She moved away before Verakko had time to decide on an apology or a retort. The humans who’d escaped with Alice two weeks ago had taken to their new lives in Tremanta relatively well. All except for the two impulsive females who’d decided they’d prefer the wilds and who hadn’t been found, until now. Like most, he’d assumed they’d perished.
Anxiety warred with relief once more. He’d been so satisfied to see that his attempts to free the humans from the rest of the facilities had been a success. Now he realized he was still in the dark as to what had happened to them. He needed to get back to civilization—and fast. If Kadion and the others hadn’t survived the attack, someone would need to report back to the Queen. Leaders around the world had to know that humans may be roaming aimlessly, looking for a safe haven.
But first he’d need to convince this stubborn female to return with him.
Muttering, she snatched the water bowl and fished a few rocks from the liquid.
“Why are there rocks in your water?” he questioned harshly, his frustration seeping into his words. How had this slip of a female managed to survive in the Sauven Forest this long?
“Another stupid idea, is it?” She slowly lifted her head and raised a delicate brow. “Do you know of a better way to purify water without a pot? I heated them in the fire, then dropped them in to boil the water. If you know of an easier way, I’m all ears.” She held his stare and waited.
Verakko clamped his mouth shut. He didn’t know of another way without tools, and he hated the smug smile that spread over her face at his silence.
She knelt in front of him, and some of his annoyance faded. Brown. Her eyes were indeed brown. And beautiful. Her scent toyed with him as well. It was buried by smoke, dirt, and blood, but he could just make out a sweetness underneath the grime.
She lifted the bowl to his mouth and waited. When he continued to stare, she cleared her throat. “Do you want the water or not?”
He drank a few sips of the warm water, not wanting to take all of the precious liquid she’d spent so long disinfecting. He licked his lips and was pleased to see her eyes tracked the movement of his tongue.
Her gaze lingered for a moment longer, then she abruptly stood and put distance between them.
He scowled. “Aren’t you going to untie me now?” he called, wiggling his hands.
“No,” she said simply, piling wood onto the fire. She moved farther away from the camp, and Verakko had to fight the instinct to break his measly bonds and drag her back to the safety of the fire. He hadn’t spent much time in forests, but he knew fire equaled safety no matter the environment.
“Where are you going?”
“To bed.” She took hold of a hanging sapling and began to climb.
“Do you always sleep in trees?” he complained, angling his neck to keep her in view, muscles taut. What if she falls?
She swung to the limb of a tree nearby, as agile as a teuy, and settled herself there, over the fire. Did she somehow know that her position high above was the last place he’d follow her? He would if he had to, of course, but his recent fall from the sky had been enough to keep him firmly planted on the ground for the next few years.
“I could come up there and get you just as easily as if you were down here,” he bluffed.
“Not with that tender shoulder and bleeding side,” she countered. “Also, I believe the words you were looking for were thank you.”
His chest puffed. Did she really think him so weak that he couldn’t climb a few feet into the air after an injury? He flexed his side experimentally and felt fabric circling his hips. Then he realized the sleeves of his shirt had been torn and utilized as a makeshift bandage and a sling. The itch of a forming scab scraped against the fabric. His wounds were nearly mended. She must not have known his kind could heal quickly. Should he throw that piece of information in her face or allow her to sleep secure in the knowledge that he was a weak, incapacitated male?
He scowled. For tonight, he’d let her sleep, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to be viewed as an invalid for much longer. He reclined as much as his bindings would allow and glanced up to where she lay.
She stared back, watching him.
“What’s your name, human? I’m Verakko.”
She turned away, and Verakko assumed she’d decided not to answer. But then she said, “It’s Lily.”
Verakko grinned even through his foul mood. “Sleep well, Lily.”
Chapter 4
Lily cracked her eyes open, and the flush of anger and embarrassment from the night before returned. That alien, Verakko, had called her stupid. Had implied she’d been reckless. Well, what the hell did he know? She’d dragged him to safety, cleaned his wounds, and made sure he didn’t die. How had he repaid her? By being a self-important bastard.
What now, Lily? What do we do now?
No matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn’t just leave him. He didn’t even know how to get clean water on his own. He may be useful in identifying edible plants, but how much did he know about what plants were edible to humans?
Was it stupid for her to be so worried about this alien? Probably. He’d said he knew Alice, but why should she believe him? For all she knew, he could’ve been part of a group who’d recaptured Alice and then tortured
