Good news! There will be 30 chapters in the top tier of privilege from 1 February AND I'm having paperbacks printed that take you all the way through Zev & Sasha's Solitude. (That's the wordcount equivalent of 2 normal novels in one volume!) If you're a Top Tier Privilege reader in February, comment on the most recently published chapter anytime in the month to enter the draw for a FREE paperback! (USA only unless you want to pay horrendous shipping, sorry!)

See you next month! (This message added after publication so you aren't charged for the words)

*****

~ SASHA ~

Sasha looked down at her hands. They were pale in the dim light. Cold. But not as cold as Zev's when he took her hands after he'd been touching the snow.

She gasped.

"You're hand is freezing!

"

Zev smiled.

"I'll be fine. But why don't we go make some breakfast and just… be together.

"

Sasha nodded as he took her hand again and led her back. Walking into that beautiful room was like a breath of fresh air. She was glad they'd been snowed in. That there would be no more chance encounters with naked bull-men.

Sasha blinked.

"So… Minos…

"

"Yes?

" Zev asked without looking down at her as they walked back into the bedchamber.

"Was he made by the humans?

"

"Yes.

"

Zev let her go, returning to the fire, stoking it and place more wood on so the flames crackled and Sasha could feel the heat rising off it.

"Why?

" she asked.

"Why what?

"

"Why did they make a man with the head of a bull? What were they trying to do?

"

"What are they ever trying to do?

" Zev muttered, filling a small kettle with water and placing the huge frying pan on the frame over the flames.

"Whatever it was, they obviously didn't achieve it, because they released him here.

"

"Why?

" Sasha asked abruptly.

"Why would they make him and bring him here, but then they removed half the Chimera? It doesn't make sense.

"

"It's because he can't be loose in the human world,

" Zev said, shrugging.

"Any of the creatures they make that don't look human eventually get released here because if they get loose in the human world the people will figure out what they're doing. But the humans obviously treat them differently before they bring them here, because those Chimera are never willing to work with them again. They're… aggressive. It's why the humans are so nervous about being here. Outside of the village, anyway.

"The others avoid the places we gather because they say we stink too much like humans. It makes them nervous. At least, that's what Minos told me. I don't know if he was just teasing though. I do know that the others are just like Minos—not in the their form. But the fact that they're all the only ones of their kind. And they hate humans. Don't just dislike them, hate them.

"

Sasha hugged herself.

"How many of them are there?

"

"Like Minos?

"

"Like, anything. You said they're all one of a kind? How many one-of-a-kinds are there?

"

Zev snorted.

"I don't have a clue. Hundreds? They all come here and live as best they can, then die. None of them have mates or families… it's just… they live their lives. They go kind of feral over time—many of them can't speak like we can. And the ones that do, some of them stop talking and give in to their beast sides. They're welcome among us, but they rarely take advantage of that. We leave them alone as much as we can.

"

"No wonder they hate humans, then,

" Sasha said.

"Because they can't mate?

"

"Because they're lonely,

" she said. Wasn't it obvious?

"They've been made, then just… abandoned. They don't fit with you guys, they don't fit in the human world. They're just living empty lives, isolated and… gosh, Zev, if you feel like you're strange, and you have a whole pack of wolves, imagine how people like Minos must feel!

"

Zev added eggs and some bacon to the pan, but then he looked up, blinked at her, a strange expression on his face.

"What?

" she asked.

"This is what I mean,

" he said quietly.

"You see things I don't see. I thought… I thought the others avoided us because they didn't want to be near us. But you're seeing… they feel lonely. Like I did when I was in your world. That sense of not fitting… And their hate for the humans… you're right. I thought it was because they'd suffered cruelty or whatever. But you might be right. It might be as much about feeling angry about their lives as anything else.

"

"They hate them? More than you do?

"

Zev's brows popped up.

"If a human wandered into the wilderness of Thana and ran into Minos, they wouldn't live long enough to scream,

" he said, his face serious.

Sasha stopped breathing.

"And you let me walk around out here? What if you hadn't been there and Minos found me? What if someone else does?

"

Zev shook his head.

"They know the humans that are on the team, make no mistake, Sasha. Their hate is personal. But also, none of the others would breach the village, or the City. They don't even want to be close to us—let alone you. And as long as you're out in the forest with one of us, you're fine.

"

"But, Zev… you said some of these are more like animals than humans—

"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean they don't think, Sash. They just use different senses. And now that we're mated, you'll smell of me. And none of them hate me.

"

"But, if you're not around—!

" Sasha gripped her throat, imagining what she would have done if Minos had come for her up the tree—or someone, or something else like him. So strong and tall… she wouldn't stand a chance!

"

An image of Xar, throwing her to the ground, his teeth bared and eyes flaring with the light of insanity—of the horrible sound of the rock in her hand cracking his skull, and the way he slumped—

Sasha sucked in a breath, but Zev was already on his feet, rushing to her.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, babe. Don't get upset. Nothing's going to happen to you here, you're safe! I promise.

"

"Zev, don't be naïve! Xar almost killed me! Minos wanted to until he found out I was your mate. Who knows what else is out there, or what the Chimera will bite first and ask questions later?

"

"No, no, shhhh, listen.

" He held her face, his eyes bright.

"Listen: If you're ever away from me or the others and you run into a Chimera in the forest, you stand your ground, okay? You tell them you're my mate, and you have them smell you. They'll smell me on you. Everything will be fine.

"

"But—

"

"Trust me, Sash. Chimera don't think like you do. It's all about hierarchy and who belongs to who. A Chimera in his right mind would never take the mate of another. Never.

" Then he smiled.

"Technically, since you're Alpha, I belong to you. But even if they don't know you, they know me. And when they smell me on you… they'll back off. I promise. And as for the Clans…

" Zev's smile broadened and he pulled her closer, his fingers combing her hair back from her temples as he beamed down at her.

"They watched you declare for me, and me for you,

" he said, his voice deep and husky.

"In their eyes now, we're a pair. No matter what. Whether you're Alpha or I am. Or neither of us.. it doesn't matter. In the Chimeran world, you're mine, Sash. And no one's going to breach that,

" he said, his voice tightening with conviction—and with resolve. Then he sighed.

"You're stuck with me now.

"

Sasha couldn't help it, he looked so handsome, despite the clouds in his eyes, they sparkled with joy as he made the statement.

"Yes, I am,

" she whispered.

"And I'm so, so glad that that's true, Zev. You have no idea.

"

He pulled her into his chest and they hugged, Sasha careful to keep her arm lower than his wounds.