while at the same time keeping away from her.
Careful of the bandaged wound on her side, Telok tightened his lower arm around his mate’s chest, drawing her more snugly against him. She leaned into him and placed a hand atop his, giving it a comforting squeeze.
Everything had changed in less than three eightdays. Even now, he couldn’t understand how so much had happened during so short a time, couldn’t unravel the tangled threads of fate that had led him to this moment.
Yet he didn’t need to unravel them. He was here—they were here—and it was time to go home.
Garahk, his white hide marked by new scars, bowed before Tas, Shir, Jehk, and Sahn, tapping a knuckle to his headcrest. “Should you ever need aid, send word. Yours will always find welcome and friendship in Kaldarak.”
“You are also always welcome here,” Shir replied as she and the other winddancers tapped their own headcrests. “We hope you and yours can consider our Nedrayas your own.”
“Yours are ours, and ours are yours. Nothing in the Tangle shall sever our bonds.” Garahk crossed his arms in the sign of the Eight. “It is true under sun and sky.”
Tas dipped his head in a bow. “We thank you, Garahk ki’Tuun. We thank all of you for what you have done for us. What you have given, we can never repay.”
“Anything you require that we may give, you need but ask,” Shir said.
Chittering, Garahk glanced at his companions. They all carried bags full of supplies—food for the journey, jars of vineroot oil, herbs, and more hunter’s eye than they’d ever expected to collect. “You gave much already. More, and even Ayali will strain under the load.”
Ayali chittered and patted the bags tied atop her hindquarters. “I have strength to carry more.”
Zesh puffed out his chest. “As do I.”
Shaking his head, Ess scoffed. “You already complained of the weight.”
“I did not!”
Ayali brushed a hand down Zesh’s shoulder. “My heartsflames are both strong, but your wounds are still mending.”
“If you require more time to recover, we will gladly have you,” Sahn said, gesturing up toward the village. “You need not push yourselves too soon into this journey.”
No one who’d joined the final kurghest hunt had returned unharmed. Even after nine days, Telok still had wounds that throbbed and ached. Several of the winddancers had suffered injuries that would likely pain them for moon cycles.
Telok petted Lacey’s braided hair, following it until his hand reached the top of her backpack.
His mate’s wounds had been deep, requiring fresh sticky silk daily.
She referred to them as butt silk stitches.
He’d tended to them every suncrest and sunfall to ensure they healed properly and did not fester.
Thankfully, despite her having briefly come down with a mild fever, the marks on Lacey’s side had started to mend.
But Telok would never allow his mate to suffer such wounds again. Never.
He clutched his spear.
The Tangle could fuck off.
Telok glanced at his weapon. It had been given to him by the winddancers, and though it was well crafted, it could not compare to the spear Lacey had so thoughtfully made for him.
The lack of adornments normally wouldn’t have bothered him, but he missed the little lock of braided red hair he’d so often stroked with his thumb.
He would long mourn the loss of that spear, the most precious object he’d ever owned—but it was a sacrifice he had gladly made and would make again to keep Lacey safe.
Telok looked down at his mate, once more running his palm over her hair.
Cole limped toward them, using a walking stick to keep weight off his injured leg. Gently, Lacey drew Telok’s arm away and stepped forward to meet the male human, wrapping her arms around him in an embrace.
Thunder rolled in Telok’s chest. His body tensed, hands curling to fists. A male was touching his mate. That was a challenge to be met with force and ferocity, a threat to be destroyed.
No.
He would not give in to that instinct, would not harm a member of his tribe, would not harm his friend. His mate’s friend. This was a normal display of affection for humans. Cole already had a mate; he wasn’t trying to take Lacey from Telok.
Hunter grant me patience, how did the others control themselves through these instincts?
“I’m gonna miss you,” Lacey said.
Cole chuckled. “You gonna actually miss me, or miss throwing insults my way?”
She laughed. “Both.”
“Same here, Lace,” Cole said as they pulled away from each other.
Sophia stepped forward and hugged Lacey. “I’m so happy to have met you.”
“Me too,” Lacey said, and drew back. “Once Cole’s leg is healed up, come visit Kaldarak and meet everyone.”
“I will. I can’t wait to.”
Lacey pointed at Cole. “And keep this asshole in line.”
“Hey!” Cole scoffed, throwing up his free hand in one of those human what the fuck gestures.
Sophia chuckled and slipped her arms around Cole, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Oh, I’ll keep him occupied enough that he won’t have time for any mischief.”
“My hands are always busy,” Cole said with a wink.
“They sure will be,” Sophia practically purred.
“I’ll pretend that you mean working with wood,” Lacey said.
Cole grinned. “I could so—”
“Shut up. I know I walked right into that one. Save it for the next time we see each other. Oh, and I get dibs on your deck.”
“The fuck you do! That’s still mine for when Sophia and I visit our summer home.”
Lacey’s brows drew together. “What do you mean? It’s always summer here.”
“Exactly.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s still mine until further notice.”
“Is not.”
Telok extended a foreleg, hooked it around Lacey, and guided her back into the shelter of his body.
Mine.
“Whatever my mate wants, she will have,” Telok said.
Cole glared at him. “Dude, you’re not stealing my deck.”
Telok held up both his upper hands, raising only his middle fingers. “Stop me.”
Cole swept his hand out, gesturing at Telok and Lacey. “Do you see what I have to deal with?”
Sophia laughed.
Lacey grinned. “Guess you better come back to Kaldarak soon to reclaim your throne.”
Chittering, Telok lowered his hands, only for a sorrowful pang to strike his chest. He’d spent a lot of time with Cole over the last several moon cycles. Despite the occasional friction, he would…miss this. “Heal well, human, and return to us safely.”
“Yeah, you too,” Cole muttered, rubbing at his chest. “See ya later, spider man. And you two better not fuck on my deck.”
Lacey tapped her chin. “Now that you mention it…”
“Don’t wanna know!”
She chuckled. “We’ll see you both soon.”
Sophia smiled, resting her head on Cole’s shoulder. “That’s a promise.”
Garahk’s deep voice rose over the gathering. “Winddancers, your shar’thai burns bright as the sun. But should your Nedrayas seek a new place to take root, Kaldarak will welcome all of yours. Mine will gladly stand as your shields.”
Sahn bowed his head. “We will keep these words in our hearts and decide as a Nedrayas, Garahk ki’Tuun. May the Eight shield and guide you on your journey.”
“And may they watch over you with their eightfold eyes.” Garahk turned to the thornskulls. “Let us stride to Kaldarak!”
Telok lowered himself to the ground and offered a hand to Lacey. “Come, kir’ani vi’jatai. Let me carry you home.”
Smiling, Lacey pressed a kiss to his mouth before taking his hand and carefully climbing onto his hindquarters. She wrapped her arms around his sides. “You are my home, my luveen. Wherever we go.”