Page 29 of Primal Vow

It was that protectiveness, something that ran deeper than duty. It was a desire to ensure that no harm befell the human, no matter the reason. It was instinctual, an urge that went down right to his bones.

The need to protect what was his.

Taryn turned to Rhys, his expression unreadable. "Gather your things," he said, his deep voice rumbling through the cave. "We're moving out."

"Huh?" Rhys blinked up at him, surprise and a hint of fear flickering across his features. "In this?"

"In this."

Rhys looked confused and wary. And yet, as Rhys met Taryn's steady gaze, some of the tension eased from his shoulders. There was a glimmer of trust there, fragile but undeniable.

With a small nod, Rhys began gathering his meager share of the supplies, his movements quick and efficient. Taryn watched Rhys for a moment longer, his jaw clenched. Then he turned and strode from the cave, leaving Rhys to follow in his wake.

Outside, the humid air of the jungle pressed in close, the sounds of the rainfall a constant roar. Taryn's warriors were gathered in a loose semicircle under the meager shelter of a tree, their sleek golden skins gleaming in the murky stormlight that filtered through the canopy.

As Taryn approached, they straightened, their expressions a mix of eagerness and wariness. Krye, in particular, held himself apart from the others, his sharp features drawn into a sullen scowl.

Taryn's senses were too sharp, his focus too honed, for him to be unaware of anything that happened in his presence.

And right now, every single one of his young warriors was distracted by the scent of the human.

Worrack looked pensive, brow creased in unease. Beside him, Soren's fingers drummed against his leg, a restless motion. Even Jorah, who was doing his best to focus on sharpening his blades, kept casting quick, intent looks toward Rhys, even as the human tried to shrink back behind Taryn.

They were good warriors, loyal to a fault. They were here to aid Taryn in his pursuit. But despite their best efforts, they were still young, still untested. The temptation of the human was too much for them to bear.

Taryn accepted the inevitable conclusion of the situation.

He was going to have to send the young warriors away.

It was a bitter realization. The task ahead of them was important — numerous lives hung in the balance. They needed to hunt down the humans before they could do something reckless.

But there was no other choice. The distraction of the human's scent was too much for the young warriors to bear. If they stayed in his presence a moment longer, their discipline was going to crack.

"You're going to stay in the cave tonight," he commanded. "But in the morning, you're to head back to the village."

The young warriors sprang up, dismay written over their features. "But, Taryn!" Soren protested. "We're in the middle of a hunt! The humans—"

"You've done well," Taryn interrupted. "Thanks to your efforts, we've managed to get far. But now, the task at hand has grown too difficult. I need to send you back to the clan."

Worrack's sharp features were drawn with worry. "But catching the bombers—"

"Is my duty," Taryn said firmly. "You're to head back to the clan, and warn Rael about what's happening. Raise reinforcements. It's clear that this is no longer a simple hunt."

"Warn Rael about what, exactly?" Krye asked, his sharp gaze fixed on Taryn. There was no hint of the distraction that had filled him moments ago, only a wounded, hurt frustration. "About the fact that we can't control ourselves in the presence of a human? About the fact that we're too weak to carry out our duties?"

"Krye…" Jorah protested, but Taryn held up a hand to silence him.

"Your discipline has not been lacking," he said firmly. "The distraction is a difficulty that any untrained warrior would face. You've all done well, and I'm proud to have led you. But now, you're to head back to the clan. That's an order."

Krye's jaw was set in a line, but he nodded. Slowly, unhappily, the young warriors filed back into the cave.

And then Taryn and Rhys were alone in the jungle. "Come," Taryn said. "We will find somewhere else to camp."

Taryn gestured for Rhys to follow, and the human obeyed. The weight of the situation was clear in the tense set of Rhys's shoulders, the way his green eyes stayed down.

As they stepped out of the shelter of the tree, the heavy rain immediately began to plaster Rhys's dark curls to his forehead. He shivered, hugging his thin shirt closer to his body as he followed in Taryn's wake.

"I'm sorry," Rhys said, his voice nearly lost in the drumming of the rain against the canopy above them. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

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