set their furs down next to mine, and Tiffany starts to talk about holiday dinners and food she misses, when a bellow rises above all the voices in the cavern.
“ Claire !”
I flinch. I don’t get up, though.
Tiffany looks at me, and then immediately puts her bedroll against one side of mine. Josie does the same, and this way I’ll be sandwiched between them. I’m so grateful for that small move that I could cry.
“Claire!” Bek bellows again, and Megan frowns, moving to the front of her cave. She pulls out the privacy screen, but before she can cover the doorway, Bek shoves his way in. He’s enormous in the small cave, and I feel helpless as he glares at me. “There you are. Get your things. We’re staying with Zolaya.”
Silence falls. I don’t get up. I lick my lips and stare down at my unrolled bed. “I’m not going with you.” My voice is a whispery, fragile thing. I wish it were stronger, but I’m a chicken. When he doesn’t move, I add, “I’m staying here with the unmated women.”
“You’re mated to me,” he grits out.
“No, I’m not.” I can’t look him in the eye. I know I’m being a coward, but I don’t want to hear more about how much I disappoint him, or how I can’t do anything right. I’ve had enough.
Uncomfortable silence falls. No one moves. I’m not sure anyone knows what to do.
I feel like I should say more. After a moment, I suck in a breath, steel myself, and meet his gaze. “We didn’t resonate. I don’t want to be with you. We’re done. I’m not yours. You can leave now.”
He stares at me with hard eyes, as if waiting for me to crumble and change my mind. Waiting for me to meekly get my things and follow behind him like I have for the past year.
I don’t.
Megan’s mate, Cashol, steps forward and puts a hand on Bek’s shoulder. “Come. Let’s leave this for another day.”
Bek glares at me a moment longer, then turns and storms away. Tiffany rubs my back, offering silent support.
And just like that, I feel like I can breathe again.
3
GEORGIE
S omething tickles my nose , and I swipe at it, yawning as I burrow further under the furs. The sled isn’t the worst place to sleep, not by a long shot. The sides are curved and so I roll into the middle, which makes it perfect for curling up with a few pillows and napping.
Oh, who am I kidding? Nap? I’ve slept the entire trip. I’ve woken up once or twice to pee, but the rest of the time? Nap upon nap upon nap. My blankets have shifted, though, and my face is cold, so I try to press it under the furs again.
The thing tickles my nose once more.
I crack an eye open and stare at the sad, wilted plant touching my cheek. “What the fuck is that?”
From where he holds the twig of sickly-colored greenery, Vektal grins. “It is not poison! For the celebration. Now you will shower me with kisses, yes?”
I snort giggle to an upright position. “Something like that.”
He gives me a wicked grin. “I will save my prize for later. For now, we are close to the ancestors’ cave. Do you want to walk for a few?”
I yawn and stretch my legs, and then decide that I do. With his help, I get up from the sled and peer around. Sure enough, there’s the solid, rounded hill of snow that covers the centuries-old spaceship that Vektal’s ancestors arrived in. The cave ‘mouth’ is open, and the snow at the front is churned, which tells me that someone’s been hunting recently. Vektal reaches for my hand and I link my four fingers with his three as we head toward it.
It’s a short walk, and Vektal leaves the sled outside. I step into the ship, noticing that the debris has been cleaned out and swept from the front halls. In the distance, I can hear the clatter of metallic objects and the low murmur of voices. A baby wails, then is quickly silenced again.
They don’t know we’re here yet. I nudge Vektal. “We should call out to them.” I have mental images of Harlow wielding a saw of some kind and then