Page 33 of Hunting for her Heart
“In our world,” Bo says as he resumes making the poultice, “men always marry in groups of brothers. But if a man has no brothers, he becomes a loneling. He’s looked down on by society, and it makes him less desirable because it’s believed there is less security in taking mates from multiple families.”
I try to understand what he’s saying, but it’s almost impossible since men don’t marry in groups at all in my world. “I don’t care about any of that,” I tell them.
“I already knew you were perfect,” Bo says with a grin. “But your response proves you’re perfect forus.”
“Why did you ask about siblings?” Hawk asks me.
“I was just thinking about my sister, and how I miss her. I wondered if you had siblings on Redmere.”
“You have a sister?” Hawk asks, sounding astonished.
“Yeah, Isabella. I call her Izzy.”
“Is that normal in your world? For a family to birth more than one woman?” Ronan asks.
“Men and women are born equally there. I’m guessing it’s different here?” I ask, taking in their surprised reactions.
“Yes. It’s more like twenty men for every one woman,” Ronan tells me.
“Wow. So that’s why you marry in groups,” I say, understanding a little more about this world.
“Yes,” Ronan confirms. “For protection and the best chance at offspring.”
“Where is your sister now?” Hawk asks gently, steering the conversation back on track.
“I’m not sure. She had escaped the cult six months ago. She was trying to help me get out, but she had to be careful not to get caught. Even if I went back there, I’d have no idea how to find her.”
Hawk wraps his arms around me from behind, hugging me to him. “I’m sorry. I wish we could help you find her.”
“I just want her to know I’m okay. And make sure she’s okay.”
“Once the Mating Hunt is over, we will figure out a way for you to send a message to her,” Ronan says as he kneels down and starts to slice up the meat. He glances up at me and adds, “That is, if you don’t want to go back.”
I nod, not committing either way. Izzy has been the only person I’ve ever cared about since our mother died when Iwas six. She was theonlygood thing about that world. But I’m unsure if I can stay here, either. This world is dangerous, and I’m not sure I belong.
I glance at Ronan and Bo as Hawk continues to hold me.That isn’t entirely true. I am starting to feel like I belong… with them.
After a few minutes, Hawk helps Ronan cook the meat as Bo kneels in front of me and applies the poultice to my bruises. It has a strong herbal smell and feels a bit like mud when he applies it.
As he works, his brows pinch together, making me shift on my feet nervously. “What’s wrong?” I finally ask.
He shakes his head as he keeps applying it. “You have more bruises than I thought. I hate that they did this to you. That I couldn’t protect you.”
“You didn’t even know me.”
He glances up at me and shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter,” he says, pointing to his chest, over his heart. “In here, you’ve always been mine. I just hadn’t met you yet.”
His words send a flutter of butterflies soaring in my chest. Nobody has ever said anything so sweet to me before. I watch his face as he concentrates on what he’s doing. It gives me a chance to study him more. His beard is short but covers his entire jaw, and I itch to reach out and touch it, wondering what it feels like. His lips are pink, and I wonder, if he kissed me, would his beard tickle my face?
Movement by his knees has me glancing at the ground. My eyes widen when I see blades of green grass literally sprouting from the rock around him. Nobody seems to notice, so I whisper nervously, “Uh, Bo?”
He looks up at me and must see where my wide eyes arefocused because he glances down and gasps, before jumping to his feet.
“What the hell? Another magic cave?” He quickly steps away, and the grass continues to expand, almost as if following him. But after two feet, it stops.
The other two come over, and the four of us circle the small area and stare down at it. “I’ve never seen something so bizarre,” Ronan says, reaching his bare foot out to run over the grass. I want to know what it feels like, so I do the same.
“Wait!” They all say in unison, trying to stop me, but I’ve already stepped forward onto the grass, my toes wiggling in the soft blades.
