Page 121 of Rok's Captive
“Do all females allow this…water sharing?” Someone from the wider group projects directly at me. I don’t know who it is until they lean forward, tilting their head at me. But before I can answer, Rok’s growl fills my mind—a warning so potent I feel several of the gathered males recoil.
“My female’s water is mine alone,” he projects with unmistakable possessiveness. “As mine is hers.”
This declaration seems to make sense to the clan in a way the act itself didn’t. Territory, resources, possession—these are concepts they seem to understand well.
Kol raises a hand, silencing the murmurs that have broken out. “Enough,” he commands. “The customs of star-daughters are not our concern. What matters is finding the others. At first light.”
I’ve never been so grateful for a change of subject in my life. There’s a hum now, one of anticipation and curiosity. Thoughts tickling my brain like being in a big crowd at the county fair and hearing all the voices at once.
A clan member with particularly elaborate markings across his chest approaches, bearing what appears to be one of those freshly killed lizard creatures. He presents it to me with a gesture that seems almost ceremonial.
“For the female’s strength,” he projects, his mental voice carrying an undercurrent of excitement. “Thedra-kirgives greatest power.”
I stare at the bloody offering. “Thank you,” I manage. Rok intervenes, taking the offering with a brief nod of acknowledgment.
“She requires food touched by flame,” he explains, then turns to pierce the small carcass with a sharpened bone, holding it over the fire.
The male tilts his head, confused.
The gathered clan watches this process with fascination. I hear their mental murmurs—wondering at my strange dietary needs, at Rok’s willingness to prepare food for me, at everything about this bizarre situation.
My gaze shifts to Rok. “Do you think they still believe I’m male like them?”
Rok’s warm gaze shifts to me, so very different from the cold glares he’s been sending his brothers. “No. If they thought you were a male from a rival clan, they would not be giving you offerings.”
Well, that’s a relief.
“Tell us of your world, star-daughter,” Kol projects, diverting attention from the cooking meat. “Why did you return to our dust?”
All eyes turn to me expectantly. I take a deep breath, considering how to explain Earth and the fact that I’m not this…mythical daughter of the sun they think I am.
“I come from a world called Earth,” I begin. “A planet—a…round ground in the sky—much like this one, but with more water. Our people have learned to travel among the stars, visiting other worlds to learn about them. But…we didn’t come here. I am not the daughter of Ain you revere so much. I am simply a human. I and all the others females who need your help.”
I take a deep breath, waiting for this revelation to come back and bite me in the ass. What’s worse, Kol’s face is unreadable. Even more than Rok’s. I can see why he’s the leader. Back on Earth, his poker game would be freaking marvelous.
“Nota daughter of Ain…” is all he says.
I take a breath.
“No,” I shake my head. “I am not.”
Kol leans forward. Everyone else is completely silent, not even their whispering thoughts reaching my mind. He inhales deeply, scenting me. “But youarefemale. In the image of Rok sharing your water, I saw that you had no pouch. No member.”
Back to this again. I try not to blush, clearing my throat instead.
“You are correct.” I take another deep breath. “Not a daughter of Ain, but female still.”
A collective intake of breath that seems to draw the very air from the cave. The mental whispers suddenly intensify—a cacophony of wonder, disbelief, hope, and fear that makes my temples throb.
“I’m sorry.” I close my eyes so I can focus my thoughts. “I’m sorry if that’s disappointing. Sorry if that’s not what you want to hear. But I beg, my sister and the others, the other women, the other females, they need your help. They will die out there if no one helps them.”
I swallow hard, waiting for his response. When I finally open my eyes, Kol is studying me intently. As is everyone else in the cave except Rok. He’s meeting each of their gazes in turn, tension radiating from his frame. As if should one of them make a move, he will tear their throat out.
“We…” Kol starts. “We will not let females die. That would go against everything passed down from generations of Drakav. You say you are no daughter of Ain, but you fell from Ain and landed in the dust. You are daughter enough to us.”
The weight of his words settles over me. He doesn’t have to spell it out. They will help us.
The relief I feel can’t even be put into words or thought. Tears brim in my eyes, a single one running down my cheek.
