Chapter 108: Dagan’s males are thieves. If they attack us, we need somewhere to hide our belongings
Arion’s jaw tightened.
Selka saw it.
Her jealousy rose like poison.
"You watched Swanly love me and decided that meant I was valuable," he said.
Selka’s face twisted.
"She was weak."
"She was hurting."
"And you still refused her."
Shame crossed Arion’s face.
He looked away for one painful breath.
"Yes."
Selka stepped closer, sensing the wound.
"You watched your tribe humiliate her."
"I know."
"You watched your father cast her out."
His hands closed.
"I know."
"You could not even stand against him."
"I know!"
His voice cracked through the stone hollow.
Several nearby survivors turned.
Arion lowered his voice again.
That made it worse.
"Yes," he said. "That failure belongs to me."
His amber eyes hardened.
"It does not make me yours."
Selka’s claws slid from her fingertips.
"You and that broken-antler deer are hypocrites."
Arion’s face changed.
"At least Nerin tried to protect her."
The truth struck Selka like a slap.
She laughed sharply.
"You think she will forgive you because she is different now?"
"I did not say that."
"She is prettier. Stronger. Powerful males want her, so suddenly you remember she exists."
Arion’s jaw tightened.
"You do not deserve her."
"I know."
Selka froze.
She had expected denial.
Excuses.
Anger.
Not acceptance.
Arion continued quietly.
"I do not expect her forgiveness."
"Then take me."
His expression became blank.
Selka lifted her chin.
"No one else will accept you after what your father has done. But I can. When Garran and Dagan restore Sunmane, you will need a female beside you."
Arion looked at her as though she had placed something rotten at his feet.
"You lost nearly every mate who followed you here."
Selka’s face darkened.
"That was not my fault."
"You had more than thirty."
"They chose me."
"And you used them until they died."
Her claws lengthened.
"You know nothing."
"I watched Brann and Varek carry your belongings while wounded people were left behind."
"They are my males."
"They are living beings."
Selka’s breathing became heavy.
Arion stepped away from her.
"I would rather remain mateless for the rest of my life than accept you."
Her eyes widened.
"You do not mean that."
"I do."
"You still care about Swanly."
He stopped.
Selka smiled cruelly.
"She will never forgive you. It does not matter whether she truly forgot or merely pretends. She will never look at you the way she once did."
Pain crossed his face.
Selka savoured it.
Then Arion looked back at her.
"I know."
The satisfaction vanished.
"And I still will not choose you."
Her entire body trembled.
"After everything she did?"
"After everything you did."
His voice became cold.
"Stay away from me."
Arion walked past her.
Selka stood alone between the split stones.
Her claws shook.
Her eyes burned.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to tear Swanly’s face apart.
She wanted everyone who had rejected her to crawl back and beg.
Instead, she stormed away from the camp.
Brann and Varek followed at a distance.
Selka turned on them.
"Stay there!"
Brann stopped.
"The forest is not safe."
"I said stay!"
Varek glanced toward the dark trees.
"Do not go far."
Selka ignored him.
Let the creatures take her.
Let everyone die.
What did it matter if Swanly continued winning?
She pushed through a narrow line of flowering vines between the stone walls.
The ground beneath her cracked.
Selka’s eyes widened.
"What?"
The vines collapsed.
She fell.
Her scream echoed through darkness.
Selka struck warm water hard enough to lose her breath.
She surfaced coughing.
Soft silver light surrounded her.
The hidden grotto was beautiful.
Warm water flowed through smooth pale stone.
Glowing flowers covered the walls.
Long vines hung from the thin ceiling.
Pale petals floated around her.
Selka stared.
Then the flowers opened.
A cloud of golden pollen burst into the air.
She inhaled.
Heat ripped through her body.
Selka gasped.
Her claws scraped against the stone.
The grotto spun around her.
Her skin burned.
Her heart raced too quickly.
She tried to climb out, but her legs weakened beneath her.
"Brann!"
Her scream echoed upward.
"Varek!"
Footsteps thundered above.
The weakened roof broke wider.
Brann dropped into the water first.
Varek followed.
They found Selka shaking against the silver stone, her pupils wide and her skin burning with fever.
Brann grabbed her face.
"What happened?"
"The flowers."
Varek tore a glowing vine away from her body.
More pollen filled the air.
He coughed and turned his face.
Selka clung to Brann.
"Help me."
He lifted her and carried her toward the cold underground stream entering from the far side of the grotto.
The water lowered the fever only slightly.
Selka trembled violently.
Her mating marks burned.
She recognized both males.
Called their names.
Begged them not to leave her.
Brann and Varek exchanged one look.
They were already her mates.
They understood what her body was asking for.
They remained with her inside the hidden grotto.
Mist rose over the silver water.
The pale flowers continued glowing.
What happened between the three mates stayed behind stone, warm water, and hanging vines.
By the time the pollen fever finally passed, Selka lay exhausted against Brann’s chest.
Varek gathered her clothing from the edge of the stream.
Her thoughts slowly cleared.
She looked at the flowers.
At the golden dust clinging to their petals.
At the thin roof above them.
Then she smiled.
Brann noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She dressed slowly.
Her gaze moved toward the weakest section of flowering vines.
"This place could be useful."
Varek frowned.
"For what?"
"A private supply hollow."
"Why?"
Selka climbed onto the stone ledge.
"Dagan’s males are thieves. If they attack us, we need somewhere to hide our belongings."
Brann looked around.
"The opening is too narrow."
"Then widen it."
Varek studied her face.
"Now?"
"Before we leave Splitstone."
Neither male liked the order.
Still, they obeyed.
They used claws and stone tools to loosen the earth beneath the vines.
Selka stood beside the glowing flowers.
Her fingers brushed one pale petal.
Golden pollen clung to her claw.
She imagined Swanly falling through the roof.
Swanly breathing it.
Swanly losing control.
Swanly finally becoming helpless with no male to relieve her pain.
Her smile widened.
"Swanly."