"It is me," I tell her, even as my khui begins to sing. "It is Sessah!"
She screams again, and to my surprise, a knife appears in her hand. She stabs at me, but I catch it easily, surprised that she would try to wound me. I pull it out of her grasp, only to have her find another and try to stab me again.
"Sam," I say again, as she struggles to break free from my grasp. "Sam, I am not here to hurt you. It is Sessah!"
The wild look in her eyes is frantic, her gaze darting everywhere but my face. She screams again, loud and shrill, and I realize she is lost in her terror. I grab her chin and force her to look me in the eye. "Sam. Do you know who I am? Say my name."
Her eyes flutter, and she smashes a hand against my arm, scratching furiously.
"Say my name," I repeat calmly. "You know who I am."
Her struggles grow slower, and I can tell the moment she regains herself again. "S-Sessah," she pants, recognition in her eyes. "Oh god. Sessah. Never sneak up on me!"
"Never again," I agree, releasing her. "But you must not fling yourself over the cliff."
"Fling myself over the cliff," she echoes, confusion on her face. I am relieved to see that, instead of disappointment. I worried she would hurt herself, but it seems I am simply overeager. Her hand presses against my chest, where I am still looming over her, and her confused expression changes to one of pure misery.
My khui hums harder at her touch, at her nearness.
So this is what resonance feels like. I close my eyes, reveling in the overwhelming sensations. It feels a bit as if I am the one being flung over the cliff. So many new feelings rage in my chest. I have always thought of myself as easy-natured and slow to rage. The fires that burn hot in Bek or Vektal do not burn nearly as hot in me. On this day, though, with my female pressed under me and her khui singing to mine? I have never wanted so badly. There is nothing in the world that would please me more than to rip Sam's leggings from her body and to bury my face between her thighs. To grab her and put a hand on the back of her neck as I shove my cock into her cunt. To hold her jaw while my mouth plunders hers in a tongue-mating. Raw, visceral images flash through my mind and I want.
I hunger.
My cock is swollen with need, my body demanding my mate. My mouth waters to taste her, and my blood pounds in my ears. Sam is under me, and her scent fills my senses. I breathe it in, deep, and then open my eyes.
She looks desperate and miserable, her eyes full of tears.
Her tears make me feel like a monster. Full of loathing, I shove myself off of her and roll away into the snow. A dull ache gnaws at my thoughts, replacing some of the aching hunger I feel. "You do not want me."
She swipes at her face, sniffling. "No."
I get to my feet, brushing snow off my leathers. I want to rake my nails across my skin, to hurt myself to make this misery recede, even for just a moment. My mate does not want me. My khui sings, but my female hates the thought of being mine. Hot misery is all around me. "Is there…another? A pleasure-mate?"
Sam gives a bitter laugh, hugging her arms around herself. "It's not you, Sessah. I don't want anyone. At all. Ever."
I swallow hard, trying to think of something to say that would make her feel better. To offer a mating where I seed her and walk away…but I cannot even suggest such a thing. The words will not leave my tongue. I want a mate. I want Sam to be mine. I want to share everything with her, and to take care of her. Helpless, I spread my hands, unsure what to offer. "Did you think that by fleeing, you would avoid resonance? You know that does not work. Josie and Haeden—"
"I know," she snaps, struggling to her feet. I want to help her, but I know it will not be appreciated, so I curl my hands into fists and force myself to watch as she rights herself. "I know all about Josie and Haeden, okay? I know you can't avoid resonance, but I was hoping that if it was just me, it'd eventually go quiet. That if I didn't go back, it'd die down and it wouldn't affect anyone else." Her mouth twists. "But now you've gone and activated it. You've ruined everything."
I am confused. I scratch at my head, then move forward to pick up her pack of gear.