Grunt’s blood had already washed away from Bronto’s skin but she rolled the soap in her hands anyway and rubbed them over his neck and face. “What will happen to you?” she asked, studying his lips and the dark shadow of whiskers along his cheeks and chin.
“What do you mean?”
She glided her palm over the soft bristles. “Do unto others.”
“That doesn’t apply between tribe members,” he responded, tilting her face and placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Inhaling a contented sigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. It was the closeness she’d craved all day. She tightened her hold and closed her eyes and that was when something smooth brushed her legs. Her lids popped open. She glanced at the cliff.
The serpent was gone.
She gulped and buried her face in Bronto’s throat. “Is-is it the snake?” she asked, trying to stay calm.
“Yes. Relax or it’ll sense your fear.”
How could she relax? She trembled and wanted to cry and when one of its heads slid up her back she nearly fainted. “’Kay,” she agreed. She snapped her eyes shut and gripped his neck even tighter, pressing her body against his.
“It’s your sister’s pet. It may think you’re her. Say its name.”
She sucked in a breath and held it. “L-L-Loo-La,” escaped from her lips in a high-pitched squeal.
“That’s it. Say it again.”
Oh gosh. Oh gosh. It hovered near the side of her face. Though she refused to open her eyes, both heads lingered so close they brushed her skin. She clung desperately to Bronto. “L-Loo-La.”
Something rough and warm slid up her cheek from her chin to her lower lashes. She inwardly cringed but Bronto chuckled. “It likes you, love. It just gave you a kiss.”
She froze, unable to speak or move.
“Ivy, breathe.”
She couldn’t.
Not while that oversized snake hung over her head like a tree branch. How could her sister befriend something so…so icky and frightening?
Finally the pressure eased from her back and a slight current circled her legs as the serpent swam off. Very slowly Ivy expelled the air from her lungs. “Please take me home.”
Chapter Seven
Before they’d even reached the back side of the supply hut Bronto heard shouts and thumps and the sound of fists meeting flesh. He tightened his hold on Ivy’s hand and rushed into the yard. Fifteen or so people stood back while Rocko wiped the ground with Grunt.
“Couldn’t be happening to a nicer guy,” Bronto said. “Wonder what he did this time?”
Grunt flew through the air and landed at his feet. Bronto avoided the urge to kick the man while he was already down and stepped around him instead. In a matter of seconds Rocko was on top of Grunt, pounding his fists into the lug’s face.
“Gosh, isn’t someone going to stop him?” Ivy yelped.
Bronto smirked. “Let’s hope not.” He guided her to the fire pit where Vulcan stood with an arm draped across Wisteria’s shoulders. She was holding Birmon and petting the top of the critter’s head.
“Why aren’t you intervening, Vulcan?” Ivy asked. “You stopped Bronto.”
Vulcan nudged his head. Bronto followed the direction to Jade, who was crying and chewing on her thumb. The first and only time she’d cried in the past two years was when she’d felt guilty for letting Wisteria and Ivy run away. “What happened?”
“Grunt raped her in the supply hut,” Vulcan replied.
That explained the condition Bronto and Ivy found it in. A knot formed in his guts and for a fleeting second he wanted to rip Grunt’s head off. Not that Rocko wasn’t doing a good job but Bronto still had a hankering to kill him himself.
“What does that mean?” Ivy asked.
Bronto tore his eyes from Jade and glanced at Ivy. “He took her against her will.”
“But that happens all the time. If a man wants a woman he takes her. It isn’t a crime.”
“It might not be but when a man takes a woman someone else has feelings for it becomes vengeance. By the beating Grunt is taking, I assume Rocko has a thing for Jade.” Bronto thought it was the other way around. He hadn’t suspected their feelings were mutual. In that case Rocko had perfect cause to handle things his way.
Another loud thump grabbed his attention. He peered over his shoulder just as Rocko back-slammed Grunt on solid ground. He lay near the fire pit not uttering a sound but when Rocko plopped down on his stomach and wrapped his hands around Grunt’s neck, Grunt choked.
“Chieftain, are you going to let Rocko kill him?”
Vulcan crossed his arms at his chest and took a lingering gaze at Jade. “Put yourself in his shoes.”