“And she could? Stand it, I mean.”
“She could. She did. And she hated herself afterward.”
Addie’s throat convulsed in a dry swallow. “I am willing to give it a try.”
“One time wouldn't be enough,” he warned.
She took a deep breath. If Samantha could do it, so could she. So what if she wouldn't enjoy it the way the other woman had? She wouldn't hate herself afterward. “For as long as you need me.”
Zoark gave her body slow regard, taking in her bound chest. “You’re so small,” he murmured. “So easily hurt.”
“Don’t make it sound like I’m some young sheltered virgin. I have survived this goddamn place. And back home on Earth, I lived on my own. I had a husband, you know. A mate.”
Out of nowhere, a tidal wave of memories swamped Addie. Her eyes welled with tears.
Very slowly, Zoark raised his hand and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“What was his name?” he asked quietly.
Tears flowed, unchecked. No one had ever asked. No one cared enough to know who Addie left behind.
“Gordon,” she whispered brokenly. “Is. His nameisGordon.”
“Is Gordon waiting for you?”
She gave a single head shake. “He doesn't know I’m alive. And it’s better this way. I can never go back.” She looked at him through tears. “I don’t know if I want to go back anymore. How is it possible?”
He traced her cheek with his knuckles. “You’re making your way in our world. One day, a male will ask for you.”
“No! I don’t want them. I’m only offering… for you.”
“Because you aren’t as scared of me.”
Standing close, touching her, he was withdrawing.
“Please…” She grasped his thick wrist. God, he had so much strength still left in his body, but his spirit was faltering.
He dropped his hand from her face and stepped back. “I am grateful, Addie. I will always be grateful for your compassion. But I won’t mate you. There’s no purpose.”
“Zoark!” She was crying, and they weren’t tears of nostalgia. “Please! Don’t go.” She meant don’t die.Oh, please, don’t die.
“It’s okay, Addie.” He chuckled, and it was tinged with sadness. “All that passion. You’ll make someone very happy at the right time.”
He left her, walking away quietly, and a weak gust of wind outside forced dry leaves into an opening in the cave ceiling. They burst in and floated in a shaft of golden light, and floated, down, down…
Chapter 22
That night, Chemmusaayl called for a brief assembly.
“We are leaving with the first light of Ehr,” he announced to the circle of people. “The caves have released their wisdom into me.”
Addie blinked fast at this statement but refrained from asking if he read the inscriptions from the upper cave, about the famine.
“We are heading to the Valley of the Stone Shadows,” Chemmusaayl continued.
After the assembly was over, Addie and Chele went to pack.
“What is that Valley of the Stone Shadows?” Addie asked. “Is it a good place to be?”
