“Feel this,” I hissed, and her big eyes grew even bigger. If we could not communicate with words, I would find another way. I would make her feel me. My heart thundered beneath my skin, beneath her hand. “Feel this. This is for you. This is yours.”

She did not yet know what it meant to have the heart of a Gahn. But she would learn.

I heard my name, and though I wished it were coming from Zeezee’s lips, it was not. It was Galok, calling me from my tent where the others waited. I adjusted my loincloth, trying to ease some of my discomfort there. I pulled Zeezee’s hand from my chest and held it carefully, leading her forward. For once, she followed and did not fight me. But I did not know if that was bad or good.

We reached my tent, and Galok tried to hide how much he stared, though he failed miserably. This was the first time he had seen Zeezee awake and moving. He held my tent’s flap open for us, his eyes lingering on Zeezee’s face as she ducked under his arm. A warning growl grew in my throat as I watched him sniff the air as she passed. He ducked his head, whipping his tail up over his eyes in apology. The tent flap fell closed as we all moved in.

Taliok, Oxriel, and Gahn Irokai were standing, facing us. Their weapons were sheathed, but the tension in their bodies was clear. They were ready to fight if needed. The uneasy decorum from earlier had evaporated, leaving only danger and mistrust. I held Zeezee protectively at my side. I had thought about sending her back to the healers’ tent, with more guards this time, but that wouldn’t do. Not now that they had seen her. Besides, I didn’t trust anyone in my tribe to keep her safe but me. I would not let her leave my side.

“Gahn Buroudei. I demand an explanation.” Gahn Irokai’s voice was gruff but mostly level. Yet I understood the threat there, beneath the calm surface. Though he and his men were greatly outnumbered, they could do bloody battle with us and still cause significant damage to the tribe. But he was right. He needed to understand what was going on. Now that Zeezee was pressed tight to my side, the animosity from earlier had dissipated, and my usually clear head was returning.

“I will explain. And I will forgive your man Taliok’s disrespect earlier, when he crossed blades with me.”

Gahn Irokai’s tail moved in satisfaction, but Taliok grunted.

“I thought she was my mate. I thought you were going to kill her.”

I bit back a bark of irritation.

“You need to learn to watch your tongues around another Gahn.”

Gahn Irokai tensed, and Taliok’s hand moved, ever so slightly, towards the long blade at his belt. Galok shifted into a defensive stance. Every instinct in me screamed to defend myself and my tribe and my territory and destroy the men before me. My lip curled back from my fangs.

Just then, Zeezee shifted against me, drawing in closer, sensing the tension. I forced my pride down, something I was not accustomed to. But I did it for her. I would not have her at the centre of this bloodshed. I breathed out, and the others visibly relaxed.

“If you thought she was your mate I can understand your reaction. As I said before, I am willing to overlook it now.”

Gahn Irokai glanced at silent Taliok, then back at me.

“Very well,” he said.

I told them everything I knew. I told them how the Lavrika had come to me, just as it had come to Taliok. I told them how today, a great creature had fallen from the sky, spilling women from its belly. And I told them that Zeezee was the only female here, the rest of them taken by Gahn Fallo. At those lasts words, Taliok hissed, turning to pace the length of the tent as I finished speaking.

“That is everything. All I know.”

Gahn Irokai watched me for a long moment.

“I believe you.”

“Good. Because it is the truth.”

The other Gahn raked his claws over his braid.

“Taliok, stop that incessant pacing. I cannot think.”

Taliok’s tail thrashed, but he slowed, coming to a stop next to Oxriel. His hand was tight on the hilt of his blade, but that caused me no concern. I knew that he was picturing using that weapon on Gahn Fallo, now. Not me.

“I do not think a meeting of the Gahns is prudent now. I do not think Gahn Fallo would agree to go or agree to give up the women. Especially if any of them are mates to his men. If he knows our people can mate with them, he will keep them at all costs,” Gahn Irokai said.

Taliok made a choked sound.

“I agree with you.” I paused, wondering how to broach the next part, then decided to just forge forward with it. “When you told me of Taliok’s news, I was glad. I was hoping we could ally ourselves against Gahn Fallo.”

Taliok started pacing again, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Gahn Irokai watched him, then came to a quick decision.

“This is something that will affect all the people of the Sea Sands. This is the future of our tribes. We cannot have Gahn Fallo in control. We will stand with you against him. We will ride back tonight and gather our forces immediately. If we ride hard, night and day, we can make the journey home and back here in three days’ time.”

I grunted. This was acceptable.

Taliok raised his tail so quickly I barely registered the movement before stalking out of the tent, followed by Oxriel. Gahn Irokai raised his tail, as did I, before he left, too. I turned to Galok.

“Go with them. Help them ready their irkdu, and give them valok and meat.”

Galok turned to follow my orders, letting the tent flap fall closed behind him as he left. I was relieved that Gahn Irokai had agreed to ally with us. But I was still wary. We hadn’t talked about what would happen after we were victorious against Gahn Fallo. I could easily be trading one enemy for another.

But those thoughts would have to wait. Because now it was just my mate and me, alone in my tent. And every part of my body was painfully aware of her.

She was chattering away, gesturing wildly after the men who had left. She moved from my side, walking around the perimeter of the tent, examining the various things in my home. There wasn’t much – my dakrival hide bed, my seat, some bone shelves with valok plants and candles, and extra weapons. I watched her as she moved from item to item, her eyes bright, her voice quick-spirited. There was an analytical intelligence about her. I got the sense she was trying to understand everything she saw.

“Zeezee,” she said, hitting her chest. “Buroudei.” She pointed at me. Then she pointed at the wall of the tent.

She was trying to learn more words. Pride swelled inside me. My mate certainly was intelligent. She wanted to understand this place, wanted to understand our language. Then I remembered that she already knew some words, like ablik and valok. Fierce jealousy pierced me as I thought of another Sea Sand man teaching her those things. Not for the first time, questions about who she was and where she’d come from burned inside me. But I had no way to ask.

She was still pointing at the tent, her slim finger poking at it as she watched me questioningly.

“Dakrival hide,” I said. “Tent. Tent.”

She repeated the word, scrunching up her face as she garbled the pronunciation. I could not help but smile. It was adorable. I moved forward almost without noticing, like a drizelfly drawn to flame. She was pointing at other things now, and I indulged her demanding finger. It felt good to be able to give her something, to understand what she wanted.

“Bone shelf. Shelf. Axe. Valok candle. Sand.”

She nodded, her face drawn in concentration as she took in each word, repeating it all dutifully. Then she started miming various actions. She brought her hand to her mouth as if eating.

“To eat.”

She took that in, working her mouth around the sounds.

“To eat valok,” she said, and I wanted to burst with admiration for her intelligence.