Those two were where Imo was heading, though, so Emmeric obediently followed her with no hesitation. His curiosity about this whole crazy situation was getting the better of his common sense. Everything inside of him was screaming torun, but this girl was a magnet he felt drawn towards. He knew instinctually there was no running. Not from whatever this was.
The girl lifted her head. Her dark hair was tangled, hanging in her face. While she looked more pale than she did last night, she was still recognizable as the woman yelling at the sky. She looked first at Imo, who Emmeric guessed was her grandmother, then over at him. Her eyes narrowed. “You!” she shouted, attempting to stand. Another wave of vomiting immediately overtook her. The man at her side stood by with a confused expression; he did nothing to offer aid or comfort. He didn’t seem especially concerned the girl couldn’t stop vomiting. The closer he got to the pair, the more he noticed the strangerwasglowing faintly. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, but he truly was still glowing. Not knowing what to do with the discovery, Emmeric promptly ignored it. He found things to be easier that way.
The girl finally controlled herself and rose into a crouch, panting. She glared at him from behind her hair, appearing very much like a feral child, and he knew she was making a promise she would act upon later. It raised the hairs on his arms, but he stared her down all the same—refusing to be intimidated by this slip of a woman. Once the girl seemed in control and stood, still swaying slightly on her feet, Imo spoke.
“Well, it appears you two—” she waved between the glowing man and the girl “—already know each other, but formal introductions still need to be made.”
Looking back at him, not surprised in the least to find he had followed, Imo gestured to the girl. “This is my granddaughter and protégé, Iyana.” Her hand waved idly back toward him. “And this is Emmeric.”
“Grandmother,” Iyana said, still breathing deeply. She bent forward to rest her hands on her knees. “Why isEmmericstill alive? Furthermore, why is he here and unbound?”
“It’s really quite simple, my dear. Fate has brought the two of you together, and I’m afraid it is now inescapable.”
“What?” Iyana and Emmeric said in unison, his full gaze now trained upon Imo.
“You think that’s simple?” he asked the old woman.
“I do not want to be associated withhimin any capacity,” Iyana practically growled as she shoved a finger towards Emmeric.
“Yeah, and no offense,” he said, “but I think she’s going to stab me in my sleep.”
Iyana rolled her eyes. “If you’re lucky.”
“Hush, now, both of you,” Imo snapped. They both kept their mouths shut, and Iyana even looked a little ashamed. Imo stared daggers at her granddaughter. “You started this, child, when you called upon the stars despite my warnings.” She shook her head sadly. “I did not want for this to be your destiny, but it seems the universe has specific plans for you.”
“What plans, Grandmother?” Iyana asked. She sounded desperate for answers. Emmeric was grateful she was just as lost as he was.
“Ask him.” Imo nodded towards the stranger, who until this moment Emmeric had completely forgotten all about.
“Oh, um,” Iyana stuttered, blushing slightly. “This is Altair. I found him in the desert. He’s a—” She stopped herself short, cutting a glance over at Emmeric. She obviously didn’t trust him, and with good reason. He knew she saw the massacre he was a part of last night. She probably even saw him kill that man. He couldn’t fault her for not wanting to share vital information with an enemy. However, that didn’t stop Imo.
“He’s a star,” Imo whispered in awe. Emmeric’s head flew to her again, then back to the stranger. Now his neck was going to be sore later, along with his wrists and his still aching head, the herbal tea wearing off.
“I’m sorry, a—a what?” he asked.
“A star,” Altair confirmed.
Emmeric felt like his jaw was on the floor. Astar? But he was…a man. “So, you were what fell from the sky last night?” he asked, hesitantly.
“That’s correct.” Even Altair’s voice seemed to shimmer.
“Okay, I’m lost and officially confused.” He turned to Iyana. “Are you following any of this?”
She narrowed her eyes but shook her head.
“Come,” Imo said. “Let us go inside, away from any inquisitive ears.” Emmeric’s head was buzzing as he mindlessly followed everyone back into the hut.
Chapter 7
Iyana
As the group of four filed into Imo’s hut, relief washed over Iyana. Her grandmother was still alive. In all the chaos of meeting Altair, being caught up in some sort of ‘super sprint’—seriously, what in the nine hells was that—vomiting, and meetingEmmeric, she hadn’t had time to process that Imo was alive and uninjured. The old woman eased herself into her chair, joints popping, and Iyana fell at her feet and wept. She buried her head in her grandmother’s lap, sobbing uncontrollably. At that moment, Iyana could not think about stars, fate, or the enemy at her back.
“Altair,” Imo said, “be a dear and get the other chair out of Iyana’s hut next door, please? I’m afraid I don’t own enough furnishings for all of us.”
Imo gently lifted up Iyana’s head and wiped her tears. “Iyana, my love, I am happy to see you as well.” She smiled warmly. “But now I need you to pull yourself together. We have much to cover.”
Iyana heard Emmeric snort a laugh behind her and turned to throw a glare his way. The bastard grinned back at her. Iyana had always thought that she didn’t have a violent bone in her body, but this man had made her want to stab him twice now in only ten minutes.
