I screamed again, but this time the sound was eclipsed by a shrill whistle.
The ratakan ground to a halt, their beady red eyes now fixed on something behind me.
I didn’t want to take my eyes off them—but I needed to see what was coming.
I risked a glance, locking my knees when they threatened to buckle.
A hulking figure ran toward me.
Another whistle sounded, and the ratakan backed up a few steps.
The wards behind me crackled and fizzed.
My head grew suddenly light and floaty.
“Anamaya?” A large hand closed around my arm. “It’s okay, they won’t hurt you now.”
The voice was familiar, but I’d never seen this man before. Tall and built with biceps to spare, his strong facial features were framed by a neatly clipped beard. His long, dark hair was tied in a knot, leaving the short back and buzzed sides on display. Oh, he had a pretty mouth…
“How did you get out here?” he asked.
Several figures dressed in black and gray rushed by in my periphery, and another shrill whistle sounded.
“Border clear!” someone called.
I stared up into moss-green eyes flecked with yellow. The same eyes as the barghest who’d carried me to safety… “Drayven?”
His beautiful eyes warmed. “That’s right.”
“You look good.” My words came out oddly slurred. Ooo…sparkles.
“Shit, they sprayed you.”
“Huh?” My knees finally lost the will to hold me, and I buckled.
He snagged me around the waist and hauled me against his body. I grabbed hold of him on instinct, my palms coming to rest on his silken, taut skin. “Nice.” I gripped his biceps. “Big.” A pleasant tingle rushed up my arms.
Someone snickered.
Drayven glared over my head, and the laughter died instantly. “Anamaya, how did you get out here?”
His skin was so soft. I rubbed my cheek against his arm. “You feel so good.”
“Anamaya?” He gently pushed me away. “How did you get here?”
Oh…yes. I was in danger. Had been in danger because of Viola. “That bitch shoved me through a portal. I’m going to have to break her face.”
“The border portal?” someone said. “She outran the ratakan?”
“Jay?” I tried to turn my head to find him, but the world swam.
Drayven cupped the back of my head. “Hey, keep your eyes on me. No sudden movements, or it will disorient you. Why didn’t you use the portal to get back?”
He had such a nice voice, and the vibration of his chest against me when he spoke was soothing. What would he taste like?
“Anamaya. Focus.” The snap to his tone cleared a little of the fog clouding my mind.
“Oh…I—uh. I tried, but I don’t think I’m in the system. The portals didn’t recognize me. And the wards knocked me back.”
