Page 121 of Theirs to Crave

“She would not,” Revik countered, rubbing his chin over the top of my head. “We’d chase her and bring her back to the den.”

I gasped—the oxygen a blessed relief even through the shock—as I was snatched from Revik’s arms. My back landed against atree with a thud, then Litha was pressed against me, pinning me in place, her whole body vibrating with the intensity of her purr.

Her mouth came down like a punch. I saw stars as my head smacked against the rough bark of the tree, and fireworks as she ground herself against me, her mouth working mine with desperate hunger. I whined, and Litha ripped her mouth away, breathing hard. She glared into my eyes, still plastered against me.

“You will not run. You will not challenge Saytireka again.”

I scowled. “I will do what I have to.”

“No.” Litha’s head darted forward, and tiny flares of pain sparked on my shoulder. “Wedo what we have to. Together.”

“You bit me!”

“You liked it,” Revik smirked, eyelids drooping with his heavy inhale.

Okay, rude.

“Together, Estrayuh. Promise me.” Litha demanded.

Apparently, fear made her extra bossy. Noted. I sighed. I didn’t really want to go anywhere—not that I had anywhere to go. I just didn’t want anything horrible to happen because of me.

“Together,” I promised.

“Good girl,” she purred, licking the small red marks she’d left on my shoulder.

I squirmed, glaring over her shoulder at Revik. He winked at me, the gossipy bastard.

“You know, it’s kind of creepy, that you can smell me like that. Like I stink, or something. Don’t you think so?” I raised myeyebrows at Mariano, folding my arms over my chest when Litha set me back on my feet.

My brother held up his hands. “No, no, no. Don’t drag me into this. Not after what I just had to watch. Jesus, Estrella. You’re my sister.”

I sucked my teeth. So much for solidarity.

“Why not use a scent blocker?” Kurz asked helpfully.

“A what?” I was the very soul of eloquence.

“A scent blocker. It’s a powder. We use it when we’re hunting prey with keen senses, and when we go to battle. It masks all but the most intense scents.” He spoke casually, like this was common knowledge.

I rounded on Revik and Litha. “Why haven’t you told me about this?”

“Why would we?” Revik countered. “You smell delicious,Lelesha.” He shrugged, as if that answered the question completely.

“If it bothers you, we can get you some.” Litha’s voice dripped with reluctance, and her eyes were wide and pleading when she crouched to look at me.

I dropped my arms, nuzzling her nose in a bunny kiss. “No, it’s fine.” It was actually pretty hot. Most of the time.

We caught up to Zaf not long after. He’d stopped and was waiting for us, brimming with apologies I refused to accept. Every time I told him it wasn’t his fault; he found a new way to take the blame. Finally, Mariano lost his patience and asked for some privacy, shooing them all off.

I exchanged kisses with my three, knowing they wouldn’t go far, and watched—open mouthed—as Kurz pulled Mariano close, nuzzling him, before leaping into the trees and out of sight.

That hadnotbeen a platonic embrace. And Mariano had absolutely reciprocated it.

“So, what do you think Saytireka’s going to do now?” my brother asked, as if nothing had happened.

“Ay, I don’t think so. What was that?!” I flapped a hand between his face and the tree Kurz had disappeared up.

Mariano sighed and moved towards home, sounding like the most put-upon man to ever walk the Earth. Or Doluna.

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