Page 40

"My mate." I straighten, saying the words proudly. "And I'm Aidy. I don't remember more than that, just that my name is Aidy."

She doesn't seem surprised at my admission. "Yeah, some of us didn't get a lot of memories with the whole clone thing. It's not a big deal. You'll manage."

"Clone thing?" I echo. "What clone thing?"

April eyes Valmir and then looks back to me. "Uh…so remember that little bracelet that we got dropped here with?"

I have to think for a moment. There was a small bracelet on my arm, now that I recall. "You mean the tracker?"

"Tracker? What tracker?"

Now I'm the one that's confused. I press a hand to my brow, rubbing the headache that's starting. "Maybe you should sit down so I can tell you my side of things." When she looks reluctant, I add, "And Valmir needs to finish his boot or he's going to hurt his leg worse."

That gets her attention. She moves deeper into the cave, coming to sit next to the fire and tucking her legs underneath her.

She pointedly doesn't look at Valmir, and I notice that they're both trying very hard to ignore the other.

There are signs that all is not well, though.

April's eyes are overbright, her khui song dissonant and angry and loud.

On the other side of her, Valmir's big hands are shaking as he tries to stitch a bone splint into his leathers.

I'm suddenly glad that Corvak and I didn't fight our attraction.

I like that we've been on the same page ever since we got here.

And if April thinks she's going to pry me from this cave before he returns, I'm going to fight tooth and claw to make sure I stay. So I clear my throat and try to figure out the best way to tell my story…and the way that will take the most time. "I guess it started on the day we arrived here…"

By the time I finish the story, April's eyes are wide and Valmir is looking at me skeptically. "You two really had a fucked up idea of what was going on, didn't you?"

I shrug. "We did the best we could with the limited information we had. I think all of Corvak's decisions were the right ones. He kept us alive and safe, even when we thought we were surrounded by enemies. I don't regret anything."

"But he didn't tell you that you were a clone," April points out. "I feel like that's information you need to know."

"He didn't know I was a clone," I say, defending my absent mate. "Or he would have told me. Right, Valmir?"

Valmir suddenly looks very busy, all of his attention on the intricate web of splints he's making for his boot. "There's a lot of information flying about. I'm sure certain things get lost in the, uh, mix."

Impossible. He would have told me. The fact that I'm a clone—that every human here is a clone—is a big fucking deal.

It explains my lack of memories in a way that feels like relief, not terror.

I've been thinking for weeks now that I've had some sort of traumatic brain injury and that's why I can't remember more than the fact that I'm Aidy, I'm a horror movie buff, and I hate bugs.

I especially hate the scorpions that constantly came up my bathroom drains, and never keep my feet bare.

I don't know why that's the particular bit that's stuck with me, but I cherish it.

It's all I've got for my identity—movie references and an affinity for flip flops.

"He didn't know. He must have misunderstood. "

"If you say so." Valmir shrugs. He slowly eases his boot over his swollen ankle and begins the laborious process of lacing it up, pain written all over his face.

I watch him work, my stomach tied in knots.

If he gets his boot on, is he leaving with April?

He's resonating to her, and he wants to see the healer.

There's no way he'd stay behind with me just to keep me company…

but I'm not going anywhere. Not until I see Corvak again.

We don't know how long it'll take for the snow-people to abandon the cave after he fakes his death. What if they wait around for weeks?

"We'll ask him when he gets back," I say, as if that answers everything. "Which will hopefully be any moment now."

For a second, April looks flummoxed. She glances at the cave entrance. "I can't stay. Others are going to be looking for me. I'm out with Nadine, Thrand, and U'dron. They need to know where I am."

Then, she looks pointedly at Valmir.

My heart sinks.

Valmir looks between the two of us, then shakes his head. "Much as I would love to go with you, April, I cannot. I promised Corvak that I would look after his mate until he returned." His smile of apology turns feral. "Nothing says you can't return and tend to me, though."

"Ugh." She makes a face at him and gets to her feet. "Flattering offer, but no thanks. I'll let the others know I found you and bring them this way." She moves to grab her wraps and then turns to look at me. "If that's all right? Or would you rather wait alone?"

I shift in my seat, suddenly nervous. Would I rather wait alone? No. The thought of having company—people to talk to—is both exciting and terrifying all at once. I feel weirdly shy. What if they don't like me? "This is your people's cave, right? I can't say no."

"It's for anyone that needs it," she corrects.

Her expression turns a bit more friendly, more understanding.

"As long as you leave it as supplied as you found it, you're welcome to anything in any of the hunter caves.

I'm sure the others would agree with me.

If you're not ready to meet anyone, just say so. "

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude at her kindness. She's not trying to push me into anything. She's just stuck between a few moving pieces. "I'd love it if you guys came back—I'm sure both of us would. Company is always welcome."

And I mean it. The more I play with the idea in my head, the more I like the idea of talking to more people, talking to others in the same situation. Hearing what they've done to survive. I want to know all the details.

April nods and shoots one last look at Valmir before tossing her wraps over her shoulders and adjusting them. As she does, she glances out the entrance of the cave, pausing. "Looks like I might not have to go far after all. Someone's coming."

I jump to my feet, and it takes everything I have not to shove April aside.

I squeeze in next to her instead, staring hopefully out into the snows.

The day is overcast and a gentle snow is falling, which means everything is gray and gloomy and visibility isn't fantastic.

There's a large humanoid figure on the horizon, though, moving steadily towards our location.

They're too far away to make out who it is…

My khui begins its song, gentle and welcoming.

With a happy cry, I burst from the cave and rush out to greet my mate.