Siara had spent much of that morning thinking about James Blake and the passionate kiss they’d shared by the creek. She hadn’t known it could be like that—to want a man so fiercely, her body shook with it. But he was a temptation she couldn’t indulge. She belonged to another and would do well to remember that. Tomorrow, James would return to his people and she would travel onto the aid of others. Siara made her way back to the secluded shelter, carrying the new clothes she had promised James and the supplies for his travel. As she neared the small camp, angry, muffled shrieks reached her. Panicked, she rushed toward the shelter and came to an abrupt stop at the sight before her. Siara dropped the supplies to the ground and covered her mouth in alarm—then guilty humor. “James!” she shouted. “Place her down.” Thrown over his shoulder was an angry and violent Etu.
