I grind my teeth even as frustration and helplessness shoot through me, and my shoulders slump. Terex sighs and kneels in front of me, waiting until I raise my gaze to his.
“I am not trying to make you sad, little female. I only care for your health. I will take you back to Moni, and she will say when you may travel.”
I nod. Truthfully, I know I’m in bad shape. My muscles still ache, my inner thighs are still sore, and while my elbow definitely feels better, I’m going to need to have it in a sling for a while.
A small bell sounds, and Terex turns, moving to the kradi’s entrance. Murmured voices sound, and I hear a female’s giggle, followed by Terex’s low laugh. A guy like him must be popular with the women around here. I didn’t miss how the few women who were still outside last night ran their eyes over his body when he arrived back at camp, as if checking for damage.
Terex returns, a bundle in his arms. “I have clothes for you.”
I blow out a breath in relief. While the fur is warm, I’m scared I’m going to trip over it, and I certainly can’t leave the kradi while wearing nothing but a blanket wrapped around me.
Terex unwraps the bundle, laying a long dress on the bed. It’s plain but a lovely blue color, and the material is soft when I stroke it. He places a pair of shoes on the ground.
“I looked at your feet last night. I believe these will fit. They are Moni’s granddaughter’s shoes until we can have some made that will fit your feet.”
I sigh. “How old is her granddaughter?”
The corner of his mouth tips up in amusement. “She has seen seven summers.”
These people are so large that I’m wearing kids’ shoes. No wonder Terex seems to think he can tell me what to do.
I pull them on, careful of the bandages Terex helped me wrap around my feet. I’m grateful to have any protection from the unforgiving ground.
“I will get you some boots before we leave camp in search of your friend.”
I smile at Terex, and he reaches out his hand, stroking it down my face. “Beautiful female,” he says, and just like that, the spell is broken.
He’s obviously playing with me, and I move away, reaching for the dress. “Can you turn around, please?”
Terex frowns at me. “What did I say, Ellie?”
“Nothing. I want to get changed.”
“I will help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
His frown turns into a scowl, and he crosses his huge arms in front of his chest. My gaze instantly drops to his muscles, and I see amusement in his eyes when I meet them again.
“I thought we covered this last night,” Terex says. “I will help you—”
“I said I don’t need your help!”
Surprise flickers over his face before it hardens. “Fine,” he says softly. “I need to talk to my king. I will return when I am finished.”
I blink back tears as I turn away, and he curses, pulling on his shirt and boots. I open my mouth to say something—I don’t know what—but he turns and leaves me alone.
Terex
I do not understand this human female. One moment she is gifting me with her sweet smile, and the next she is refusing my help.
I understand that she is shy with her body, but after last night, I thought we had got past that. With her arm causing her so much pain, she needs my help to get ready for the day.
I stalk through our camp, nodding to those who call to me. I do not have time to stop, and truthfully, my mood is too dark to provide the information our people want to know about these females.
I nod to the guard at Rakiz’s door and knock, unsurprised when Arana opens it. Her eyes widen at whatever she sees on my face.
“Terex,” she asks. “Are you well?”
“I am fine. I simply do not understand females.”
She smiles, and I wish it were Ellie gifting me with her smile instead of her angry words.
“Believe me, we don’t understand males, either. The fact that the two have managed to coexist for so many centuries, mating and loving each other through their differences, is a miracle.”
I smile at her, bowing my head as Rakiz enters, and he nods at me, sitting in his favorite spot in front of the fire while Arana hands him his morning meal.
We both turn as an angry female voice hits us.
“I need to talk to him.”
“You are not on the list.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Move your ass.”
Rakiz’s eyes widen, and he gestures for me to open the door.
Nevada stands in front of me, wearing a long green dress. There is no question that she is a beautiful female, but she looks entirely uncomfortable, pulling at the neckline even as she narrows her eyes at me.
“I want to speak to the king.”
“Let her enter,” Rakiz says, and I step aside.
Rakiz meet’s Nevada’s eyes, and tension fills the room. Then he lazily scans her body, and we all watch as a furious flush hits her cheeks.
“Are. You. Finished?” Nevada’s tone is frigid.
Rakiz raises his eyebrow, and she tilts her head, gifting him a look that no female has ever dared to gift him before.
Rakiz gets to his feet, handing his plate to Arana, who watches with wide eyes. “You show no respect.”
“I respect those who earn it. You’ve given me no reason to respect you so far.”
Arana makes a strangled sound and backs out of the room as Rakiz flicks his gaze to her. No doubt the rest of the camp will soon know every word of this altercation.
“Tread carefully, female.”
Nevada narrows her eyes and casts him a look of such disdain that Rakiz steps forward, reaching for her even as she backs away.
“I just found out that you sent a tiny group of men to look for our friends. Without me.”
Rakiz nods. “Yes.”
This answer seems to infuriate Nevada further, but she takes a deep breath even as her hands clench by her sides. “I told you I was going with them.”
I almost laugh. These human females are creatures like we have never seen before. For a moment, Rakiz stares at Nevada in fascination before his face hardens. “I told you that we would discuss the situation. We may discuss it now, but I have made my decision. I have sent some of my best warriors to find your friends.”
Nevada scoffs. “Five. You have a camp full of warriors, and you sent five of them after our friends.”
“I do not need to explain my decisions to you. But since you seem unable to understand how this planet works, let me attempt to teach you. We currently have forces in the North, battling with a tribe that would come and take everything we have, including our lives if they could. We have Braxian warriors in the East, hunting the Voildi from our territory. If any of these warriors fail, or if an enemy is able to get past our defenses, our tribe will be attacked. Right now, we have just enough warriors to hold this camp. Even five warriors make that questionable. So perhaps you should be thanking me for sending my men into danger.”
Nevada has paled at his words, but her face flushes again even as she stares him down.
I know Rakiz, and he would always have sent warriors after the females. Not just because females are a blessing for our tribe but because he would never allow a female to come to harm if he could prevent it. But Nevada does not know this.