Page 3

Marron

" I have a plan," Thro says as he scampers back to where we're meant to be working today.

He tugs on my tunic until I lean down so he can whisper in my ear.

Does it matter that Beren and Lyath are off working in a different field today?

No, because Thro thinks this is some secret mission we are on when, in all actuality, it is just Beren and Lyath trying to make sure the unmated female in their care is not preyed upon.

Not that I would prey upon her. Well, if she wanted me to, I could be amenable.

"I will tell Beren and Lyath I am ill tonight while we have dinner.

I have even perfected fainting. Jen has been helping me.

So, I will faint. They will be so concerned for me and rush to take me to the tribe to get me to Vex.

Then, when all of them rush to get me aid because having the most favorite male die on your watch is a bad look for anyone, you will sneak back to the farm and have alone time with the unmated female. "

I listen to his plan because I have to give him credit for making it better than his last plan. In that one, he wanted to set fire to one of the fields to keep Beren and Lyath away from the house. Still, I do not want to scheme ways to get close to Tori.

Yes, it's been many days since I last spoke with her, and maybe Beren, Lyath, and Nia have been watching her more closely.

I have not been quiet about how I feel for the fiery-haired female.

I saw her once, told Beren I was interested in his ward, and have continued to tell him I am interested in her so he does not think this is some fleeting infatuation.

As soon as Tori is willing to be with me, I will be ready, but I will not force my affections on a female who does not want them.

"No more scheming," I tell Thro, pushing him off me so I can continue my work. "I have told you that as soon as the small female wishes me to woo her, I will. I am not going to force my attentions on her."

"It is not forcing your attentions," Thro argues.

I do not know why he is so interested in me mating Tori, but he has been adamant about making it happen from the moment he saw how my face changed when I saw her.

He has also taken it upon himself to ensure her protection, as he puts it, since I am not allowed near her.

This means he eats dinner out here many nights, and when he is with me, he recounts everything Tori did.

"I do not think you would even know how to force your attentions on anyone. No, this is more about giving you a chance to allow her to see that she should allow you to woo her. Right now, Beren and Lyath keep her locked away, so she has no idea you are here and eager to speak with her."

"And can she speak with me?" I ask, lifting one of my brows.

Tori is working hard to learn our language, but still does not know it very well. We might be able to speak for a few moments together, but we could not carry on a whole conversation. I would be fine with sitting silently with her, but that does not build a strong foundation for a good mating.

"Between what she has learned and what you have learned, I am sure you can have many conversations together." Thro pauses, taking a deep breath since he talks so fast.

It makes me happy that he is so carefree. He has already experienced too much in his life, and he deserves this time to not care about anything other than scheming.

"I will wait until she finds me or until she signs up for the mating ceremony," I tell Thro, hoping I do not sound too stern.

I do not want to ruin his fun, but I also need him to understand that he will not push this any further than he already has.

"I have promised Beren that I am not a liability on his farm. If he no longer believes me, neither of us will have jobs."

"I do not need a job." Thro shrugs. "I came here to help you so you could be allowed a female when they started coming. Well, now the female meant to be yours is here, and you are doing nothing to woo her. I do not see why I am needed here anymore."

"You do not feel good when you are helpful?" I ask.

It is true that Thro does not enjoy work, but no one truly enjoys it. We do it to sustain the tribe and ensure that we are helpful. Thro can tell me he does not need a job, but he would be bored all day without it.

Beren and Lyath allow Thro to continue his lessons with their ward, Jen, on the days she has one of the older females come to teach her.

He is behind in his lessons because our father cared little for educated males, but I do not want him to grow up without knowing things like I have. He is too clever for that.

"Fine!" Thro throws his hands up. "I enjoy being helpful and being close to Beren and Lyath's family because they treat us like family, but I would be thrilled if you were happy as well. I do not like being the only one between us who is allowed good things."

"Thro." My brows furrow as I kneel to the ground.

He is looking away from me right now. Obviously, he does not want to discuss this, but it has come out anyway.

"I do think I am allowed good things. I have you, I have Toron and his mate, and Itha.

You think they do not make me the happiest of males? "

"That is not the same, and you know it." Thro crosses his arms over his chest, still not facing me. "You would be happy with a mate."

"And what would you know of it?" I ask.

I am not trying to sound insensitive, but the only reason Thro cares at all about mating right now is because he wants me to mate with Tori. He has no interest in it for himself and won't for many more years until he goes through the changing.

"I know that males who have mates are happy," Thro says, turning to glare at me. "Toron is happy with his Alice. He is an angry male and always looks like he might kill someone, but when he is with her, he is the happiest. Beren, as well. How many times have you seen him smile?"

I frown, trying hard to think if I've ever seen it.

"Exactly!" Thro says as though he is making some grand point. "You have not seen it because he only does it with his Nia and Lyath in their home. He is actually a happy male, but you would never know unless you see him with his mates."

"What does this have to do with me?" I ask.

I am sure Thro has all the good intentions in the world, but I am not an angry male. In fact, I try very hard not to be an angry male because our father was angry enough for all three of us.

"You do not smile often." He rubs at his eyes and then glares at me like he is unhappy to have to wipe away his tears.

"But when you saw her, you looked so happy.

Now, any time we talk about her, there is a chance that you will smile, and that is what I want.

I want a brother who smiles more than he looks sad.

You deserve to be happy. I do not know why you do not see that. "

My teeth clench together as I listen to my brother.

It is true that I am not the happiest of males.

Much has happened in my life and to those I love, making it hard to see happiness when others do.

It is not always, but it is enough to leave a heavy weight on my shoulders, making it harder to see the brightness of our lives.

"I want to be happy, Thro." I wrap a hand around his shoulder and pull him close to me.

He throws his arms around me before I think for even a second he won't. "I promise you, I am learning to be happy again.

Thanks to you, thanks to Toron and Alice, and yes, thanks to Tori—do not tell Beren I said her name, or he might seal me—but that does not mean we are going to make her be with me before she is ready. "

"I make you happy?" Thro asks, not turning his head from where it's buried in my shoulder.

He's fifteen, which, according to the humans, would make him close to being fully grown.

He still has at least five years if he goes through the changing when I did.

That is why I do not give him a hard time for needing so much comfort.

He is still a young, and even grown males sometimes need someone to hold them.

"You make me so happy," I tell him, believing every word because it is true. Without Thro, I would not be in this tribe now. I would not have a roof over my head, and I would most definitely not be working on this farm where I met my mate.

"I am still going to tell her every day how strong you are and how well you could protect her.

" Thro pushes away from me, brushing the tears from his eyes again.

"I have already told her how you protected me for many years.

I do not know if she understood what I was saying, and no one translated it.

I think it made them all a little sad. That is not the point, though.

The point is, I will tell her every day until one day she understands and she knows that you are the perfect male to choose for a mate. "

"I think I can live with that kind of scheming." I pat him on the shoulder and then stand.

My scales feel warm on my back, the same feeling I get whenever Tori is near and has her eyes on me. I turn slowly, hoping she does not know I can feel her gaze. Thro ruins any semblance of me looking nonchalant, though. He throws his hands in the air and waves at Tori.

"Tori!" he yells her name as she raises one of her hands to wave in response to him.

She is standing next to Beren, telling him something, but Thro has their attention. Tori's cheeks are already blooming in color, which is beautiful. I would like to see where else she turns pink because I have a feeling it is in all the places I will very much like to look.

"Tori, I must tell you about how Marron is so strong. He was just lifting so many things. I will tell you all about it. Yes, yes, you may leave Beren. I will keep her entertained with talk about my brother."

Tori cannot understand much of what he says, but Beren and I both can. I expect a look of displeasure on Beren's face when Thro begins to shout about me and dismiss him, but instead, he just shakes his head with his usual scowl and turns back to the house.

I watch Thro and Tori walk around the fields while he talks, and she listens. I do not know how she can be so entertained by a story she does not understand, but it does make it harder for me to stay away from her.

I want a female who cares for my blood as much as I do. I stare at them for so long that Tori's eyes meet mine, and then she's mouthing something I can't make out. She lifts her fingers in a little wiggle, waving at me before turning her attention back to Thro.

I groan as I kneel back to continue my work. I do not know how long the fiery-haired female will stay away from me, but I hope to be near her soon.