Page 48 of Cherished By the Alien Outlaw

“Good?” I asked Talia, holding out another strip of meat.

She nodded. “It’s all so tasty. What fruits are we eating? What meat?”

Davon explained how they hunted at oases in the desert and how they collected fruit, grains, and tubers in various locations, based on the season. While they often ate freshly prepared food, they were busy today getting ready for the storm and tonight, most had opted to eat the dried food they always carried with them.

“We make do with what the desert gifts us,” Davon said, his voice level but with a hint of pride.

“You’ve been good to us.” Sincerity came through in Talia’s words. “It means so much. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome here anytime.” Davon’s gaze softened in the muted lighting. “I’ve led this clan for only a short time. We’ve seen few travelers, but our home is not often a welcoming one, as you've discovered. Few come here. It takes strength to survive in the desert, but I can't imagine any other way of life.”

Coovik nodded.

“It wasn’t easy getting here,” I said as Talia leaned into my side. Her eyelids drooped, and if we sat here formuch longer, she was going to fall asleep. My poor, tired mate. “But it was worth every second because I found Talia.”

After we finished, Davon collected the small bowls he'd tugged from the sack and quickly tidied what was left, placing everything back in the bag and securing it at the top. He laid a hand on his brother's shoulder, cutting off Coovik from asking whatever he'd been holding back in those eager eyes.

Talia rose along with us, but she kept yawning.

“We’ll leave you to rest and will see you again in the morning,” Davon said. “You're welcome to stay with us for as long as you'd like. We plan to remain at this oasis for at least a week. But I understand if you want to continue on your journey.”

“I want to take Talia back to my clan,” I said. “Then I can meet with the other traedors to discuss how we should best handle what happened to us in the mine.”

“A wise idea,” Davon said. “When—if—you travel this way again, you will be welcome with my clan once more.”

“Thank you.” He and I braced our forearms, and Coovik and I nodded to each other. “Know that all of you are welcome at the Dastalon Clan at any time as well.”

“You fly on enormous birds, right?” Coovik breathed. “What's that like?”

“Amazing. We raise them from the time they hatch, training them to take our weight and obey our directions in flight. They're wonderful creatures, smart and protective.”

“I want one.” He looked up at Davon. “Can we get some ryvars for ourselves? Imagine how quickly we could travel from one oasis to another if we could take flight.”

“I doubt they'd survive in the desert,” Davon said with an indulgent tone. His gaze sought mine and sadness lingered there. “Our parents only recently died. I . . . mourned for a time before returning to my clan.”

There must be a story there, but from the sharp sadness in his eyes, I doubted he’d share it.

His spine stiffened. “But I’m back, and I stepped in for my father as traedor, plus I'm raising this youngling.” His posture loosened, and he ruffled Coovik's hair.

“Not a youngling,” Coovik huffed, his face darkening. “I'm a full-grown male. Seventeen!”

“Not quite as grown up as you’d like.” Davon flexed his arm muscles. “When you can challenge me for traedor, then I'll consider you a full-grown male.”

Coovik's nose scrunched. “I don't want to be a traedor. I want to fly ryvars.”

“Come visit my clan sometime,” I said with a low laugh. “I'll let you ride my ryvar and then you can decide.”

“You may not enjoy being so far from the ground,” Davon said.

“I bet it's wonderful,” Coovik breathed.

“We'll discuss a visit, nothing else.” With the sack slung over his shoulder, Davon guided his brother to the door flap. He glanced back at us. “Goodnight.”

We murmured the same as they left, securing the flap behind them.

“Sleep, mate,” I said, stroking her hair past her shoulder.

Even this simple touch made a shiver of need track through me. But she was exhausted. Soon, we'd reach my clan and then we could be together whenever we pleased. I couldn't wait.

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