Page 27 of Primal Vow

And right now, there was nothing he could do about it.

He wasn't the only one feeling frustrated. In the shelter of the cave, the rest of his warriors were slowly going stir-crazy.

Jorah paced back and forth, Worrack trying to ignore him. Krye was sharpening his blade, the sound of metal against stone grating on everyone's nerves. Soren sat with his back against the cave wall, his face drawn with the remains of the venom still in his system. Under Taryn's care, he'd shook off the worst of the venom, but the aftereffects left him listless and nauseated.

And then there was Rhys. The human sat next to Taryn, his eyes fixed on the rain outside. Tension coiled through him, plain for Taryn to see. He was like a trapped animal, wanting out.

But there was nowhere for him to go.

And that was becoming a problem.

Taryn was running out of the salve that blocked his scent. Busy treating Soren's injury over the last few days, they'd run through their supply. Now, they were trying to make it stretch, but the effects were getting weaker.

The young warriors were growing increasingly distracted.

They were too well-trained to openly show their growing hunger for the sweet, entrancing scent that filled the air around Rhys. But too many times, Taryn caught them inhaling deeply, their eyes half-closing in pleasure.

It was a distraction he couldn't allow.

Taryn rubbed a hand over his face, feeling the beginnings of a headache building behind his eyes. If this rain kept up, they were all going to go mad before they caught up to their quarry.

Taryn leaned back against the cave wall, feigning a casual posture. From beneath the cover of his lashes, he let his gaze slide over to Rhys.

The human's eyes were fixed on the rain, his jaw set. He was still upset about being abandoned by his people, that much was clear. But there was something else to his isolation, a deeper edge to the way he sometimes looked at the rest of the Borraq.

Underneath the distraction of the human's scent, underneath the heady lure that made it hard for Taryn's warriors to tear their minds away from him, there was a thread of a different tension running through Rhys.

Tension that had nothing to do with anyone but Taryn.

Rhys's gaze was fixed on the rain, his hands absentmindedly fiddling with the hem of his shirt. Despite the clothing covering his skin, his scent was like a beacon in the hot, damp air, driving Taryn's senses half-mad.

At his side, Rhys leaned a little closer, the movement so subtle that none of the other warriors noticed. His shoulder brushed against Taryn's arm, a wordless request for reassurance.

Taryn's eyes snapped open, surprise flashing through him. Despite himself, his heart thudded with the sudden, electric contact.

Ever since that night at the campfire, something had changed between them. Rhys had broken down, knowing that he was now trapped on Vasz for good, and Taryn's instincts had called for him to comfort him. Despite himself, Taryn felt a surge of protectiveness.

Taryn hated humans. This one particular human, though…

Rhys was his responsibility. His duty.

And he always carried out his duty.

But at the same time, the human's proximity was a siren call. His scent was maddening, his presence a constant distraction. It was a test of Taryn's self-control, one that he was rapidly failing.

Days ago, in the heat of the jungle, Rhys had nearly crossed a line that could not be uncrossed. He'd touched Taryn's horns. Rhys had just been curious, that was all. Taryn was the one that was defiling Rhys with his thoughts, reading into his innocent actions.

Taryn had nearly given in to his desires, desires that warred against everything he believed in. He was an honorable Borraq, second-in-command of his clan. If he took advantage of Rhys's trust… he'd be no better than the humans that he hunted.

But gods, the temptation of the human was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. The softness of Rhys's touch, the way his green eyes had held a playful curiosity, lingering on Taryn…

Taryn rose to his feet, the movement casual. "I'm going to check the perimeter," he announced to the rest of the warriors.

None of his charges spared him a glance in response. Rhys, however, gave him a quick, sharp look, as if he sensed that Taryn's escape ran deeper than a simple patrol.

Ignoring the human's gaze, Taryn made his way to the mouth of the cave, the rain drumming down on his golden skin. He stepped out into the deluge, seeking the cleansing distraction of the storm.

The thick, humid air enveloped him, the scent of wet earth and greenery filling his lungs. The rain hammered down, obscuring Taryn's senses and forcing him to be alone with nothing but his own thoughts.

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