He probably hadn’t heard that last part, not with the storm.
Fuming, Summer sat on a rock by the cave opening and pointed the luma toward the entrance, wondering if in all this rain he’d even be able to see the light at all. It also occurred to her then that, without a watch or a phone or even one of the g’hir timepieces, she didn’t have a way of timing anything.
“Not now, damn it,” Summer muttered, wiping impatiently at her eyes. “He’s coming back. Jeez, Ke’lar’s the kind of man that would probably—”
But Ke’lar’s not a man.
That wasn’t fair, not really. He wasn’t human, of course, but he was male through and through—stubbornness and all. He was honorable too, maybe not human honorable, but still it counted for something. He was willing to help her, willing to risk himself and his clan to make sure that her rights—at least the warped, screwed up g’hir version of her rights—were protected.
Summer shifted her weight to a more comfortable position, trying to settle in for the wait, trying to keep her mind from what she would do if he didn’t come back.
It made sense just to sit tight if he didn’t; just let whatever happened to him out there happen. He was the one who insisted he go alone. This was his planet and he was an alien warrior, part of the same race and culture that had torn her from her home without a thought.
It was freezing and she was soaked through, her belly empty, but with the cave clear of predators and herself safely out of the storm she would survive till it passed.
God knows I won’t die of thirst. Just stick my hand out there anytime I’m feeling a bit parched.
Summer pushed her hair back behind her ears again, startled to find the strands half dry already. She stood and went to the entrance, trying to peer through the curtain of rain, but of course she couldn’t see a goddamned thing out there.
How long has it been?
Her hand was beginning to cramp from holding the luma and she changed her grip, careful to keep the light shining outward for him even as she made her way back to the rock to sit again.
It was a cyclone out there. He might have gotten lost.
Or hurt.
The paths were slick even for a sure-footed-as-a-mountain-goat g’hir warrior.
Summer crossed her legs, her foot tapping on the dirt floor.
Five minutes. I’ll give him five more minutes . . .
They’d changed direction in the storm so many times she wasn’t even sure which way the clanhall lay from here. She might be in the Erah’s territory but it was vast. Beside, it wasn’t as if she could stroll into the Erah clanhall by herself. She might run into another of their clanbrothers while wandering around their lands but that didn’t mean that man would keep Ke’lar’s promise to her. Any other Erah clanbrother would probably just return her right to Ar’ar to keep the peace between their clans, so if she thought about it, it only made sense that she’d be worried about—
“Oh, thank God!”
Summer was on her feet instantly as Ke’lar, loaded down with supplies, appeared at the cave’s entrance. He brought a spray of water with him, soaking her anew as he ducked inside. He gave a startled grunt as she flung her arms around his neck in a hug.
Ke’lar was solid muscle against her and with her cheek pressed to his chest she could feel the strong rhythm of his heart. He was really warm too, despite the rain and the chill, with that amazing male scent of his—
Summer’s mouth popped open at the realization she was positively clinging to him. Her cheeks burning, she instantly let go and stepped back to scowl at him.
“Where the hell have you been?” she demanded.
His vibrant eyes blinked down at her, rivets of water running down from his rippled forehead and beside his nose, his black hair plastered to his head. “Housing Beya and getting our supplies.”
“Damn it, I know where—” Guess I can stop pointing the damn light! “Anyhow . . . I’m glad you’re okay.”
He shook the hair out of his eyes. “Did you worry for me?”
“No,” she said instantly. “I knew you were fine.”
“I was greatly concerned for you,” he rumbled. “I feared you would come to harm while I was away from you, that I would not be at hand when you needed me.” His full mouth curved into a smile, his eyes warm. “I thank the All Mother you are safe, Summer.”
“Oh,” she murmured. “Well, I’m . . . fine. I uh—” She tore her gaze from those earnest blue eyes and indicated the packs he carried. “Lemme give you a hand.”
“I am more than capable of carrying such a light load,” he growled, pulling back in offense. “I am strong. I have trained for such things for many years.”
“Look, I’m not disparaging your warrior-ness here. I’m just being polite by offering to help, okay?” Summer folded her arms. “But if you don’t want my help, fine by me.”