Page 133 of Theirs to Crave

I chuckled, but inside my teeth snapped and bit, desperate to tear into flesh and release some of the pressure fear had wrapped around me.

Revik snarled, his lips pulled back displaying the full length of his gnashing teeth, and flexed his claws. His murderous glare was fixed on Arvel, whose still form pumped out waves of fear-reek.

“We can’t kill him now,” Litha cautioned.

“Why not?” Revik and Naryanuh growled in unison.

Estrayuh giggled.

“He must be taken back to the village,” my practical mate explained. Her eyes hardened to glittering stones. “All must know what happens to those who allow fear and superstition to strip them of honor.”

A high, formless whimper seeped from between Arvel’s unmoving lips.

Revik’s tail whipped, but he nodded his acceptance.

Mariano sneered and kicked the prone man, turning away with a huff when Kurz laid a hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t want to go,” Estrayuh blurted out.

We all looked at her, surprised.

“I’m not asking you to spare him,” she muttered, not meeting our eyes. “I just don’t want to watch. Don’t want to deal with—with people.” Her gaze flicked to mine and back down. “I know that’s weak. But I—”

“Kshh,” I soothed. “It’s not weak. You’ve been through much on this day. Would you like me to take you back to the den?”

Estrayuh nodded, biting her lip.

I rose, holding her tight. Truthfully, I was relieved. It would be better not to speak to my mother again until I’d had time to reassure myself Estrayuh was safe and well. She was in my arms, traces of her sweet scent trickling past the fading scent blocker, but still my anxiety tore at me like a snarling beast. If it ripped its way free and lashed out at Saytireka, I could do something I would regret for eternity.

One by one, the others came forward, enfolding Estrayuh in their love and murmuring words of gratitude. Revik cupped the back of my neck, pressing our foreheads together as Naryanuh spoke quietly with his sister.

“Keep her safe,sha’vail,” my mate commanded, his voice rough with emotion.

A shudder rippled through me, my arms tightening around Estrayuh. Blowing out a breath, I nodded, gentling my hold with deliberate care.

Revik huffed. “Not fromyou. Our fierce star will not thank you for that.” He nipped my jaw, winked at Estrayuh, and sauntered off, throwing Arvel over his shoulder with no care for the other man’s comfort.

Litha shook her head and followed. Mariano and Kurz shared a brief embrace, then Mariano jogged to catch up to my mates, while Kurz leapt into the trees and streaked off. He would go to the other search parties and bring them the happy news.

“Let’s go home,” Estrayuh said, caressing my jaw.

I ground my teeth, fighting for control. Home. I would take her to the den, somehow find the strength to cleanse her without pinning her to the floor and filling her with myahzuntil it ran like a river down her thighs and all memory of Arvel’s filthy hands upon her was washed away, then guard her sleep until my mates returned.

Nodding, I settled her weight more evenly in my arms and loped away. I felt her eyes on me as we traveled. Looking down, I managed a small smile before the bloodstains on her face made my claws flex, and I focused on the path ahead once more.

She sighed.

“Yoo noh, eye wuz uhtak’t toodai,” Estrayuh muttered in incomprehensibleEenglish. “Buht this iz thuh sekund taym eye’v had too plai thairuhpist. Yood theenk thaht if sumbudee wuz goeeng too bee up in thair feelz uhbowt this buhlshit, it’d bee mee. Dam aileeyens ahr luhkee thuh seks iz so gud.”

We continued in strained silence for a little while longer, then Estrayuh made a sucking noise.

“Ouch!” I yelped, as she twisted my nipple like she was trying to rip it from my body. “What the fuck?”

“Why are you hiding from me?” she demanded, twisting hard in the other direction.

“Ow, ow, ow! Stop!” I hollowed my chest when she finally released my throbbing nipple, wishing I had a hand free to cover it with. “I’m not hiding. I’m right here.”

“Ha! Yourbodyis right here,” Estrayuh scoffed. She touched her fingers to my chest, then stretched up to tap my forehead. “But here and here, you’re farther away than my old home.”

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