We need to complete the ritual soon, Azazel. I’m not getting any younger.
What ritual? What would he be hoping to achieve from said ritual? Furthermore, where was the magic coming from? There’d been almost no magic in Arinem, aside from the healers, for the past few centuries. Zane couldn’t puzzle out how the star was connected to this. Also, not getting any younger… did he mean he’s running out of patience? Or maybe age was a factor in this ritual? It was a lot to ponder, and he hoped Iyana could shed some light on the situation when they caught up.
He was fairly certain their party headed north, because that’s what he would have done. Instead, he steered their horses south, back towards Huton. This way, if Uther had sent anyone out to track their movements, they’d be able to claim south is the most plausible as it’s the quickest way back home for Iyana. What else would any scared, recently tortured young woman do? Go home, of course. Women were ‘weak-spirited.’ It would give Zane time to sniff out any potential tails and end them before they even had a chance to question him on his decisions. The runaways would get maybe a three-day head start, but Zane wasn’t concerned. With his skeleton crew, they’d be able to ride hard and catch up soon enough.
They’d finally made it onto open road, with nobody else in sight. It was time to let the twins in on the plan.
Chapter 29
Emmeric
Aloud scream rent the air.
Iyana.
Without thinking, Emmeric leapt from his bedroll and tore through the dark forest towards Iyana. Dread choked him. Anything could be lurking in these woods. Anyone. Prince Zane might have caught up to them, or another one of Uther’s lackeys. He darted between silver-painted trees, leaping over a log. A check of his bond told him Iyana wasn’t currently in pain, but it was more difficult to pick up on her pain if she was unconscious. Oh gods, what if she was unconscious and being hauled away from him? Emmeric ran faster. Talon wasn’t too far behind him, but then a blur streaked past them both.Fucking star and his super speed.While he begrudged Altair’s swiftness, at least someone would save her. Hopefully before it was too late. Briefly, Emmeric again wondered why Altair never came for her after she had been captured.
It seemed to take forever to reach her—following the tugging in his chest, trusting it completely to lead him to Iyana. There were no further screams. Emmeric put on another burst of speed, putting all of his circle run and work training to use, pumping his arms, breaths coming out in shallow pants.
He skidded to a stop next to Altair, who was standing still with his arms crossed, brow furrowed. Emmeric took in the scene in front of him.
Iyana was on her back on the forest floor, lit up by a moonbeam, with a gigantic black leopard standing over her, pinning her to the ground. But the leopard was licking her face in big swipes, a purr emanating from its chest. Iyana was giggling andscratching the cat behind its ears. Emmeric looked to Altair for an explanation, but the star’s lips were pursed in annoyance, so he didn’t venture to ask. Talon caught up to them, chest heaving, red hair flung out at all angles.
“Damn,” Tal panted, “did you get faster?” Noticing the leopard and Iyana, he asked, “What’s going on here?”
Emmeric shrugged, glancing again at Altair out of the corner of his eye. He still didn’t offer any sort of answers. There was a blinding flash of light, and when Emmeric’s vision cleared, a naked woman had replaced the leopard—still leaning over Iyana—her skin shimmering in the moonlight.
“Hello,” she purred to Iyana. Iyana shrieked, scrambling out from under the strange woman, and running to Altair’s side. He kept his arms crossed but gave Iyana a quick once-over. Emmeric did the same, searching for any injuries, realizing again that he wasn’t in pain, so Iyana couldn’t be either.
The naked woman stood from the ground with a feline grace, brushing leaves and dirt off her body. Her skin was dark, smooth, and beautiful. Her hair hung in multiple long braids with beads of various colors scattered throughout. Emmeric’s gaze traced her body from her fit calves and thighs to her flat stomach, pert little breasts up to her full lips. Lips that were currently pouting. In the past, Emmeric would have bitten that lip before doing other dirty things. It wouldn’t matter he didn’t know who she was, or her name. He wondered why it was ‘in the past’; there was nothing stopping him from doing that now. The woman’s deep brown eyes focused on Iyana, twinkling with mischief.
None of them had made a sound, all in shock. Emmeric saw the woman’s gaze bounce off of Iyana and onto Altair, sparkling with playfulness, then turning to hunger. She glanced between Emmeric and Talon, the same predatory hunger on her face before breaking out into a large, beaming smile.
“Well, hello,” she said in a sultry voice, twirling one of her braids around a finger. “What would four attractive people such as yourselves be doing way out here in the woods? Something fun, I hope.” She threw Emmeric a wink.
“You’re a shifter,” Iyana said, breaking their silence.
The woman’s gaze shifted back to Iyana, glancing at her up and down. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty,” she said. Talon snorted.
“Rude,” Iyana said, shooting a glare at Talon. “I’ve never met a shifter. I was under the impression they were extremely endangered.”
“We are,” the woman chirped. She certainly was very chipper. “I’m Kaz. And now youhavemet a shifter! So happy I’m your first.”
Iyana blushed at the insinuation. She introduced each of them to Kaz, who smiled brightly at them all, flashing white teeth.
Emmeric cleared his throat. “Do you, uh, want some clothes?”
Kaz’s eyes lit up, and Emmeric immediately regretted his question. “Why would I need clothes when I look like this?” She gestured towards her body. He pointedly kept his vision on her face, which made her eyes spark with a challenge. Kaz placed her hands on her hips. “So, where are we going?”
“We?” Talon asked, grinning. The bastard was enjoying this far too much, whereas Emmeric and Iyana were both uncomfortable, and Altair seemed annoyed.
“Yes, we,” Kaz said. “We’re friends now.”
“We absolutely are not friends,” Altair said, breaking his silence. His arms still crossed, brow furrowed. Emmeric didn’t understand why the star was so aggravated with the situation. Emmeric felt thrown off balance, but not angry.
Kaz pouted again. “You’re no fun.”
Altair gave her a feral grin. “Oh, I can be all sorts offun.”
