The red-green burning gaze didn’t let up. “You remind me of her,” he said quietly. “Exceptsheliked tallmen.”
“Well, I don’t.” Addie hugged herself, wishing she could just hide. He was too close. “And I’m not at all sure I’m likeher.”
He cocked his head, a gesture Addie had come to recognize as a sign of curiosity. “Do you not like sex, Addie?”
That was a prying question if she ever got one. “Not with you!” she blurted and wanted to bite her stupid tongue. Antagonizing this large beast when they were all alone in the steppe was not a smart move.
Her answer amused him. “I’m not offering.”
“I didn’t mean you personally. I was referring to For men in general.”
“Oh, so is it our entire race you find distasteful?”
He was making it worse on purpose.
“Not distasteful! But we are different species, Zoark. I think For people are charming, and your kids are adorable. I have found more in common with Illied and Chele than I had with my own kind in the city, but…”
“But?”
“The intimacy is another matter,” she finished lamely, twisting her fingers.
He was silent for a while, and that faint incredulity lingered in his expression. He was studying her like she was a puzzle to be solved. Finally, he stirred, reached forward and down, bringing their bodies close.
She sucked in a panicky breath.
He took her small spear from her hand.
Explaining nothing, he went to the edge of the bushland and disappeared into the thicket that grew dense and tall in the corner of this small valley. The leafy growth swallowed him whole, and Addie stared dumbly at the spot where he’d been.
He hadn't gone far. There were muffled sounds emanating from the bushes. Some rustling, and a faint squeal. A thunk.
Addie stood in one spot, not knowing what to do. Her thoughts were in disarray, and she was beginning to see a pattern of becoming disconcerted after interacting with Zoark. He was such an ass.
The bushes parted and he emerged, spear in hand. A Tek was hanging off the spear, very obviously dead, its patchy-bold body neatly skewered from bottom to neck, blood dripping to the ground.
Zoark threw the kill at her feet. “You can trade your jerky to get things you need. I’d say weapons, but it’s up to you.”
Addie’s eyes bounced from the Tek to the bushes to Zoark. “How did you find it?”
He expelled a long-suffering sigh. “There’s a lair full of them right next door to your tent. Didn’t you know?”
“Know? No. No, I didn't know.”
“Why do you think one showed up at your doorstep?”
“I thought it was a fluke.”
“Yeah, right. A fluke. There are as many as them as toes and fingers. One female is breeding. You will have plenty of meat for as long as you stay here.”
Addie rubbed her face with her grimy hands. “Thank you. I… am glad you followed me.”
“About that.” He picked his own spear from where it leaned against her crooked teepee, preparing to leave. “Iamcurious about you. You are like those other women and you aren’t. But my curiosity isn’t why I tracked you today.”
“Why, then?”
“I came to tell you that you are being checked on.”
“I know. By you.”
