Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
"You are sure," he tells me, not looking up from his project. Once he fixed the floors, he's moved on to reworking the walls. Not only have all the holes been chinked, but he's smoothing the slow-drying mortar out using a broken shard of pottery. He wants to use the shards as spearheads, too, which didn't occur to me, but I've been making him wait until I'm ready for the big reveal. "You have done something wonderful, and you should share it with your tribe so they can be proud, too."
The look he gives me is so profoundly proud and affectionate that it makes me ache. He's the only person in my life that's ever looked at me like that, and I realize I'd pretty much do anything to keep him. "All right," I say softly. "I'll stop being a pussy. I'm just scared."
"I know." He casts an easy smile at me. "If it will ease your fears, I will pounce upon the first person that laughs."
I absolutely believe he would, and the offer just makes me melt. "You're the best mate ever, you know that?"
He nods, smug. "Of course I am."
Because the weather tonight is rather blustery, everyone's piled into the longhouse for the evening meal. We head inside, draped in our fur cloaks, and immediately the warmth and the scents hit like a brick wall. A'tam has a sensitive nose and I imagine this can't be fun for him, but it all smells delicious to me. My appetite has been through the roof since resonance “finished” and I'm now pregnant. Over by the far fire, I see O'jek cooking. He tastes a broth, then holds the spoon out to Daisy. I still find it weird that those two have kicked up a friendship. O'jek's quiet and kinda surly and doesn't seem to like anyone and Daisy's a gregarious flirt.
If she's hanging out with him, though, it means she's not all over A'tam, which makes me happy. Not that he's ever looked in another direction…I'm just the jealous, territorial type, especially now that I'm pregnant. I squeeze A'tam's hand and he glances over at me, loving concern on his face. "What is it?"
"Hungry," I tell him. And yes, I'm absolutely stalling again. "Can we eat first?"
He eyes me with a knowing look, but reaches over and touches my flat belly. "Let us feed our son first, eh?"
"Pfft. Daughter. But yes."
We greet people as we make our way in. The longhouse is crowded tonight. It's not the most spacious of buildings anyhow, and the two long, narrow fire pits bisect things, so everyone crowds around them. Raahosh and Liz and all their children are closer to the door, seated with Gail and Vaza and Z'hren, and we step over Harlow and Rukh and Brooke and Taushen as we head toward the back of the lodge, where Shadow Cat tends to hang out. Raven's sitting on U'dron's big knee as she repairs her tambourine, and they chat with a busily-eating I'rec. Near our “usual” group are Bek and Elly, and Angie and Vordis. Nadine and Thrand sometimes join us, too, but they're not here tonight. Probably out hunting.
Angie smiles at us in greeting and shifts over on her seat. Her baby's at her breast, Vordis standing behind her protectively with his hands on her shoulders. "Come sit with me," she tells us. "There's room."
Just barely, but I glance over at A'tam. "I can sit on your lap?"
He shakes his head. "I will get you food. You go sit." He takes the pouch—the one with my hidden pot in it—off and carefully settles it over my head, securing it at my waist. "I will join you shortly." He gives me a kiss and then shrugs off his fur cloak, handing it to me before squeezing his way through the clusters of people toward the fire.
I go and sit with Angie, settling the bag with the pot between my feet and folding A'tam's fur cloak over my legs. She smiles in greeting, breaking Glory's latch on her breast and then settling the baby on her shoulder, burping her. "How's the hunting today?" she asks.
"Not too bad." It's kind of the truth? We checked A'tam's traps before heading off to the pottery cave to check on my works. The kills are currently frozen solid, so tomorrow morning, I'll skin them and work on smoking the meat. "A couple of hoppers and a young snowcat."
Angie's eyes widen. "Can I trade you for the snowcat pelt? I'm making Vordis a cloak and I need a few more."
I shrug. "Sure. I'll swing by in the morning. I'm low on some tea if you've got extra."
"I will find you extra," Angie promises, patting the baby's back. A funny look crosses her face and she glances up at her mate. Just as swiftly, Vordis presses a kiss to his mate's brow, scoops up the baby, and heads away with her. "Diaper change," Angie says with an apology. "Babies are messy."