Page 99 of Tharn's Hunt
“That was…necessary,” Justine says.
“Very.” But I can’t ignore the little delightful shiver that runs down my belly.
When I finally lean back, my hands linger for one last second against Tharn’s chest. I don't want to let go of him, but I know it's for the best.
"I'm coming too," I say, my tone making it clear this isn't a request.
Justine just nods, as if she expected nothing less.
It takes both Sarven and the other Drakav to lift Tharn's unconscious form. He's deadweight, his limbs hanging limply as they carry him through the tunnels. I follow closely, one hand never leaving contact with his skin—his arm, his shoulder, whatever I can reach.
I'm not even sure why I feel compelled to maintain the connection. I just know that when I think about breaking it, letting him go completely, my chest tightens with something like panic.
We return to Tharn's alcove, the same place where this all started. Was it only minutes ago? It feels like hours.
The Drakav lay Tharn on his fur-covered platform, arranging his limbs before stepping back. Sarven gives me a long, assessing look, then inclines his head slightly—respect, I think, or maybe approval—before turning to leave.
Chapter 28
MY MATE’S IN A COMA AND ALL I GET IS THIS LOUSY LANGUAGE LESSON (VRAL = KNIFE. COOL. COOLCOOLCOOL.)
JACQUI
It’s been three days since Tharn collapsed.
Three days of pacing the tunnels, staring at the darkened alcove where he lies unconscious, and pretending I’m not losing my mind with worry.
Three days of trying to adjust to life in the clan caves. A life so strange and different that it should feel like stepping into another world. And itdoes, but I can’t enjoy it. My thoughts are always elsewhere, circling back to him.
Every time I pass his alcove or catch a glimpse of Rok or the other hunters, I want to ask if there’s any change. But I don’t. The answer is always the same. No.
The clan caves are... fascinating, I’ll give them that. There are even more chambers than I first realized, with ceilings so high they disappear into the shadows, the walls lined with alcoves and tunnels leading to who-knows-where. The Drakavmove through the space with silent grace, their eyes tracking everything, their presence so alien yet oddly comforting.
The human women’s section of the cave is now filled with furs and strange cushions made from some kind of woven plant fiber. It’s almost cozy. Almost.
The Drakav have been nothing but accommodating, though their fascination with us can sometimes feel... intense. They watch us constantly, studying our movements, our speech, even the way we eat. It’s like we’re some new, exotic species they’re trying to understand.
Every day, Justine gathers the women and a handful of Drakav for what she calls "language classes." It’s slow going. The translators are doing their best, but the process is painstaking.
"Okay," Justine says, holding up a small, carved tool. "This is... uh..." She glances at Rok, who projects the word into her mind. "‘Vral.’ It’s a knife. Vral."
"Vral," Pam repeats, her voice lilting with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Rok nods, his expression stoic as always.
Mikaela snorts from the back of the group. "Great. Now I know how to say ‘knife.’ That’s useful when I’m trying to ask where the bathroom is."
"You’re not wrong," I mutter, earning a laugh from a few of the women.
The lessons are slow, frustrating, and occasionally hilarious. Some of the women, like Pam and Tina, throw themselves into it with gusto, while others, like Mikaela, are more skeptical.
"It’s like magic," Erika says one afternoon, shaking her head as she tries to wrap her mind around the concept of the mindspace. "You’re telling me they can just...project thoughtsinto our brains? How is that even possible?"
"It’s not magic," Justine replies patiently, though I can see the strain in her expression. "It’s just... different. They evolved this way."
"Uh-huh," Mikaela mutters. "Magic."
The caves have their perks. One of them is the bathing area—a natural pool fed by an underground spring. The water is cool and clear, the surface reflecting the bioluminescent fungi that grow along the walls. It’s the first real bath I’ve had in... I don’t even know how long.
