I’ve never felt love like this. I don’t know who they’ll be, what they’ll look like, but the feeling is too big for my chest. It hurts…and I don't want it to stop. I don’t ever want it to stop.
Somewhere behind us, a hoof strikes the ground. Once, then again. The horses are restless.
Zarreth’s hand slides off mine. “Stay here,” he orders, already rising.
They’re stamping and snorting now, ears flat to their head. I push to my feet as Rhea’s eyes snap up. Kara’s already moving, throwing spears to the falkyrie. A low growl rolls through the darkness. Something’s there.
The light from the fire hits its skin and my stomach turns. It’s almost translucent, the veins underneath pulsing. I’ve seen that before.No. I’vemadethat before. More times than I’d like to admit. They’re the failures of Dante’s creations, the shifters that never formed in the way that he wanted. It moves, low and fast, circling the edge of the firelight.
“What the hell is that?” Jess whispers from behind me.
A hiss splits the air, followed by another. My pulse jumps. I scan the shadows as two more shapes emerge from the dark. They’re crawling low to the ground, bones moving in different directions.
“Shit,” Rhea mutters somewhere off to my right.
Zarreth’s already on his feet, fire bursting from his palm. The first creature lunges, and his flame strikes it midair. The heat licks across my face, its scream ripping through me.
Another charges toward the wagon. Jess gasps. I grab her arm, yanking her closer.
“Stay down,” Graven shouts, meeting it halfway and shoving a blade through its throat.
Kara’s voice cuts through next, fierce and clear. “Zarreth!”
He turns, his fire flaring bright enough to blind me for a moment. A scream follows, then a heavy thud.
I blink spots from my eyes. One creature burns on the ground, another lies still near the wagon, smoke curling off its skin. The third twitches once and doesn’t move again.
Kara kicks the one closest to her, chuckling when it hisses and crumbles to ash. “Nicely done.”
Zarreth nods. “You, too.”
“Was that a compliment from the Emberlord?” She teases. “I better mark that on a calendar.”
Zarreth lets out a quiet laugh and pulls me into his arms.
Rhea’s eyes narrow as she takes in Kara’s arm. “It’s bleeding again,” she says, concern in her voice.
Kara glances down and waves her off. “Old wound. Nothing new.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s not worse,” Rhea huffs, grabbing the med kit anyway. She peels away the old bandage and begins cleaning the wound. “You always say you’re fine.”
Kara shrugs. “And I usually am.”
Rhea tightens the wrap with a yank that makes Kara flinch.
“You get mean when you worry.” Her laugh only makes Rhea yank harder, and for some reason I can’t hold back my smile.
“Because you always give me reason to worry.” Rhea finishes bandaging the wound.
Kara leans in and presses a gentle kiss to her mouth. “Happy now?”
“Not even close,” Rhea whispers, a small grin on her face.
I turn away, pretending to fuss with the fire, but the sound of Rhea’s laugh lingers. For a second, it almost feels like we’re safe again.
CHAPTER 41
Zarreth
