They raped Orisa. They wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing to Zosia.
The Covari were meant to prevent that from happening. Their tribe’s existence is dedicated to the continuation of the matriarchal line. Lorcan was their secret weapon.
“They won’t catch me,” I say with confidence I don’t feel.
“Not without going through me, first.”
The corners of my mouth tug upward.
“What?” he asks.
“Nobody has ever been protective of me like that before.” I buss a quick kiss to his cheek. “I like it. Come on. I’ll show you where I’m staying.”
As the highest-ranking person on the field, I’m always accorded a measure of privacy, however little it might be. Tonight, we’ve pitched camp inside a burned-out village. Canvas draped over soot-stained stone walls form our makeshift shelters. I have my own tent but this isn’t exactly the ideal the time to get reacquainted in a physical sense.
However, I am done waiting forideal.
I’m giddy at the thought of finally getting to experience Tovian. For about ten seconds. Then we turn into the charred skeleton of a one-room house and I realize: there’s not ideal, and then there’s downright rude.
Orisa has arranged for my quarters to be guarded 24/7, which means there’s a scowling man whose brow furrows further at the sight of my companion.
“He’s with me,” I inform the man. “You can leave us.”
He moves outside, leaving us a modicum of privacy. I sigh. Unlike the Ansi, Auralians expect people to keep sexual activities out of sight.
“Nice place,” Tovian says, glancing around.
“Best in the camp.” I sigh, surveying the neatly made cot, the portable iron stove and the water bucket heating on it through his eyes. Not sleeping on the ground, having a fire to keep the night chill away, and hot water qualify as luxuries, but it’s barely adequate for human habitation.
“I wasn’t being critical. It’s homey as long as it doesn’t rain.”
He tips his chin up, eyeing the patched and worn canvas secured over the living area.
“Looks clear tonight.”
“I can’t remember a drier summer.”
“Many people have made the same observation. I presume you didn’t come all this way to discuss the weather?”
He laughs.
“No, Sunshine. I most certainly did not.”
I grin and loop my arms around his shoulders. He brings me in for a lingering kiss. It feels so good to be pressed against him. It’s been weeks since I touched anyone like this. I’m almost drunk on the contact.
“I came to find you.”
“Oh, goody, I hoped so.”
He laughs again, then turns serious. “I came because my mother has kicked me out.”
“I—oh.” Shit.
“After we fought alongside you, the Ansi elders were furious. They wanted to replace Brenica.”
Fair to say I’ll never be welcomed as daughter-in-law, then.
“She tried to convince me to marry her successor.”
