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But when it mattered, neither of them put herself first.

Kyree filled with warmth and joy at how they protected her. When everything else happened, she became their focus andtheir priority. Kyree couldn’t remember the last time she had been anyone’s priority. Perhaps she never had been, not once in her life.

“Damn, I needed that.” Hudson rolled her shoulders as she lay down in the sandy bank they had found. It was out of passing sight and would be difficult for anyone to find them, especially if they weren’t being looked for.

“You needed to lie down?” Honour smirked and raised an eyebrow in Hudson’s direction. “I would have thought you had better stamina than that.”

“Oh!” Hudson chuckled, and Kyree watched from her own place on the bank, resting against a stone. “I have more than enough stamina to keep up with you, old-timer.”

“Old?” Honour smiled, and Kyree felt the shock at seeing the look she gave Hudson.

“Well, maybe not so old.” Hudson wriggled in the sand, and Kyree bit back a moan. Side-eyeing another look over at Honour, she saw the smaller mer staring intently at Hudson’s enticing movements.

“Kyree.” Honour turned to her, and her eyes held a wildness for a moment before they cleared and focused on her. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“I’m fine.” Kyree forced a smile, though she knew it didn’t reach her eyes. She was too distracted by the two of them to put enough effort into calming Honour’s worried soul. “I didn’t get hurt.”

Hudson pouted from where she continued to writhe, her fingers now rolling her nipples into hard points. “You mean Honour doesn’t get to take care of you? Maybe you should be the one to take care of her.”

“Take care of her?” Kyree understood the implications Hudson had purred out. Her body definitely understood them if its reaction was anything to go by, but she also heard the growlof frustration from Honour and knew there was more to this teasing then she first thought.

“I’m fine,” Honour spoke between clenched teeth.

“Oh, liar-liar.” Hudson singsonged from the sand as she rolled over, pulling her torso up to face them. “I saw those hits, and the way you’re carrying your old wound.”

“Oh no.” Kyree was in Honour’s space in a moment. “Show me.”

“I’m fine, Kyree. A few bruises. Nothing to worry about.”

“Honour.”

“Yes, Honour,” Hudson purred, her eyes alight with mischief. “Let Kyree take care of you. I’m sure it’s nothing you haven’t enjoyed before. Besides—” Hudson was suddenly there beside Kyree, fingers running up and down her arm. “—I’m sure Kyree wouldn’t mind if I watched.” Hudson leaned close to Kyree’s face until their cheeks brushed against each other. “Would you, Kyree?”

“Hudson, I need to take a look at Honour.” Determined to ignore Hudson’s pushes, Kyree sent her a smart glare.

“I know you do. We wouldn’t want her to get another infection, now would we?” Hudson moved forward so quickly Kyree wasn’t sure what exactly happened. Whether Hudson jabbed Honour with her hand, her fin, or something else.

But Honour let out a wounded yelp and bent forward.

“Honour.” This time she didn’t ask or hesitate. Kyree laid Honour down on the bank and deftly moved over her skin. Her wound that had just started fully healing had split open again in the center. It wasn’t bad, just a loose stitch of sewing, and the rest would hold. Kyree’s chest clenched tightly.

But it wasn’t from fear of being banished for good. It wasn’t fear of being held responsible for the loss of a life.

The panic that washed through her was entirely centered around the fear of losing Honour herself. Honour may notunderstand the ways of the deep sounding tribes, but she cared about Kyree.

No one here could deny that.

“Don’t look so worried, Kyree.” Hudson was at Kyree’s back once more.

Kyree bit back another moan as the woman’s hard pebbled nipples rubbed against her back. “She’s opened the wound.”

“She’s a tough soldier. She’ll kick it. Maybe she needs some special TLC.” Hudson’s tongue darted out and licked up the outside of Kyree’s ear.

Kyree shuddered.

The touch at her hand made her start. She looked down to see Honour’s eyes open and staring up into her face.

“I’m okay. It’s nothing,” Honour whispered.