I swallowed a laugh. I’d mentioned this morning that humans often called their pets their kids. Mindy had asked if it was the same with cats as with other animals, and I told him yes. He had then proceeded to tell me all about the house gods us humans worshiped, and one in particular, Lucy who belonged to Seth.
Yeah, someone had lied.
Apparently, Seth or Caleb had told the drakcol that humans worshiped cats, and they believed it. How far the lie extended, I wasn’t sure, but I had no intention of correcting their misunderstanding. Instead, I’d nodded along and corroborated that humans worshiped cats. Because why not?
Serlotminden petted her, but she ignored him, focusing on the pile of organs. A frenzied squeal came out of her before she leaped onto the pile, eating. My stomach churned as bloodsplattered her white fur and the organs squished between her teeth.
“We found what she likes to eat,” Mindy said with a broad smile, patting her back.
I swallowed the surging bile and turned back to the blankets.
When Pookie finished, she started back to her nest, limping, but Mindy snagged her. With a wet cloth, he cleaned her fur of blood while she wiggled, legs thrashing to get away. When he released her, she snorted at him and scrambled back to the hold.
“She doesn’t like baths,” Mindy commented, and I chuckled. “Flower,” he groaned, nuzzling me. I flushed. He caught my chin to mold his lips against mine, and I moaned at the soft touch. Serlotminden didn’t press for more as he gently kissed me, nibbling on my lips. Much too soon, he pulled back and brushed my cheek with the back of his finger, then bounded away.
Before long, Serlotminden had a blazing fire going and was roasting pieces of meat on it. Fat dripped, sizzling on the hot flames. The tantalizing aroma wafted in my direction, and I abandoned the laundry. The blankets were done, and fuck it all, my stomach was grumbling. I hadn’t had fresh food in years, not since before I’d left Earth.
I wandered toward the fire, practically drooling. Serlotminden held his arms open in invitation, and I didn’t hesitate for a single moment. He tugged me close and nuzzled my head and neck. I rolled my eyes but didn’t move away, because he needed it. Scent marking relaxed him, and it didn’t hurt me in the slightest. When I sagged against his broad chest, his tail coiled around me in a gesture that was becoming familiar. That was another thing that calmed him, holding me, and it calmed me too, oddly enough.
The meat continued to cook over the flames as we stood next to the warm fire. My focus kept returning to the empty nests time and time again. Where were the creatures who lived inthem? Maybe the rockslide from when we crashed into the cliff had scared them. That was possible. But would they return? I hoped not. I forced myself to stop looking at them because why worry about something that might never come to pass?
“We need to cook the meat thoroughly to make sure it’s safe,” Mindy said against my neck, huffing me like usual.
No matter what we did, we could get sick. It wouldn’t be a fun night if we spent it puking… or shitting. But cooking the meat thoroughly wasn’t a bad idea. Even dry and overcooked, it would taste better than anything I’d eaten recently.
After a while, Serlotminden shifted back, but he kept his tail around my ankle. He pulled the meat off the flames and took a nibble. “It tastes fine.”
I doubted he could taste deadly meat, though I was sure he’d scanned the bird before bringing it back. He gave me a large piece, and I shoved some in my mouth. A groan ripped out of my lips as I chewed frantically, stomach rumbling. It tasted closer to beef than chicken, but it was greasy and amazing. My fingers couldn’t force meat into my mouth fast enough. I breathed out, tongue burning from the heat, but I didn’t care.
More. I needed more.
When I finished my chunk, Serlotminden handed me another. I ate it with a gusto. I tried to slow down so I wouldn’t choke, but I couldn’t. It was so damn good, and I was so hungry. I ate until there was nothing left, then I leaned back against Serlotminden, stomach bulging.
Laughing, Mindy nuzzled my neck and placed a hand on my gut. “I will feed you well, my Mate.”
I stilled. He’d never called me that before. Not once. My heart pounded. What did it mean precisely? And if it meant what I thought, did he mean it?
I snuggled against my mate, utterly satisfied. The blankets smelled fresh, but soon they would smell like him, which was better. Bartholomew was fed. I’d called him mate, and he hadn’t panicked, but he didn’t return the sentiment. Nonetheless, I would continue bringing him gifts to show him I could care for him as he deserved, even here.
He was mine, and I would give him everything.
Bartholomew gripped me, and I held him back, pressing my nose against his skin. How did anyone smell this good? I groaned against his neck, and his breath sharpened, which made me smile. He liked when I made noise. I’d discovered that at the river. He always reacted when I moaned and groaned in pleasure. That boded well for us later. I wasn’t quiet when I fucked.
My lips found his skin, tracing over his neck. I licked a light bruise, and groaned at the taste of him. My Flower was lovely beyond compare. I continued to nuzzle and kiss Bartholomew as I held him tight within my embrace.
A long breath came out of his lips as he shuffled out of my arms, curling into a ball. Pain stabbed my soul. My mate did this sometimes. He pulled away instead of turning toward me. Why? I needed to know.
I followed. This could not remain. He liked me. He did. I knew it. I gently rolled him, and he refused to look at me, so I grasped his chin. “Why do you pull away, Mate?”
“Do you mean that?”
“What?”
“The mate thing.”
I brushed his cheek. “I told you I was going to claim you. I’m going to care about you for the rest of my life.”
“You can’t know that.”
