Page 57 of Theirs to Crave

“It must be frightening, to be surrounded by so much that is unknown. I believe our new kin would prefer to stay together. The unmated den near theraysheelhut is empty, and well within the village, so their care could still be spread among many.”

The elders looked thoughtful, but my mother shook her head.

“I am sympathetic to their situation,” she said.

Revik snorted.

“But,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “If they are to learn what they must, they will need to truly live among us. It is to no one’s benefit to turn them into burdens, separate from the rest of us, theirkin.”

The murmurs of agreement were louder following this pronouncement, and the glint of victory in my mother’s eye said she knew she’d won.

I could say nothing. If I opened my mouth, I would regret anything that emerged.

“As you think best,Ralaytuh Naiset,” Litha said meekly. Her hand was rigid around my ankle, the press of her claws furious.

I met Estrella’s worried eyes beneath the fringe of shorn hair. How to explain this?

“The choice will be theirs.” I didn’t turn away, though my words were directed at Saytireka. I tried to put assurance I didn’t feel into my eyes. “I will explain to thetetezha’awhat we ask of them. Anyone willing to open their den, form a line.”

Kurz stood. “How manytetezha’awill be joining each den?”

“One,” Saytireka answered. “Unless any of them are mated?”

My eyes flickered behind Estrayuh to Shane, but I shook my head. “I do not believe so.”

“Then it shall be so. My son has spoken.”

The satisfaction in her voice made my tail twitch as I crossed to kneel by Estrayuh and her kin, my mates at my side.Rek, I was out of sorts. I knew better than to rise to my mother’s bait. It only encouraged her stubborn insistence that I should lead our people, closing her ears to my refusal.

Communicating to thetetezha’athat they would be separated was...complicated.

Their reaction—when they finally understood—was as cooperative as I expected.

Their outright refusal slowly shifted to begrudging acceptance when we explained that although they would not share the same den, they would not be kept from each other.

The sheen of tears in Estrayuh’s eyes made me wish—for the very first time—that I’d accepted my mother’s chosen path. If I was next in line to lead the village, my protests would carry more weight.

I stood, facing the line of volunteers. Meeting each of their eyes in turn, I gave them the words I wished I could give thetetezha’a. “These people are our kin, sworn and witnessed. They are not to be caged or kept. They are not enemies or children. They may gather and travel as they wish, like any otherLenvang Sounga Teterayuh, and they hold the same rights of choice and refusal.”

“Of course, child of mine who does not wish to lead our people,” Saytireka purred with a small, sharp smile.

I bit back a hiss.

Thetetezha’arose, embracing each other with brittle desperation. From over Estrayuh’s head, her brother glared. She said something, and he veiled his strange round eyes, but the vibrating anger didn’t leave his posture.

Revik walked away.

I stilled. Had I upset him?

He didn’t go far. Placing himself at the end of the line, Revik crossed his arms over the chest encasing his beautiful heart and lifted his chin.

I floated to him, falling to my knees at his side to nuzzle his hip. Litha pressed against his back and tangled her fingers in my head fur. We did not need to speak. We were of one mind.

I watched Estrayuh. She and her kin were talking quietly as they looked over the line of Teterayuh before them.

Choose us, I urged silently. Her eyes met mine, widened, and trailed slowly upward before skittering away.

Don’t be afraid, Little Star. We will catch you.

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