Brace had not seemed that impressed when we sat through a few Man vs Wild episodes. Apparently, there was nothing exceptional about this man’s abilities. Of course not, if you’re a Walker.
“I guess I’ve always wanted a pet. A puppy or kitten. As a child, reading about the love and loyalty pets showed their owners, I craved a relationship like that.”
All children loved animals, but when I was six, and learned how rare they were, it had really hit me hard. I was pretty sure I cried for a week.
“Animals are not pets on First World. They don’t have owners; they have friends and companions.”
“I like that,” I said, smiling. “Animals are smart and beautiful. Many humans treated them abysmally, and I never understood how they could.”
“They wouldn’t have done that in my presence. Most animals I’ve known are far superior to any humanoids, no matter what year or world.” He softly stroked my arm, lulling me to sleep and sending shivers throughout my entire body.
I eventually fell asleep listening to Brace describe the animals he had known throughout the years. They varied depending on which planet and time he was occupying at the time, but I could tell he loved each and every one of them.
The days blended into each other, training and exploring, and being followed around by the red Walker gang. That morning after a restless night’s sleep, I opened my eyes slowly; it felt really early. I wondered what had woken me. I gasped as a strong arm reached around, pulling me back into a warm embrace.
It was still a shock to wake next to Brace. For someone who had always slept alone, I figured that it would feel smothering. Instead, I fell asleep at night snuggled into his broad chest, and woke each morning in his arms. It was pure heaven. Brace could go from asleep to alert in a matter of seconds, but I liked those first few moments when he was soft and drowsy. And no matter what position we were in when we went to sleep he always ended up curled around me.
Protective.
I wasn’t sure if he was aware he did this or if some type of mate instinct guided him. Whatever the reason I was starting to think I’d never sleep again without his warmth surrounding me. The possessive way he held me, the sound of his breathing so calming whenever sleep was elusive. I was starting to think I could not live without him. I wiggled against him, wanting to be closer. He groaned into my hair.
“What have I told you about trying to kill me this early in the morning?”
His throaty words washed over me. I could feel his desire, and it brought out the worst kind of temptress in me. But I always pulled back. Despite my need, I wasn’t ready to lose my big V with my father’s Walkers outside the door.
“So did you find out anything in your clan?” I said.
The day before, he’d disappeared, and hadn’t been back by the time I went to bed. He must have slipped in during the night. He shook his head, burying his face into my red curls.
“No, everyone just seems to be distressed and preparing for the worst. But no one has any answers. Even my father seemed unusually upset.” His voice was low and muffled, thick with sleep.
I shivered. He was so close that every breath tickled the back of my neck.
“Any of the reds hit on you while I was gone?” His voice was carefully calm, for once.
“If you’re referring to them making polite conversation with me, then yes, red one, four and nine were on duty yesterday and they all spoke with me.”
I was slowly learning their names, but until then we had to make do with numbers.
“I think four is the worst. He stares like you’re the last moonstale rock in the galaxy.”
I laughed. But I knew it was a miracle that no fighting had broken out yet. I think it was by Josian’s pure will alone that we weren’t living in a war zone. In my opinion Walkers had an over-abundance of testosterone and apparently didn’t tolerate their mates around other unmated Walkers unless some type of ceremony had been performed. Something Brace and I hadn’t had time for. Our ‘mythical merging’ hadn’t convinced the reds to keep their flirting to themselves, so we needed to do this binding ceremony soon, before Brace started killing them off.
“We don’t like our mates around any other Walker males. Period. We know what they’re thinking, and it drives our protective instincts crazy.” He was so much better at picking up my thoughts.
I only got his on occasion. I ignored his chauvinistic male comment to ask a more pertinent question.
“What exactly is this Walker mating ceremony?”
He chuckled into my neck. I shivered as his breath fanned my skin.
“We journey to the birthplace of Walkers. There, we’re mated before seven witnesses.” He paused briefly, playing with the curls along my cheek. I waited for the rest.
“There are certain words exchanged and a blood ritual.”
My stomach jumped. I still hated blood, and anything involving blood generally involved pain.