Page 114 of Citrine

I might actually punch him. "You—"

"I hate to interrupt, especially since I have no idea what you are saying, but it isn't safe to keep talking out in the open like this," Thivoll rumbles at us. "There are hunters in the region now."

I keep talking in Wroahk's language. "Could you please interpret, Ree? I want to make sure Wroahk hears this and knows that if he doesn't agree to it, I will go to the bottom of the lake and waste away in misery."

I can tell by the way she raises her eyebrows that she thinks I'm being overly dramatic, but she'll figure out why I have to be likethis. Or I will tell her later. Actually, there is no time like the present.

"Wroahk doesn't think in shades of gray, Ree."

From the way she raises her chin with a knowing expression and a hum, I see that she gets it. I give myself a moment to think over how to best present this to him.

"Wroahk knows how important a communityis for me and my continual health."

I give her a moment to catch up with her interpretation, then speak again. "Although he has been characteristically stubborn about actually agreeing to anything, I know that once he tells me he will or will not do something he keeps his word."

He squeezes me a bit harder to let me know he doesn't like where this is headed, but I keep going. "Our island is a very nice location for a community. It is completely surrounded by water with Many Teeth creatures in it that will kill anyone else, but who are no match for Wroahk's strength and cunning."

He loosens his grip at the compliment, but I know he won't like the next thing I am going to say. "Wroahk will keep the Many Teeth away from you. Tell me you will help keep anyone I say is part of my communitysafe, Wroahk."

He squeezes me tight again and just stares at me. "Say. It," I bite out. "Now."

"I will help keep anyone you say is part of your communitysafe."

I let out a breath, relieved. "You will protect anyone in my communitylike they were me."

"No."

I see where I went wrong there. "You will prioritize protecting me, but will also assist our communitywhen you can, which will include protecting our island."

He repeats it.

"Good. You will help people I have identified as being in the communitycross to our island."

He agrees to that, too.

I'm surprised, but I just keep going. "Ree and Thivoll—the ones clinging to that tree right there—are part of our community. So are any and all women like me that we find. And Kira and…

"Drasuk," Ree reminds me.

"Kira and Drasuk. I will keep adding people as long as they are actually allies. Say it."

He does, but adds a caveat. "If they ever try to harm you, they are no longer community."

I nod. "Fair enough."

50

Wroahk

All thedealswere terrible, but I know by now when she is serious enough to removekindprivileges. Her anger is making my mating tentacles twitch, but now is not the time.

She starts talking with the woman again in the language I don't know. She's just as ugly as Eli used to look. Maybe more so. The male with her has been looking at me with a promise of death in his eyes if I come any closer to his female

He can have her. One is more than enough.

I think about how this means there will be at least twice as many words, and I shudder. Except then I realize that I no longer have to pretend I'm listening in order to avoid threats and suddenly this all seems like a much better idea.

They will speak to each other. How have I not realized this before?

---