There was some more grumbling under her breath, but there was a faint smile, too, like she secretly liked what I was doing. Humans were weird, but Dana was beautiful and fierce and amazing. Even if she did make no sense.
O’Rrin whistled sharply, and two smaller shapes raced to the front of the nearby cave. Then they came hurtling out towards us, bypassing O’Rrin and tackling my Dana. They completely ignored the strange metal beast, and us, to wrap Dana in their arms and hug her. Water was flowing down their cheeks, something that alarmed me.
“The water leakage is normal when they are feeling strong emotions,” O’Rrin explained, having caught my thought. “They are happy to see their friend.”
I hissed an acknowledgment, my attention turning back to Dana. While both Jackie and Hetta had water leaking from their eyes, my Dana did not. Was she not feeling something? Were her eyes broken?
“We’ll stay here for the night and move in the morning,” O’Rrin said, glancing at me for confirmation. I nodded. Then he moved closer to me. “We should not mention the Caterri until the morning. I do not wish my mate to worry.”
Jealousy surged through me at the affectionate look O’Rrin gave his mate. It was clear how much they loved each other, and I knew Hetta was pregnant with his young. I wanted that with my Dana, so very badly. But I had just gotten her back, and I wasn’t sure how long it would take us to get to that point.
Or if Dana was even interested, especially after what the Caterri had done to her. She hadn’t objected to me calling her my mate, not really, but Dana was confusing and maybe she was doing that for some other reason.
“I want to check on Squire,” Dana said stubbornly, turning her attention back to me. The other two humans gave her a puzzled look, but O’Rrin shook his head in hope they would not ask.
“I will go with you,” I said flatly. I didn’t enjoy the thought of her alone with the Caterri, still didn’t enjoy the thought of him alive, but Dana’s happiness was more important.
My fierce human bared her teeth at me. “I’m fine going on my own.”
“I’m going with you,” I repeated.
Dana’s scowl darkened. If she had been N’Akron, her eyes would have flashed red. I couldn’t help the pleasure that surged through me. She may have been human, yes, and fragile, but she was not weak. She was strong, even though she was covered in soft human skin and required protection. “Fine.”
I nodded to O’Rrin, then stood, leading a muttering Dana out of the cave. She was clearly still displeased with me, but I did not care. Her safety was far more important, no matter what it meant she thought of me. I wanted her as my mate, but if that required making her angry to keep her protected, I would without a second thought.
The walk to Squire’s cave wasn’t long, and Dana’s unhappiness left me feeling empty. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say, what I was supposed to do to make it better for her. I didn’t trust the Caterri, and had had far more experience with them than Dana had. They weren’t kind, ever. But Dana insisted this one was. I hadn’t hissed at her in laughter, but I was tempted.
Pulling back the span of stretched leather we were using to shield the cave, I let her in, surprised to see the Caterri sitting where he had been when I left. There was a small fire burning, but otherwise there wasn’t much light. I hadn’t wanted to waste resources on him, not when I wasn’t sure how long he would be living.
“Jesus, he left you tied up?” Dana shot me a dark look, immediately heading to the Caterri’s side and undoing the bindings.
“It’s okay,” the Caterri assured her. He did keep a careful eye on me, which was smart, but most of his attention seemed to be on my Dana. “My superiors have treated me far worse.”
Sadness pulled at Dana’s expression, and there was a wistfulness there I didn’t understand. Why did she feel those emotions for him? He was obviously lying, deceiving her. That was what the Caterri did.
“But you’re okay?” Dana asked, looking around for some more fuel for the fire.
“I am fine,” the Caterri assured her. “Thank your friend for the hospitality.”
Dana reached out and touched his shoulder, making me hiss low in my throat. What did the Caterri think he was doing, allowing her touch? Why did she reach out to him and not me? I wanted to storm over, pull her away from him, but I knew my strong Dana would not approve of such an action. Even if it was done to protect her.
She turned to look at me, and from the sparkle in her eyes I knew I was in for a fight. “Untie him.”
I hissed my surprise, then realized she was serious. “No.”
Her unslitted eyes narrowed. “Untie. Him.”
“I am fine,” the Caterri interrupted. Dana ignored him, crossing her arms over her enlarged mammary glands and staring fiercely at me.
“He must stay here for the night.” I stared back at her. This was a matter of her safety, and I wasn’t going to budge on it, no matter how much she wanted me to. The Caterri could have sworn to whatever it believed in and I still would not have trusted its word. The Caterri were liars. I still wasn’t certain how I would bring one back to N’Akkar. If my father had thought Dana was bad…
“He needs to eat.” Dana changed tactics, jerking her chin up in a show of strength and defiance. It sent warmth spiraling through me, my cock threatening to harden in leathers that were not ready for it. She was a fighter, and she stood up for what she believed in, even if it was wrong.
“He can survive a night without food.” We were running low on
