specific, just conversation. She enjoyed it and relaxed as
time passed.
Chapter Eight
Jagger waited for Ada to come back out of her tent. It was
hard for him to let her out of his sight at all. Last night, he’d wanted to
take her with him instead of letting her walk into the tent she shared with
some of the other women. He didn’t have anywhere they could be private, but the
urge to find somewhere had been strong. Today, he’d stayed as close to her as
possible, but he could tell she was starting to wonder why. She’d started
pulling back, and going into her tent had been an excuse.
The Zarain half of him wanted her with him so that he could
protect her from the danger. Especially since they had no idea who the
attackers were. The animal knew that it could protect her with its size and
muscle. Being with her only part of the time was pushing him to his limits.
Sheer will and the knowledge that she’d probably panic kept him from changing
into a shaggy blond beast and planting himself by her side. The Zarain within
him wanted to rip anyone who’d hurt her apart with teeth and claws. Jagger had
the distinct impression that it would be happy keeping her separated from
everyone until the Vigilant arrived.
His men had tracked the attackers to the river and reported
the scent had definitely been male. Unfortunately, the gender of the attackers
was the only thing they knew with certainty. There had been something off about
that scent. It wasn’t until they’d gotten back and checked the camp that they
discovered why that was. There were tubes of salve missing from the supplies as
well as a few other medications. It had changed the scent just enough to stop
them from identifying who had done this.
They’d found the clothes in the water at the river and no
sign of the men. By the time that they returned to camp, everyone was there. No
one could say with any certainty who had been in camp at the time of the
attack. Not that he could blame them. People tended to wander to keep
themselves busy or to get some time alone. Not everyone was dealing well with
the close quarters, even if they did have to be together only at night.
Jagger planned to ask Ada to go for a walk so they could
talk. He needed to explain why he was so intent on being near her before she
decided that he was stalking her. She might think that she needed to get away
from him and stay away. That wouldn’t go over well with the Zarain part of him.
He knew himself well enough to know that he’d have a hard time keeping control
if she tried to end the relationship.
A mating didn’t end. This wasn’t a date and she’d have to
see it. Once she had fully transformed to a Zarain, she would understand. She’d
feel the connection between them. He knew she felt it a little now, but she
still fought it. From what he’d heard, she didn’t trust long-term
relationships.
When she came out of the tent, he waited until she noticed
him. He didn’t want to sneak up on her even accidentally. She might still be
tense from the attack. He hoped she’d agree to walk with him, but they would
talk tonight. Picking her up and carrying her out of the camp was not out of
the question, even if it might cause a stir among her crewmates. He smiled as
she looked at him. She took a deep breath and walked over to him. It was more
than he expected.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” He held out his hand. It
was time to make her see the full truth. If they’d met some other way, it would
have happened already.
“Yes, we do need to talk.” She nodded, but her expression
was solemn.
That wasn’t good. He knew that the truth was probably going
to come out a lot more bluntly than he intended. Well, it could be worse. She
knew him a little better now. He could have had to press his claim without her
knowing anything about him.
Grabbing a blanket from a crate of supplies, he led her out
of the camp to a quiet spot near the river. It was one place that he could be
almost
time passed.
Chapter Eight
Jagger waited for Ada to come back out of her tent. It was
hard for him to let her out of his sight at all. Last night, he’d wanted to
take her with him instead of letting her walk into the tent she shared with
some of the other women. He didn’t have anywhere they could be private, but the
urge to find somewhere had been strong. Today, he’d stayed as close to her as
possible, but he could tell she was starting to wonder why. She’d started
pulling back, and going into her tent had been an excuse.
The Zarain half of him wanted her with him so that he could
protect her from the danger. Especially since they had no idea who the
attackers were. The animal knew that it could protect her with its size and
muscle. Being with her only part of the time was pushing him to his limits.
Sheer will and the knowledge that she’d probably panic kept him from changing
into a shaggy blond beast and planting himself by her side. The Zarain within
him wanted to rip anyone who’d hurt her apart with teeth and claws. Jagger had
the distinct impression that it would be happy keeping her separated from
everyone until the Vigilant arrived.
His men had tracked the attackers to the river and reported
the scent had definitely been male. Unfortunately, the gender of the attackers
was the only thing they knew with certainty. There had been something off about
that scent. It wasn’t until they’d gotten back and checked the camp that they
discovered why that was. There were tubes of salve missing from the supplies as
well as a few other medications. It had changed the scent just enough to stop
them from identifying who had done this.
They’d found the clothes in the water at the river and no
sign of the men. By the time that they returned to camp, everyone was there. No
one could say with any certainty who had been in camp at the time of the
attack. Not that he could blame them. People tended to wander to keep
themselves busy or to get some time alone. Not everyone was dealing well with
the close quarters, even if they did have to be together only at night.
Jagger planned to ask Ada to go for a walk so they could
talk. He needed to explain why he was so intent on being near her before she
decided that he was stalking her. She might think that she needed to get away
from him and stay away. That wouldn’t go over well with the Zarain part of him.
He knew himself well enough to know that he’d have a hard time keeping control
if she tried to end the relationship.
A mating didn’t end. This wasn’t a date and she’d have to
see it. Once she had fully transformed to a Zarain, she would understand. She’d
feel the connection between them. He knew she felt it a little now, but she
still fought it. From what he’d heard, she didn’t trust long-term
relationships.
When she came out of the tent, he waited until she noticed
him. He didn’t want to sneak up on her even accidentally. She might still be
tense from the attack. He hoped she’d agree to walk with him, but they would
talk tonight. Picking her up and carrying her out of the camp was not out of
the question, even if it might cause a stir among her crewmates. He smiled as
she looked at him. She took a deep breath and walked over to him. It was more
than he expected.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” He held out his hand. It
was time to make her see the full truth. If they’d met some other way, it would
have happened already.
“Yes, we do need to talk.” She nodded, but her expression
was solemn.
That wasn’t good. He knew that the truth was probably going
to come out a lot more bluntly than he intended. Well, it could be worse. She
knew him a little better now. He could have had to press his claim without her
knowing anything about him.
Grabbing a blanket from a crate of supplies, he led her out
of the camp to a quiet spot near the river. It was one place that he could be
almost
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