while you’re here?”
“I would be perfectly content if the entire village was swallowed by the river.” His voice had turned hard, but she saw that elusive flash of pain in his eyes.
“What did they do to you, Aidon?”
“I don’t wish to discuss it.”
He spoke so abruptly that she jolted back, almost as if he had slapped her, and his face immediately softened. He pulled her back against him.
“I’m sorry, saachi. I don’t like to think about my childhood.”
She hugged his waist. “I won’t try and make you talk—but sometimes talking helps. If you ever do want to talk about it, I’m always willing to listen.”
He returned the hug, dropping a kiss on her head.
As he led the way into the outer room, she found herself admiring the broad width of his shoulders, the strong muscles of his back and legs. He looked like the warrior he was—strong, confident, and powerful. The swirling patterns on his velvety skin and the multicolored strands of his hair made him look like part of the jungle. A dangerous part of the jungle.
Tanor was waiting for them, seated at the table just as he had been when she’d gone to bed the previous evening. Had he been up all night?
“There are fruit and juice on the counter. Porridge for Hanna as well,” he added when Aidon shook his head impatiently.
Aidon sighed and turned to her. “Are you hungry?”
She knew he was ready to leave, but when she looked at Tanor, his shoulders were stiff and his face a stern mask. He obviously expected his offer to be rejected, and she didn’t have the heart to do so. Besides, she was hungry.
“I would like some breakfast,” she said tentatively, searching Aidon’s face for signs of anger.
“Very well, saachi. We will eat.” His tone was less than gracious, but neither she nor his grandfather protested.
Tanor brought the prepared food over to the table, and they ate in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before the memory of her aunt’s instructions on being a polite guest wouldn’t let her be silent any longer.
“Aidon said you’re the chief of this village,” she said politely. “I didn’t even realize there was a village.”
“Good. Our buildings are designed to blend into the jungle—just as we are.” Tanor darted a look at Aidon from under his brows. “And I am no longer chief.”
“What?” Aidon finally looked up from his bowl. “Why not?”
Tanor shrugged. “I am getting on in years.”
Aidon snorted. “You don’t appear any older. Who is chief now?”
“Ralard.”
“That idiot? Do you remember when he tried to bring back a flovat flower and got himself entangled in a spirin web? Took four of us to get him out of there.”
“He has changed somewhat since then,” Tanor said dryly. “He formed a mating bond with Laara.”
Aidon snorted again. “I’m sure she’s settled him down.”
The two males continued to discuss various people from the village, and Hanna congratulated herself on the success of her effort to get them talking. But she didn’t really pay attention to their conversation, her thoughts still caught on what Tanor had said about the two Pardorians having formed a mating bond. That sounded like more than just sex. When Aidon said he needed to mate, had he meant more? And did he want more from her, or was she just the only convenient female?
“And his grandfather didn’t leave him out in the jungle all night.” Aidon stood, knocking his chair aside with a crash, and she jumped.
She had been too lost in her thoughts to pay attention. What had happened?
“Because he knew that Ralard wasn’t strong enough. I knew that you were—and the rest of the village needed to know as well.” Tanor stood too, his body as stiff as when they had first emerged from the bedroom.
“I didn’t need to be strong. I needed to know that someone cared.”
The words hung in the air between the two males. Tanor started to step forward, but Aidon ignored him and turned to her.
“Are you ready to leave?”
One look at the expression on his face convinced her that there was no point in trying to get him to stay and talk to his grandfather. She pushed her bowl aside and stood, much less dramatically.
“I’m ready.”
Aidon took her hand and started for the door.
“Hanna is not Pardorian. You should assume the public form. For her sake, not yours,” Tanor added quietly.
For a moment, she thought that Aidon would ignore him, but then he sighed and a tremor ran over his body. Instead