“They will join us for dinner around the communal fire. You will see them then,” he huffed.
We took a sharp turn away from the path toward Trivix’s house. I had a feeling Dameron was growing tired of us and our tour of the valley was about to be cut short.
“It was nice speaking with you both,” he smiled stiffly as we stood outside the familiar small house.
“I will see you again this evening.” He turned and walked back to his house, looking more agitated than ever.
Chapter 20
Drovo
CW: characters bound against their will in dark place
Darkness, darkness and my own thoughts are all I have in this cave. I’m not sure how long we’ve been in here, but it feels like it’s been half a day.
Brexl is sitting to my right, breathing slowly like a predator calming itself before a kill.
“How are you holding up my friend?” I would reach out to pat his shoulder but they tied my wrists tight. Brexl could easily cut through the ropes with his claws and I could do the same for him, and yet neither of us offered to free the other. What would be the point? We could not leave this place without our mates. What if they were hidden from us? We would have freed ourselves for nothing and doomed our dekes to a lifetime disconnected from the goddess.
“I’m fine,” Brexl grumbled in response. “How are you?”
“Fine,” I replied. We were both lying. I could hear the pain in my friend’s voice. It must be as hard on him to have seen his grandfather as it was for me to see my sire and brothers.
The sooner we can leave this valley the better.
There was a scraping sound outside, like rock grinding against rock. They were moving the boulder away. Fresh air swept through the cave and then the last light of the evening sun greeted our weary eyes.
Scaron’s familiar scowl met us at the entrance. “Come, you will join us for the evening meal.” He was joined by three other males from the dekes. I noticed neither Zander nor my brother were with them this time.
I nodded my head, and he roughly tugged on my arm to help me to my feet.
“I don’t want any aggression out of either of you,” he growled.
I wanted to taunt him and askor what. He was no match for either of us. Brexl alone could probably take down this entire dekes in his beast form. But I knew what theor whatwould be. They could hurt our mates or refuse to let us lay our offerings before the goddess. With that knowledge weighing heavily on my heart, I let myself be led down the familiar path to the communal fire.
I could hear laughter in the distance. I strained to hear Kayla’s voice or to catch her scent on the wind, but there was nothing. We were too far away yet. I needed to do something. To take advantage of this opportunity to talk to her. Could we make a plan to get out of here? Tomorrow when the big moon was full, we won't glow for each other. What would happen then?
As we drew closer to the fire, I could hearKayla’s voice. It was a balm to my soul. I suddenly found it very difficult to walk slowly behind Scaron instead of letting my feet run to my luna moth as I wanted to. But to my utter agitation he made us stop before anyone could see us approaching.
“I will cut these bindings so you may eat, but know this, once the dinner is over, they are going right back on again.” He scowled, and I scowled right back at him. I was tired of being nice, tired of being treated like I was a murderer. If the humans were right and we hadn’t been the cause of the stiffness, then all this hatred would have been for nothing. The thought felt like lead in my stomach. All this hate for nothing.
Our bindings were cut, and we emerged from behind the trees to find the entire dekes sitting at the communal fire, laughing and eating the evening meal.
“Drovo!” Kayla stood up as soon as she saw me and ran to me. I ran for her as well and we crashed into each other like two people who had been separated for many seasons. I held her tight and let the warmth of her skin sink into my bones. I didn’t want to let her go. I wouldn’t let her go. Never again.
“Brexl,” Taylor breathed his name as she sank into my friend’s arms. His normal stiffness was gone, replaced by a possessive hug.
“Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” Taylor asked as she checked over her pretend mate’s body.
Brexl let out a chuckle, which surprised all three of us. “No one can hurt me.”
Taylor let out a surprised laugh. “That’s for damn sure.”
“What about you? Are you impervious to harm as well?” My luna moth smiled up at me.
“Why don’t you check my body and see for yourself,” I teased.
“Sit,” The Savrix interrupted our reunion with an annoyed tone.
