Page 78 of Tharn's Hunt
And then he's pulling away, straightening to his full height despite the tremor I can still see running through his massiveframe. He turns toward the cave entrance, where Rok is already positioned defensively.
"Wait!" I grab his arm, panic surging through me. "You can't go out there. You're not well!"
But he doesn't even look at me. He just shrugs off my grip like I weigh nothing, his focus entirely on the threat outside.
"Tharn!" I try again, but Justine catches my arm, pulling me back.
"He has to go," she whispers urgently. "Rok can't—they'll smell me on him. They'll see his loincloth and know something's... different."
I stare at her, momentarily distracted from my panic. "Wait, you're saying Tharn's the only one who can go because he's still... normal?!"
Justine shrugs, her expression a mix of embarrassment and resignation. "More or less."
Right. Because amid all this chaos, I'd almost forgotten that my sister is having sex with an alien who apparently grew new parts just for her. Fantastic.
"But he's in pain," I argue, keeping my voice low as Tharn moves steadily toward the cave entrance. "He can barely stand!"
"You have no idea the strength of these men," Justine says, her grip on my arm tightening when I try to pull away. "Trust me, Jacqui. He knows what he's doing."
I want to argue more, to demand that someone else handle this, that Tharn stay here where it's safe. But a part of me knows it's useless. He's already made his decision. He's going to face whatever's out there, pain or no pain, because he thinks it's his job to protect me.
The realization makes my chest ache with a strange mix of frustration, fear, and something very close to admiration.
I watch as Tharn steps into the fading light at the cave entrance, his massive form casting a long shadow across thesand. Despite the weakness I saw just moments ago, he moves with predatory grace, his shoulders squared and his head held high.
Through the gathering dusk, another figure approaches. He is Drakav, tall and golden-skinned like the others, but where Tharn is solid strength and Rok is lean muscle, this one is pure, brutal mass. His shoulders are broader, his neck thicker, and his face is a mask of jagged scars and a permanent scowl. He doesn't walk; he stalks, his movements radiating an arrogant, violent energy that makes the hair on my arms stand up.
Tharn's growl fills the cave as he shifts slightly to block the newcomer's view of the inside. Even wounded, even in pain, he's a wall of muscle and fury, his claws flexing at his sides as he faces down the intruder.
Not for the first time since I've met him, I'm actually glad he's terrifying.
Tharn faces the intruder, and I realize with growing frustration that they're communicating telepathically. Having an entire conversation—or confrontation—that I can't hear or understand. It's maddening.
Rok herds Justine and me deeper into the cave, positioning himself between us and the entrance where Tharn faces the stranger. Blocking my view of Tharn and everything else.
"What are they saying?" I whisper to Justine, who's watching Rok's face intently.
"Hold on," she murmurs, her voice barely audible. "It’s coming through Rok and then to me."
I wait, impatience gnawing at me.
"It's not good," Justine finally whispers, leaning close to my ear. "The other guy is furious. Says their water sources are drying up."
"Water sources? What does that have to do with us?"
"They think our clan is taking too much," she explains quickly, her eyes darting between me and Rok. "Draining the watering holes across the desert."
Our clan? When did it become our cl—. Nevermind.
"Is that true?" I whisper, though I already know the answer. If there's one thing I've learned about Tharn, it's that he respects the harsh balance of this world.
Justine shakes her head. "No. But they need someone to blame."
My heart thunders in my chest, and I focus on keeping silent.
"What now?" I whisper after a few moments.
"It's a threat," Justine translates, her expression growing more worried. "He's warning Tharn that his clan won't tolerate being cheated of water. Says if they don't get what they need..."
