Hannah's Hero - Ruby Dixon Page 0,24

and her rather large bust that she likes to show off in form-fitting or low-cut tunics. She’s been nice to me, though. She wasn’t here when we first woke up from our stasis sleep, so I haven’t irritated her like I have the others, and she’s always been kind to me.

She might be my only hope.

I grab her hand and take it in mine. “What if I said I loved fruit and I wanted to go?”

Brooke gives me a mock-frown. “I’d tell you I’ll bring you some back.”

Ugh. “No, I want to go. Please.”

“You’ve never even shown interest in leaving camp,” Steph points out. “Not to hunt, or anything.”

I grit my teeth, wishing Steph would be quiet. “I’ve been struggling,” I tell Brooke, focusing on her instead of Steph. I lower my voice to a whisper. “Everyone hates me here. I’m miserable, and everyone’s solution is for me to just jump all over J’shel all because resonance said we’re mates. And because I haven’t done it, they all act like I’m some big problem that needs solving.” I squeeze her hand, and I can feel tears coming to my eyes. “Please, Brooke. I need to get away, even if it’s just for a few days.”

She bites her lip, studying me. “You’re welcome to come along,” she begins, and then hesitates.

“But?” I ask.

“But you need a buddy.” Brooke shrugs and pulls her hand free from my grip. “It’s kind of a honeymoon for me and Taushen, you know? Reconnect, get a little romance in…and while I sympathize, you’d be more miserable as a third wheel with us than here.”

She’s wrong—nothing’s more miserable than being in this camp. Nothing. Still, she hasn’t said no. She just told me I need a friend to bring with me. A double date, if you will. “I’ll find someone,” I say quickly.

“J’shel?” Steph asks, butting into the conversation.

I turn and glare at her. “Why does it have to be him?”

“Because resonance,” she says smugly and takes a flourishing stitch in her leather.

I want to smack it out of her hands. “I’ll find someone,” I grit out. There’s bound to be someone at this camp that wants to get away for a few days—and with the promise of fruit, no less—that won’t mind having me as company. I can offer to give pointers on human women or tell them details about the other ladies here if I have to. I’ll figure something out.

I just need to get away.

Brooke circles a finger in the air, indicating that I should turn around. I do, and she starts on my hair again. “Yeah, if you find someone, I’m sure Taushen won’t mind. My sweetie’s pretty easygoing. We just can’t babysit someone, you know? So you need to bring a buddy.” She chuckles and leans in. “I hear A’tam is free.”

For some reason, the thought is repulsive. A’tam’s really, really pretty, but no. Heck, he’s not even that pretty compared to J’shel. J’shel’s got broader shoulders and the longest hair and…

And I’m not thinking about him. I put my hands on my knees and stare at the fire, determined. “I’ll find someone,” I repeat again.

If I have a chance, I’m going to take it.

J’SHEL

“Your female is up to something,” N’dek says to me.

“What do you mean?” I get to my feet and begin to stuff gear into my leather belt. Because N’dek is injured, I must carry him and everything I need to get around, and sometimes it requires carefully arranging things. I sheath my knife and tuck it into my belt, loop my waterskin and food pouch there, and then add a second pouch, enough for him. I glance at my spear, leaning against the wall of the hut. I cannot sling it over my back if N’dek is there. I suppose I will just hold it.

“She is talking to O’jek,” he says, shifting his weight on the furs. He has not yet gotten up from his sleep nest and lazily pokes at the fire while I make ready for our trek down to the beach. “Or trying to. And earlier, I heard her speaking with R’jaal, and T’chai. She talks to all of the males in the camp…but you.”

I feel a stab of angry resentment at N’dek’s words. “How do you know this?”

“Because I have ears.” He shrugs. “You were sleeping and I did not want to wake you. You do not sleep much these days.”

He is right. Resonance has me so on edge that I do not sleep