Page 36 of Hunting for her Heart
“What about your families?” I ask. “You said you don’t have siblings, but what about your parents?”
Ronan’s eyes darken a little, and he holds up another piece of meat to my lips as he answers. “I lost my family in a terrible storm when I was twenty.”
Before I can answer, Hawk speaks, “I lost all my parents a few years ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” I tell him, before looking at Ronan, making sure he knows I mean him, too. “That’s horrible.”
“It’s in the past now. Besides, Bo’s family is still around,” Ronan says, as if trying to lighten the mood.
“That’s right, and my mother is going to love you!” A huge smile covers Bo’s face. “My dads too.”
“Did you just say dads? Like, more than one?” I ask in confusion.
“That’s right,” he says as he comes over to help feed me. “Everyone here has multiple fathers.”
My so-calledbrothersaid something about that, but I didn’t really realize what that meant until now.
Ronan gives me another piece of meat as he adds, “If youchoose to stay with us, it’s how it would be for our children. They would have us three as fathers, and you as a mother.” He gently caresses my cheek, sending heat between my legs, before breaking the contact to grab another piece of meat.
The thought of having children with them is so foreign, it sends my mind spinning. I never really thought about having kids before, other than knowing that’s what Paul wanted from me. Male offspring to carry on his lineage.
They’d already told me that men marry in groups here, but I failed to comprehend that it would mean having multiple fathers.
“How many fathers do you have?” I ask.
“Four,” Bo says with a smile.
I try to wrap my head around everything they’re saying as we silently finish our evening meal. Hawk gives me a water canteen to drink from as I ponder everything.
“Do your fathers dress like you?” I ask, wondering if men who are not warriors wear the same clothing.
“They tend to wear more coverings over their shoulders and chests,” he explains. “But since my father, Torran, is acting as chief while Ronan is away, he will probably be dressed more like us until we return.”
My eyes jump to Ronan in question. “Chief?” I ask in confusion.
Stepping back from where he was tending to the fire, he moves over to stand right in front of me, making me tilt my head way back so I can look up at him. “Yes, my tiny treasure. I am the chief of Redmere. When I was voted in, after my fathers’ passed, I made it my mission to make sure our island is a safe and perfect place for everyone who lives there.” He reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. “Hopefully, that will one day include you.”
“Oh,” I whisper in response as I stare into his deep green eyes. I can tell he’s waiting for my response, and I’m unsure why knowing that he’s the one in charge, not only lifts a small weight off my shoulders but also does something to my insides.
My stomach tightens, and I feel myself growing damp between my legs. I inhale sharply, realizing that it’s desire I’m feeling so strongly. I’m not sure why him being chief is so appealing, but it is. Maybe it helps to solidify that he can not only protect me physically, but he has the authority to do it as well.
My father had been the leader of our cult, which is probably similar to a chief. Everyone had to listen to what he said, even if they didn’t agree. And of course, nobody could ever voice their disagreement.
But with Ronan… he is onmyside. He doesn’t want to sell me off to some old man, or force me to serve his people.
Or at least, I hope he doesn’t.
Staringdown at the bundle of large leaves that one of them had brought into our cave for kindling, an idea starts to form in my mind. For the past twenty minutes, the three of them have been debating the pros and cons of sleeping on the strange bed of grass tonight, instead of the cold, hard floor. Not that it was big enough for more than one person, anyway.
Careful not to expose myself, I bend down and pick up two large flat leafs and a smaller long one, then move to theunused wood pile and find a small twig. It doesn’t take long to piece it all together. This isn’t exactly sewing, but that is something I’ve been doing since I was old enough to hold a sewing needle. This is the same, but with more primitive tools.
I manage to tear the long leaf into strips, to use as thread, then I poke holes in two large leafs, and thread it through. I have to tie a few together, but I’m left with an extremely basic loincloth, with one leaf hanging down the front, and one down the back.
“What’s that?” Bo asks, and when I glance up, I realize all eyes are on me.
“Oh, um…” I glance down at the contraption and suddenly doubt fills me.
They’re gonna think it’s stupid.
