Page 48 of Own To Obsess

“Yes.”

Shaya looked around carefully, trying to see if anybody was in the space with them, but it looked empty. Kardos lowered them both down to the bench; Shaya looked at him quizzically. “I don't see anyone here?”

“Not yet.”

Shaya was quiet for a moment as Kardos removed his furs, folded them up and put them beside him on the bench. He did the same for her, and although she was going to protest, she realized it was significantly warmer than it was outside.

Her eyes kept being drawn to the waterfall—it truly was a beautiful sight. The water cascaded gently over a rock ledge in one wide smooth sheen of water that glistened in the light, and fell into the pool. It wasn’t as loud as she thought a waterfall would be.

“When will they come?” she whispered again at Kardos.

Kardos smiled and stared at the waterfall. “I will tell you a story until they arrive?”

Shaya nodded and curled up on his leg, watching him.

“There was a family of three who traveled across known Lands before settling here,” he began. “They had picked up many skills along the way—carpentry and woodwork from the infamous carpenters of the Western Lands, the magic of potions from the potion masters from the royal families in the Western Lands and everything in between. They saw wonders and learned what they could from the people around them and the natural environments they discovered. They very much appreciated and respected nature. Like you.” He smiled at her, and Shaya tried to ignore the annoying swoop in her stomach. “In order to continue their love of traveling,” he continued, “they learned to adapt to oceans and deserts, drawing on the knowledge of local people to help them survive. Because of that they were able to survive most of nature’s surprises when they came here.”

“They came straight Nyek?”

Kardos nodded. “They came to Nyek first, but they also traveled to the Southern Islands and lived on them for a while to see what they were like, and to see if all the islands suffered the same weather.”

“And the other tribes allowed that?”

“This family traveled freely at a time when the tribes were few,” Kardos explained. “The tribes used to change islands depending on their wealth and influence.”

“Change islands?” Shaya frowned. “How?”

“You remember the map of the Southern Isles?”

Shaya nodded.

“The islands are numbered, because, in the past, the tribes used to move from island to island. If a tribe lost a lot of its wealth, or many of its people died in a snowstorm, they would move to an island better suited to their size. So a tribe who became poor on island number four, for example, would move to island number nine. Tribes also used to combine and split frequently—they were much more fluid.”

Shaya stared back at him. “So that doesn’t happen anymore?”

Kardos shook his head. “Not much. The tribes stabilized and defined themselves as more was discovered about the Isles, but they have on occasion combined or broken up into clans.”

Shaya thought for a moment. “But the Nyek people actually live in mountains. How can they move?”

“Tribe Nyek has moved the least. That’s why we are so entrenched in our land. Even if we lost our wealth and influence we wouldn’t move; we’d simply break up into clans.”

Shaya frowned. “Why”

“Because it could only happen if I were dead or imprisoned—there isn’t another who could lead, right now.”

A coldness gripped Shaya’s heart. “Why would you die?”

“Anything can happen at any time.” A fierceness grew in Kardos’ eyes as he turned his gaze on her. “I am going to kill whoever attacked you. I don’t care if it is the high chief himself; anyone who was involved in attacking you will cease to exist once I discover who they are. I promise it.” His jaw clenched as he turned back to the waterfall. “I don’t know what will happen to me after that.”

A somber silence filled the cavern and Shaya struggled with the horror of what would happen if Kardos died. Surely it would impact her now she was bonded to him. How would his people treat her if he wasn’t around?

“Shaya,” Kardos said softly. “You don’t need to worry.”

She looked up to see him gazing down at her. “You just said anything could happen—”

“Yes, but you will be looked after. And anyway, things usually happen the way I want.” He kissed her as his hand slipped up her leg, sending pricklings of desire to her stomach. His voice lowered until it was growly and deep and his eyes darkened. “And guess what I want?”

Shaya inhaled his scent deeply as her stomach swooped and her slick gathered with a warm tingle. No matter how many times they mated, he always had this effect on her. “Your family could be here in a moment,” she whispered. “You haven’t finished telling me the story.”

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