Page 64 of Theirs to Crave

Zaf nodded, but his pupils had widened until they were almost as round as Estrayuh’s.

Litha caught my gaze and placed her hand on Zaf’s shoulder, her eyes flickering between me and the little Hyunan. I nodded.

“Zaf will live, Estrayuh. Do not fear,” Litha said, “We must go to the den now.”

Estrayuh stared at her hands, dark with Zaf’s blood, and made no sign that she’d heard.

I wiped Zaf’s knife on my fur and gave it back, cupping my hand around the uninjured side of his head and breathing him in for a moment.

He leaned heavily on Litha, but they were making good time as they disappeared into the trees.

Estrayuh still didn’t move.

I scooped her up gently and ran towards the den, keeping my strides smooth. I didn’t know if she was injured, there hadn’t been time to check.

She curled against me, soft and still, though her breathing remained steady. I liked the weight of her. She felt good in my arms.

I felt a tug and looked down to find her small fingers laced through my fur, her fist tight against my chest. A fine trembling spread from her hand until she shook against me.

I ran faster, my chest reverberating as I tried to comfort her the only way I could.

???

The spirits had been kind. Our injuries were minor, with Zaf’s head and a slash across Litha’s back being the worst. Estrayuh had only a few new bruises. Nothing I’d suffered was worth mentioning.

The storm descended upon us while we ate—a light meal of seeds and dried meat, since the food we’d gathered was now scattered through the jungle. We needed more food and a soak, but first—sleep.

Estrayuh had been quiet since we returned, hidden somewhere inside herself. Had theva’grev’sattack reminded her of how she’d lost her mate? Mates? I watched her worry her lip with her teeth as she searched the darkness beyond theerr’laytuh, and frowned.

“I don’t think she should be alone tonight,” Zaf said, giving voice to my thoughts.

“No,” Litha agreed.

“She was fierce, was she not?” he asked, admiringly.

I thought of her holding his knife, so large she’d had to use both hands and still it shook—and imagined her pulling it to stand over him when he fell. “A Little Star indeed,” I murmured. Zaf’s ears flattened with embarrassment, and I chuffed. “It is a fitting name you have given her. She may be small, but she is bright, and beautiful, and a bringer of death—” I nipped Zaf when he growled a protest. “To any who threaten those she chooses to protect.”

He settled back, looking pleased.

“Her heart is great,” Litha murmured.

“But her body untrained,” I said, watching Estrayuh’s strange round eyes search the darkness. “I would change that.” I did not like to see her frightened.

Estrayuh yawned, and I rose, holding out my hand.

Circles of night sky blinked at me.

“Come. You need sleep. We will keep you safe.” I wasn’t sure how much Estrayuh understood, but her palm kissed mine and she came willingly into thes’klaytuh.

She hesitated when I nudged her towards our sleeping cushion, but when Zaf laid back and held out his arms to her, she gave a little gasp and fell into him.

His purr was so loud it could have been heard in the village.

Litha slipped in on her other side, her purr a quiet thrum of contentment. I set myself at Zaf’s back, one arm pillowinghis head, the other slung over Litha—carefully not touching Estrayuh. Comfort was one thing. I would not make her feel pressured again.

I listened as one by one their breathing shifted, evening into the patterns of sleep.

I had come too close to losing them today.

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