Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“If you say so.” He seems less impressed with my mate, but he does not know her as I do, does not watch her as keenly as I do…and if he tries to watch her as keenly as I do, I shall gouge his eyes out.
Flor watches over the females closely, and I am content to stalk my female from afar. She listens intently as the female explains how to skin a kill, and watches with close attention. It is as if she wishes to learn everything about how to survive on this world, and I could not be more pleased. Vivi is smart enough to know we must have knowledge in order to thrive.
The lessons are interrupted when Kyth’s newest khui dies and a new one must be attained, this time from a larger creature. Valmir and Chalath go hunting for it, but I stay near camp, watching Vivi and enjoying the thrum in my chest that reminds me at all times that she belongs to me. My nearness bothers her, because I catch my female touching her chest and frowning, and then her gaze seeks mine.
It is hard not to smile at that, especially when she scowls in my direction. She plays a challenging game…but I like competition.
A creature called a dvisti is brought into camp and slaughtered for Kyth’s second khui of the day and the meat is butchered and roasted over the fire. Newcomers arrive—two of them—and both Flor and I’rec recognize them. One is a male that looks similar to I’rec. Like I’rec, he is strangely hairy with coloring all wrong for mesakkah. The other is another human female, this one the softest-seeming of all. I compare her to my Vivi and find her lacking. Even the clothing she wears is all wrong for stealth. Her leathers are trimmed with pink fur, as if that is a thing that occurs in nature, and she is loud and giggly. Her name is D’see or Day-see or something. I care not. What is interesting is that she is the mate of the male, O’jek, and he watches her as if he wishes to both devour her and behead anyone else that gets near her. They resonate, but their sound is subtle, like Flor and I’rec’s.
Their resonance is finished. It does not have the demanding rumble that mine does. This means O’jek knows how to lure his female into his furs with promises of pleasure. I can learn strategies from him. This is excellent.
It is decided that we will stay one more night out in the open, and then will journey back to the beach village, the Icehome, starting in the morning.
I do not care, personally, where we are—be it mountains or beach (though I have never seen a beach)—because my focus is entirely upon Vivi. Do I try to get her to challenge me this night so I can conquer her and breed her? Or do we enjoy the chasing games for a bit longer?
Choices, choices. I stroke my chin and consider.
“Are you going to stand around all day like a bump on a log, or are you actually going to help around camp?”
I turn to look at the speaker. It is Jason, the human male. He is larger than the females, but scrawny compared to my own impressive build. He is giving me a look of disgust that I will not tolerate, so I hiss at him, baring my fangs. “I am contemplating.”
His brows go up and he gives me a derisive look as he moves to stand at my side. I notice he has a satchel slung over his shoulder, and I realize he has been going around the canyon, collecting the dung cakes for fuel for the communal fire. He has not hunted like the others. I am certain he is capable in his own way, but there is no question that he cannot go toe-to-toe with myself or the other gladiators.
Again, my mind classifies him as “prize” and not “competition.” I flick a hand at him. “Go away.”
“What are you contemplating?” He forms an aggressive stance, as if he means to get in my face. “Who you’re going to attack next?”
Bah. Idiot. Does he think he is a threat? I will not even honor that with the appropriate response. “If you must know, I am contemplating how to win my female to my side. I am debating what sort of challenge will impress her.”
He turns to look at the fire, where Vivi is crouched nearby, tending to it and quietly listening in on conversation. He eyes her, and I frown at him, because he is looking at her for a very long time, and I do not like it. I give him a light shove, because he is likely delicate.
“A challenge, huh?” Jason ignores my sour mood and laughs in my face. “I don’t think that’s going to impress her, buddy. She looks like she’s shy.”