Chapter 26
26 MEGAN I back?” ’m chopping and dicing roots to add to the boiling water over the fire when the front door flap opens and Cashol ducks in. “Did you find Haeden?” I turn back to my cutting, standing at the “kitchen” counter slab. “Is he “He was returning. I carried Joden and he carried […]
Chapter 25
25 MEGAN “L ooks like you made a friend,” I say to Holvek in my best mom voice, moving forward and ruffling my son’s hair. “Before either of you say anything, Josie’s having her baby and I need you to find Haeden,” I say to Cashol. “He had Joha and Joden both with him, so […]
Chapter 24
24 NOW MEGAN W hen I finish telling Josie the cleaned up version of how we met, she makes an exclamation of sheer disgust. “I can’t believe you hid all this from me!” “You didn’t ask!” I protest back, and she scowls so darkly at me that for a moment I think we’re going to […]
Chapter 23
23 MEGAN T here’s the sound of breath catching, and then Cashol lets out a low groan, his hand sliding to my waist, and then lower, to my backside. “What…what brought this on? Not that I am displeased—” I chuckle, moving my hands to the front of his vest. He wears very little when he […]
Chapter 22
22 CASHOL I t is hard to leave her side, but eventually I must go out. There are roots to be gathered and stored, before anyone can even think to comment on what happened yesterday. The others in the tribe give me uncertain looks when I emerge, and I see Kemli near the fire, sewing […]
Chapter 21
21 CASHOL W hen I return to the cave, something is amiss. Meh-gan is not near the fire like she usually is, watching for me. I have grown used to seeing her eyes light up at my return, and I am hungry for the smile that curves her pretty mouth. Instead, there is a group […]
Chapter 20
20 MEGAN T wo days later, it all falls apart. I knew it would. I’m sitting near the main fire, working on Cashol’s belts again. I sit with Josie, talking about nothing in particular, and my seat is at the perfect angle so I can watch the front of the cave for Cashol’s return. He […]
Chapter 19
19 MEGAN W e spend a lazy few hours soaking in the pool, chatting with Farli and Josie and Nora, and talking about nothing in particular. Others come and go, and my fingers prune up and all the heat makes me sleepy, so we retreat back to our cave for an afternoon nap, of all […]
Chapter 18
18 MEGAN I wake up with my nose pressed against Cashol’s warm, broad chest, and my feet tucked between his thighs, his tail locked around one ankle. I’m cramped and his weight is resting on one of my hands, but I still feel more refreshed after sleeping next to him than I have in weeks. […]
Chapter 17
17 CASHOL W e return to the cave that night, and even though it is dark by the time we make it back to our cave and Meh-gan is shivering from the cold, I decide it has been a good day. We have talked through some of our problems, and Meh-gan’s smile is lighter. She […]