Page 117 of Blood Fist

Rather than follow his nose, he followed the familiar track to Ridan’s Chief tent. He didn’t bother looking for him at his nest, where the omega should just be rousing. Ridan spent most of his time in the tent staring down at the map as if he could find the answers to his questions in the faded lines.

On his way, he stopped by Henroen’s hearth. His mate yawned as she stared down at the food she had cooking. Brune dipped his head to her in greeting. She smiled and ruffled his hair, tugging the strands. It was longer than it had ever been, brushing against his dark, stubbled jaw.

“You look as if you haven’t slept.”

He shrugged. “I’ll survive.”

Tsking, she began plating food for him. “S’pose you’ll be taking some to our chief?”

Blushing, Brune nodded even though she wasalready getting him two servings. While they hadn’t announced anything, Ridan and Brune hadn’t exactly been subtle. Anyone who got close enough could smell them on each other.

He took her food with thanks, promising to bring her fresh meat the next time he went hunting. As always, she waved him off, claiming to have plenty. They both knew Brune would still bring her furs and meat in thanks.

Balancing two bowls of broth thickened with cream and oats, and a loaf of fresh spiced bread, he went in search of his omega.

Predictably, he found Ridan bent over the table. His hands were spread and eyes heavy. He smelled like he hadn’t slept the day before, clinging to his skin. Perhaps he could convince him to come for a walk later. Or a ride. Anything to get some fresh air.

Still, seeing Ridan made his heart flutter in his chest. He grinned, unable to help himself as he watched Ridan’s necklaces swing as he scowled down at whatever he was or wasn’t seeing on the map.

“You’ll go cross-eyed if you keep that up,” Brune called, smile widening when Ridan jerked in surprise.

He parted his lips to say something—probably something rude—but then his nostrils flared, and he took several experimental sniffs.

Before he could ask, Brune brought the food over to the table. Careful not to set anything on his work, he placed the bowls down. The bread was still warm. It pulled apart easily in his hands.

Ridan took an offered piece, popping it into his mouth as he stepped closer to Brune. Over tired and distracted, he nuzzled into his chest. It was too intimate a gesture for their stage of relationship, but Ridan had always done whatever he wanted.

He sighed into Ridan’s hair, letting his arms wrap around him. The omega seemed to sag, dropping his weight, and trusting Brune to catch him.

“You should get some sleep.”

Ridan grunted around a mouthful. “Can’t. Too much to do?—”

“Which you’ve done,” Brune cut him off. “You have prepared supplies, doubled the sentries, and established a safe route for your people to retreat. What youneedto do now is take care of yourself.”

Brune couldn’t see, but he knew Ridan was making a face. He always did when faced with advice he didn’t like.

Ridan continued to angrily chew, taking pieces of bread as Brune ripped them off, popping them into the omegas mouth and trying not to get distracted by the plush pink of his lips. It was all too easy to remember just how they felt on his skin—clumsy but full of such passion. It was like every kiss was branded into his skin.

Between bites of bread, Ridan spoke of the problems he still faced. Most of his current dilemma was their lack of information on Sinestrus. Halm and Derry had returned last night with nothing of note. The drawings in the tunnel were interesting, but vague. They didn’t shed light on anything they didn’t already know.

When the food was gone, Ridan was still leaning against Brune’s chest. With eyes half lidded with sleep, he began playing with the Snap Jaw necklace hanging against his clavicle. The thick leather Ridan had strung it with was soft now. Time and sweat had worked it until the cord was darker than it originally had been. It was comfortable, a weight Brune barely felt anymore. Still, he couldn’t help but smile when the teeth clattered against the red beads.

Ridan’s hands trailed from the necklace to the scarhe’d earned it with. The Snap Jaw had left a perfect divot in the meat of his right bicep. Skin pink and glossy, Ridan let his fingertips drag across it. Brune shivered at the soft touch.

“I was scared,” Ridan admitted softly. “Scared I was going to lose you.”

Brune thought he was going to lose himself that day, too. “Nah,” he said breezily. “I couldn’t leave. Not when I’d just found you.”

The blush that crept up Ridan’s cheeks to the tips of his ears was worth facing a hundred Snap Jaws for.

“Did you know?” Ridan asked without looking up.

“That I’d love you?” Brune chuckled when Ridan’s shoulders tensed at the word. He took a moment to think before answering. Did he? No, probably not. At least, not in the way he did now. He didn’t save Ridan from Bargrave’s betrayal because he loved him. He didn’t even know him yet.

But fate did.

“I think my heart did before my mind.”