Raven's Return - Ruby Dixon Page 0,62

as if he, too, needs to touch me as much as I need to touch him. "There is hot food on the fire and the others were asking about you. I can bring something back if you are not ready to talk."

Right. "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

A'tam watches us with nosy fascination as U'dron fusses over my clothing, adding another fur over the layers I'm already wearing. He doesn't like that I don't have shoes and offers to go get mine from the other cave, but I shake my head. "You'll let me put my feet against your leg to keep them warm, won't you?" My tone is light, and I lace my fingers with his. It's just another way I can show the others that I'm with him, and I hope it makes I'rec and O'jek insane with jealousy. Maybe I'm not a nice person, but I love the thought of them stewing on our relationship for a while.

U'dron leans forward, and his nostrils flare. His eyes grow dark with lust, and I can tell he's picked up his scent on my skin. I smile ever-so sweetly up at him and toy with the collar of the borrowed tunic I'm wearing, lowering it just a bit so he can catch a bigger whiff of my skin.

"Let's go and tell the others about our adventures, then. I want to get this done so we can be alone together again." I give A'tam a pointed look and turn back to U'dron. "I'm ready if you are."

"You lead, and I will follow," he tells me in a fervent voice, and I suspect he's talking about more than just heading to breakfast with the rest of the tribe. My heart squeezes, and I smile up at him, radiant. That radiance quickly fades into a nervous knot in my throat as I realize what I'm about to do. I hope he feels the same after I tell my story in front of the others and they react to it.

If he changes how he feels about me because of the others…I think it might break me.

God, there's a lot of people out by the fire.

My throat is dry and I cling to U'dron's hand as we head out to greet the others. A'tam keeps a few paces behind us, talking to U'dron about meeting up later tonight or something, but I'm not paying attention. I'm staring at the sea of faces gathered by the communal fire, and all of them are gazing in our direction.

Willa and Gren. Lauren and K'thar. Hannah and J'shel. N'dek and Devi. Angie and Vordis. Thrand and Nadine. Liz and Raahosh and their children. Brooke and Taushen. Bek and Elly. Mari and T'chai. Harlow and Rukh and their babies. Gail and Vaza and their son. Penny stirs the food, chatting with Callie who stands next to her. S'bren and M'tok are nearby, whispering with R'jaal. Jeez, has everyone shown up this morning for breakfast? Devi and N'dek normally comb the beaches first thing in the morning, but they're by the fire with eager faces. And there's Flor and Bridget, Sam and Steph all seated together and watching by the fire.

It doesn't feel like coming out to greet my friends. It feels a bit like going to stand in front of a firing squad. I grip U'dron's hand a little tighter, my palms sweaty.

He leans down to me to whisper in my ear. "We can leave."

"No, it's okay." I swallow hard, because I really do want to chicken out. "This needs to get done."

Flor jumps to her feet before anyone can say anything. "Well, shit, girl, can I hug you?" She spreads her arms in front of me, a look of happiness mixed with concern on her face. "We were worried sick over you."

I'm a little shocked. "You were?" I let go of U'dron's hand and Flor squishes me in a tight hug. Then Bridget is there, and Sam, and Brooke, and then everyone is piling onto me, hugging me and laughing with relief. Some of my worry and distress disappears as I hug person after person while U'dron hovers protectively at my back.

These people like me, I remind myself. It'll all be okay.

"Of course we were worried. You're such a sweetheart," Brooke says, smiling as she hugs me.

I bite back a groan. Right. They were worried that sweet, slightly dippy Raven was alone and on her own. No one would miss ex-con Raven nearly as much. They