ask.
He nods. Hart’s too quiet. I wish he wasn’t. I wish he spoke all his thoughts right now so I don’t feel like I’m pulling teeth when I ask him something. “What does it mean?’
“Which part?”
“Why is this portal open and fuzzy looking?”
“It’s unstable.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Unsafe for travel.”
“Oh no.”
Hart grunts. “Tell me what you saw.”
“Nar crouched on the bed and leapt. That’s all.”
Hart looks up, and so do I.
“Holy crap,” I say.
“A divine waste is disturbing to me.”
“We don’t mean it that way.” I point at the portal on the ceiling. “I know the outline of this sky. The curve of these five mountains. They’re arranged in a shape of a bird. There’s a belly, neck, and beak. Yes, I’m sure of it.”
“How do you know it?”
“That’s the view above the hole.”
“What hole?”
“The hole Gur put me in.”
“I hadn’t realized you were in a hole.”
I nod. “Yeah, before the games.”
Hart shows me his teeth. “That male should die.” His jaw expands. “Nar went to finish the job.” He curses. “The timing is wrong. He’ll get caught.”
“Oh no.”
Hart moves his hands over something in the center of the room. He spends minutes there and keeps glancing up at the ceiling, where the opening’s haze clears up a bit more. I think he’s trying to stabilize the portal access.
“I don’t see Nar,” I say.
“Womankind doesn’t see in the dark, that’s why.”
“I should see a silhouette of him out there at least.”
“Unlikely. You are prey.”
Damn. Okay, just lay it out for me, big dog.
A closet opens, and Hart grabs a sack from which weapons protrude, then walks by me, throwing over his shoulder, “Stay.”
He crouches and turns, lifting an eyebrow. “I find that I have to repeat myself often with my Amti. When she understands and is clear on commands, she says, ‘Yes, Alpha.’”
I salute the male. “Yes, Alpha.”
He jumps and lands inside the other territory. A few seconds pass, and then he disappears.
I sit on the bed and bite my thumbnail, listening to the thunder and the rain pelting the windows. I don’t want to lose Nar. He’s my male. Overbearing and rough and all kinds of sexy. But mine. All mine.
Chapter Eighteen
Nar
To my right, the males celebrate, and I wonder who came away the victor, Gur or the subtribe he invited into his territory so he can start another war. I snicker. He should’ve known better. The Ra are divided, each to their own subtribe, which made it easier for us to fight them in the wars. We prey on their divisions, and Hart uses them to kill each other off whenever he can. I can’t say I’m sorry for either Gur or the subtribe.
They burned most of the camp, and the males sing and dance, going around setting the rest on fire. They’re drowning in smoke. A Sha-male must’ve come, and now they’re praying, likely calling a goddess, maybe even Mae, goddess of fire and lies. I shudder, not wanting to be anywhere near Mae.
The rain stopped with my goddess’s departure, and I survey the camp, seeking Gur but I can’t stay in one place for long because my feet are sinking into the mud. Behind me, I sense a male and spin, baring my teeth. Pale eyes like beacons shine in the night. The wind in my favor blows his scent toward me. It’s my brother.
Hart trudges through the mud. Hands on his hips, he gives me his best annoyed look.
“Mas led me here,” I say as an excuse for standing on enemy territory.
“By your hand, he led you here?”
My brother can be a sarcastic twat. “Via a hidden portal.”
“That should’ve stayed hidden, Nar.”
“You knew about it?”
Hart nods.
“Why didn’t I know about it?”
“Because I’m the Kai. Let’s get back.”
“No fucking way. Gur could be alive.”
“Leave him to Mas.”
“Provided Mas is alive.”
Hart nods.
“I have to look for him. You understand?”
Hart shakes his head.
“I don’t need your permission,” I say.
Hart grabs the back of my neck and pulls, slamming our chests together. “We’re sinking in the mud in Ra territory,” he says, “and you want to have a pissing match?”
I grind my teeth. “No, Alpha.”
He pats my head and rubs his cheek against mine, reminding my hunter we’re on the same side even when we disagree.
“Psst,” comes from behind Hart.
He spins and crouches, and I crouch with him to see Michelle standing in the middle of the open field waving at us. What the fuck? I blink, not believing what I’m seeing.
“I told her to stay,” Hart deadpans.
I tsk. “Womankind aren’t