Page 16 of Rhaz's Redemption
I smiled to myself as I recalled Beatrice’s wordsyou don’t get to take care of me from a distance. There is a strength to herthat she keeps hidden deep within herself, but I saw a glimmer of that strength last night.
I would take care of her in secret just as I’ve been doing already. I’d stock the storage room with the leaves she likes to write on, I’d make sure we always had her favorite meat available for meals, and I would provide whatever else she wanted, anything but my touch and my love.
Her touch had been like a dream. It was everything I’d ever thought it would be and more. Even thinking about how we’d embraced last night in the furs was making my cock stir.
It would do me good to get away from the dekes for a little while. I wasn’t looking forward to facing my sire, but it would be easier to face him than deny myself the pleasure of touching Beatrice again. She was a temptation that I was failing to resist.
The winter air blew through the trees, and even in my shifted form the cold was starting to get to me. I climbed down from my perch and made my way back to Axon’s moon cave. There I was greeted by Fatima, Hai, and Lumod who were all sitting outside in the sun. They seemed to be enjoying the change of scenery, and I couldn’t blame them. Winter could be a difficult season, even more so for the humans who had no choice but to sit inside while the world froze all around the mountain.
“Good morning, Rhaz,” Tarak greeted me and Jax looked up from his breakfast and gave me a warm smile. I didn’t deserve the young male’s kindness after what my father did to him, but for some reason my friendship made him happy, so I’d gone against my better judgement and befriended Jax and trained him in the ways of hunting with his father’s permission.
He was a strong hunter and nearly a full grown adult. It wouldn’t be long before he might gain a luminescence mate of his own, and when that day came, I’d be the first in line to congratulate him.
Jax’s attention turned back to the golden-haired human who was gesturing widely with her hands as she spoke. She was nearly as expressive as Jax. They made a good pair. My young friend smiled and used the hand-speak symbols he and Sarah had been developing.
“Good morning, Savrix,” I turned my attention back to Tarak who was holding his tiny daughter in his arms. Tabby cooed happily and it warmed my heart to see the sietling so content in her sire’s arms. My heart squeezed at the sight. I wanted that. I wanted to be a sire and a good mate. I wanted to build a life with Beatrice, and I wondered if my sire had wanted that once too.
My mother told me of how my sire wooed her when they were young and how excited he’d been to become a sire, but slowly things changed. He became the Savrix and he suddenly started seeing enemies everywhere, even in my mother.
“Are you ready for this?” Tarak asked. My Savrix searched my face for any hesitation, any fear. “This is no small task to plead our case before your sire.”
“I’m ready,” I gave him a resolute nod. If anyone could reason with my father it was me. My brother shifters wouldn’t stand a chance against his vile manipulation or even his brutality, but none of them had my gift for resilience. They all thought my abilities ended with my badger form, but no one knew the truth. No one knew what my real gift was.
I caught sight of Beatrice sitting next to Julie near the fire frowning down at the fruit bar she’d packed for her meal. She glanced over at Julie’s dried meat that the human’s called jerky and her frown only deepened.
This would not do. I would not stand by and watch Beatrice go hungry or lament over the lackluster meal she’d packed for herself.
I sat against the wall and searched through my own bag. I had plenty of dried meat to spare for my journey. So I set aside a handful and waited. My patience was rewarded when Beatrice got up to use the bathroom. I took the opportunity to walk by her pack and drop the dried meat inside.
“Good morning,” Orsu greeted me with his normal smile and friendly demeanor.
I only grunted in response. I did not wish to be caught supplying Beatrice with food for fear she might not eat it if she knew it came from me. The memory of last night played through my mind and how she’d tossed my blanket to the ground next to me. I’d enjoyed her show of defiance, but it wouldn’t serve my purposes if that defiance expanded into her not eating the food I provided.
So I kept walking until I was back in the dark corner of the cavern where I’d begun. Beatrice returned to her pack and her eyes widened as she saw the jerky I’d placed there. She looked around the cavern, looking for me no doubt, and a thrill rushed through my veins at the thought. I wanted for her to want me. I was trying to be a good male by denying our bond, but even I had my limits. I would take pleasure in this. I would remain hidden in the shadows as her eyes searched the cave for me.
Her face fell into an angry frown when she did not find me and she aggressively took a bite of the dried meat. I did not care that she was angry with me, I only cared that she ate the food I’d provided.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away as her curly hair fell forward as she looked into her bag again. Her curls framed her face so perfectly and I longed to hold her again and let my fingers sink into her hair as I kissed her again and again.
“Alright everyone,” Axon’s words drew me out of my tortured thoughts. “If you’re ready, you can follow me through this middle tunnel to the outside where the old ruins are.”
Chatter erupted through the cavern as everyone shoved their things into their packs and made their way to the tunnel.
Beatrice eyed our cavern suspiciously as everyone filed out. I couldn’t hold back my proud smile. She’d figured me out. I stepped out from the shadows and she looked me up and down in an assessing manner. I couldn’t tell if she liked what she saw or not. She only gave me a curt nod before turning around and going deeper into the cave like everyone else. Good. She should not like me. She should fear me, loath me even.
I ignored my clawing need for her approval and lingered far behind her for the duration of the short walk through the tunnel. Eventually I felt a cold breeze hit my skin and I knew we’d reached the end.
“We’re here,” Axon announced. “Watch your step. It’s a bit slick when you step out of the cave, but the rest of the trail is safe enough.”
My brother shifters helped their mates walk safely along the icy path. The others did well enough on their own, but when it was Beatrice’s turn to walk out of the cave onto the icy mud things did not go so well for her.
She wasn’t paying attention to the ice. She was looking forward at the wooden statues of the goddess that lined the pathway. I went into high alert the moment she started to lose her balance. I had kept my distance as we walked, but thankfully I’d been smart enough not to stay too far behind her.
In two long strides, I was at her side, catching her in my arms before she could fall to the ground. Her sweet floral scent hit me as her hair tickled my nose.
Beatrice’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up at me with those deep brown eyes. They had three shades of brown in them that went from light to dark around her pupils. I wondered if anyone had ever told her that. Someone should tellher. Someone should make her feel cherished and wanted, and I wanted, no, I longed to be that person.
My heart pounded in my chest and my body hummed at her nearness. All I had to do was lean down slightly and my lips would be on hers again. I longed to do just that. I longed to feel her soft skin against mine. I wished to envelop her in my warmth and hear her soft moans as I licked her sensitive flesh.
