“I’ll have to be.”
After they ate, they packed up everything and set off.
“Cease your hovering,” Scarlett snapped several hours later.“If you wish to help, take my pack and go ahead.Find a suitable campsite for this evening, I mean blacklight, and I’ll catch up with you.”
Talon signaled he wanted to get down, and Ransom stooped to set the Trolleris kid on a rock.Talon scrambled over to Scarlett and sat to chatter in Ransom’s direction.
“All right.”Ransom took her pack.“I’ll come for you.Keep heading toward the volcano, and you won’t get lost.If the path forks, I’ll mark it for you.”
“Go!”
Ransom went, hiding his delight until his back was to Scarlett.He’d missed her snappish retorts and quick mind.Grata, for a few cycles, he’d thought he’d have to return her body to her family.Facing her temper was nothing compared to the angst he’d suffered while she’d been unconscious.
Before he strode around a bend in the track, he glanced back.Talon was scampering beside her as she meandered up the incline to where he stood.The Trolleris didn’t seem to be the child they’d assumed he was, and Ransom wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not.Scarlett had trusted his word during the visit with the alien insects.Still, she seemed to be on the road to recovery.
A tremor rocked him, and Ransom glanced toward the volcano.A black plume of smoke rose from the conical top, more prominent and blacker than the previous cycles.He upped his pace and pushed harder.
One decent thing had come from this journey.No, two.He’d regained a lot of his fitness, and he’d met Scarlett.
Blacklight was closing in again when Scarlett dragged herself into camp.Ransom had come back for her.He’d tried to hide his worry, but it was kind of cute.He fretted as much as her brothers.One huge difference.Ransom wasn’t a sibling.
When he’d first seized her, he’d provoked her anger and fueled her determination to escape.He’d talked her around with his mention of precious stones.But since she’d learned the truth, her stance had shifted.She’d come to know Ransom, and the more she’d discovered, the more she liked and respected him.The prince—well, someone had to stop the tyrant.The way he preyed on other races to survive wasn’t right.Daenys was right.Tiraq and its residents were close to Narenda.It could be her family, her friends, her people suffering next.
Dammit, she had to regain her strength to help Ransom rather than become a hindrance.Already, her illness had put them behind.They must locate the prince and soon.
“The good news is we’re close,” Ransom said.“The bad news—the volcano looks volatile and on the brink of erupting.”
“Can we travel farther during blacklight?”
“It’s best for us to rest.I recognize the two landmarks the prince mentioned.Give me your opinion when you check the map.”
“I am tired,” Scarlett admitted.Every instinct told her to shift, but the insect-men had been adamant that changing to her animal form would negate their fix to her arm.They’d indicated Talon would know when she could safely transform, which struck her as ominous.Scarlett heaved a sigh and tried not to dwell on the possible consequences of alien healing.
“Sit, and I’ll sort out something to eat.Where’s Flynt?I mean Talon.”
Scarlett frowned.“He was here a moment ago.”She turned to Ransom.“He’s older and wiser than he seems.”
“My thought too.You should’ve seen the way he protected your arm from me.”
The ground shook yet again, and a rolling tremor tossed Scarlett off her rock seat.She rubbed her arse while noting the tremors were coming closer together.
“The chances of us leaving aren’t stellar,” Scarlett said.
“No.”Ransom sighed.“Not me, at any rate.You could leave and save yourself and Talon.Prince Kalim will kill me.”
Their gazes connected, and Scarlett’s feline spat a snarl of protest even as she—her human side—accepted this truth.Once they released Prince Kalim, he had no need of Ransom.He’d feed on him to boost his own energy, sucking Ransom dry in the process.
“Well, we’ll have to make the most of the days—cycles—before we locate the prince,” Scarlett said.“We’re having sex this blacklight.”
“You’re still recovering, although I appreciate the suggestion.”
“Wewillenjoy ourselves,” Scarlett stated.“If it makes you feel better, I’ll let you do most of the work.Where is Talon?I’m not sure whether to worry about him or not.”
“He’ll turn up.There is a stream, just off to the right.It’s cold water, but you can wash while I set up camp and sort out a meal.”
“We’d better do half-rations instead of full.We don’t know how many cycles we are from the prince.”
Talon appeared then, dragging a furry creature with long ears.He pulled it over to Ransom, then pointed at the fire.
