Page 124 of Planet Zero
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He smiled without rancor. “One day, I hope you trust me enough to share.”
“I don’t have anything to share, Shur. And keeping up rumors that I’m a healer won’t earn you extra points with the High Counselor.”
“I don’t need extra points from the High Counselor. He already likes me.” He winked at her, but then got serious. “I wish he would let me go hunting today. I have a feeling the men will have a successful hunt.”
“Let’s hope you’re right…”
It was much later in the day that Addie managed to get out without him looking. Mindful of the dangers that lurked all around, she didn’t go far - she never did anymore.
Crouching between two boulders, she reached into the crevice where she spied the pink moss she was after and wiggled her fingers to get a grip of small velvety leaves.
The air behind her shifted, and she froze, oxygen leaving her body in a thin trickle as a large presence manifested out of thin air. She yanked her arm from between the rocks, nearly skinning it raw as she stumbled onto her feet. Wobbling, she caught herself… against his body.
Recognition did nothing to slow down the frantic hammering of her heart. Zoark’s nearness affected her differently than, say, a Wrennlin would, but with no lesser impact. Yearning and affection for him topped the list. Physical desire was almost painful. Then came regrets and resentment at his indifference toward herself while she burned with feelings.
And underneath it all, there was a crippling wish for things to be different between them.
“Scared you?” His heavy eyebrows arched mockingly.
“As a matter of fact, yes.” She glanced behind to make sure Shur didn’t decide to follow her. He didn’t.
Zoark was looking down at her, and his flat, slightly scornful expression put her on the defensive.
“Did you follow me?”
He kept looking.
“Why?”
“What are you doing?”
“Gathering moss. I promised Melmie to help with dyeing. She wants some pink color for her blanket.”
“Is that what you tell you mate? Do you lie to him about your herbs?”
So Zoark knew. Addie slowly blew out a breath. “Shur and I aren’t truly mated.”
“Yet.”
Addie raised her chin. “I haven’t made my decision.”
“There’s no decision you have to make. The chief has blessed your pairing.” He looked so damn impenetrable.
Addie’s self-control began to crack. “And would you mind if I accepted Shur?”
“Should I mind?”
Did she really mean so little to him? Was sex with her on the same level for him as sex with that woman Samantha in the city?
“I don’t know, Zoark,” she couldn't come up with anything snarky to say. So she told him the truth, “You never told me I was in any way special. You never even looked at me when we screwed.”
Zoark made this move with his head as if a nonexistent collar was choking him. “I looked.”
A lightbulb came on. “You need me, don’t you? You have an urge.”
“And you’d spread your legs for me, never mind your mate? Great. It’s beginning to feel a lot like the city.”
