A blush stole over my cheeks. The way he looked at me was lovely and overwhelming at the same time. I really wished I had never brought up the sex and we could live in this bubble for a while.
Ward brushed a thumb over my bottom lip. “The bond is a more effective tether between us than you wrapped around me. We will need to follow your call to the next relic. Vinguard has many hidden places and will be difficult to search.”
“Hidden places where a toad shifter lives?” I said hopefully.
Ward scoffed and faced me the correct way on the horse. I found out why as we crested the hill and the bustling city sprawled out before us. Built with pointed rooftops on every building, the metropolis looked like a deranged collection of tents. Red was the predominant color with golds winking in the sunlight. We approached from a little used road. The contrast when we hit the city’s cobbles was intimidating. It was like being swallowed by a giant organism. More people stopped on the street than lived in my entire village. I thought Harrowood was big.
Ward leaned over to murmur in my ear. “Tell me when you notice it more strongly.”
His words scrambled the call more than helped, because I certainly noticed his cock rubbing on my ass, but I didn't think that’s what he meant. I needed to get the blood flow back to my brain and focus.
“Left,” I called out, and the hammering in my chest grew stronger.
Come to me, child.The Goddess’ voice could have come with helpful instructions instead of that shit. I was moving as fast as I could without expiring from claustrophobia.
Winding through the streets, I did my best not to gape at the sheer variety of monsters living their everyday lives. It was the furthest thing possible from my safe little village. There I trusted I would wake up to the same faces every day. I didn’t know if I should screw my eyes shut or carefully watch the nightmare with more eyes and teeth than anything else I could identify. All of them looked like they might kill me, even the cute and fluffy puffball on tall, spindly legs carrying a basket in its beak. None of the many eyes on the street lingered on us. Everyone took one glance at Ward and made way for him, even on the narrow streets. We wound through a few more turns at my direction.
“Stop,” I said with an echo of the Goddess in my voice. I hated when she did that.
Ward’s horse shied at the sound. The townspeople in the square flinched, and a child started crying. Greg stood rooted to the spot, flicking his tail, unbothered. We looked up and up an impressive set of stairs to a large porch of an even larger temple.
The Godds might have been dead, but the Kings and Queens who took their place made one hells of a show about their power. The temple’s stones were too big for human hands to move, let alone place. A red shimmer of magic put out a constant, low-grade song of lust, flesh and earthy desires. A line of supplicants slouched as they waited on the steps to the temple. The Queen didn’t seem particularly fast at taking callers.
“What are they waiting for?” I asked Ward.
“They have a problem of the flesh. The Queen built Vinguard on her potions. They can drive lovers into a frenzy as great as the mate bond.”
I swiveled around to fully face him. “Are you saying we’re in a city made of sex magic?”
Ward nodded. “Among other afflictions of the flesh, yes.”
“Well, we’ll say we have a flesh problem. Let’s just walk in with the rest of these guys and get this relic.”
Ward latched on to my arm before I slid down. “Watch.”
A tiny woman appeared at the top of the stairs, clutching a sharp-edged weapon as tall as she was. Her long, flowing hair hid more than her tight top, that molded to her killer shoulders and arms. Black tresses cascaded down her hips and over her… tail? Her lower half was all cat balancing on two legs. With little other clothing, she sported a silver collar; the chain attached to the column behind her.
“The Brides of the Beast of Bodmin would collectively tear me apart, even in my bear form, if we tried to cut the line or take anything. They train to fight, counterbalanced on those chains.”
So force wouldn’t get us anywhere. That left us nowhere. My stomach chose that exact moment to make itself known, and Ward tightened an arm around me.
“We will figure this out when we have food and a bed,” he said, nudging his horse forward. I had to agree. The lack of guards at the first temple was a trick. Ihadthought this would be easier.
We stopped in front of the Whistling Pickle - its cheery exterior bright with mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen. I got down to give Greg some love and berries I foraged along the way when Ward appeared again too quickly.
“No room. We’ll try the next one.”
I scrambled onto Greg and followed him to the next inn with no room. And the next.
When Ward came out again, his brow drew down, his eyes sparking. “We’re reaching the limit of even Vinguard’s hospitality.”
I hadn’t bothered to get off the horse this time. “We can just sleep in the open again. I don’t mind.”
Ward mounted his horse with more energy than I had left, looking back at me with an intensity that warmed my insides. “If you’ll let me into a bed with you, I’m going to find us one.” He moved through the crowds with less care, more intensity. They scrambled out of his way.
My cheeks pinked, and I resigned myself to more searching as we tried three more inns before we reached the outskirts of town. The houses grew further apart, and the buildings shone with fresh paint and new trimming like they just went up yesterday to contain Vinguard’s overflowing populace.
“If the inns are full, we can always ask the Brothers of Zophiel for shelter. They were here before the Queen was a twinkle in her mother’s eye.” Ward pointed to a dizzying edifice that soared to the sky. Its encrusted buttresses and stained glass windows dazzled in the afternoon light, a sprawling complex behind it. Its charcoal-grey color made it a rain cloud trying to suppress a rainbow.
