“What’s that mean?” she asked.
“We found him.”
8
They slowed down as the glowing ball left the road and headed into the woods on their right. They’d barely moved into the woods when the brush and trees became so thick that they were forced to dismount and leave their horses behind.
Gisela cursed as she ran through spider webs.
Pulling her to a stop, Xaydin helped her wipe them away.
“I hate these things!” She shivered in revulsion.
“Not as much as you should.”
She scowled at his odd words. “Meaning?”
“They’re enchanted to let someone know we’re here.”
Her stomach sank. “Wait? What? Seriously?”
Xaydin nodded. “They’re a unique species that only lives on this island. It’s one of the reasons theaþaswereclaimed this place as their own. Their webs form a conduit and theaþaswerecan monitor it.”
“Couldn’t they find something better as a warning? Like an infectious disease?”
He snorted. “Given everything I’ve learned about you so far, I wouldn’t have taken you for an arachnophobe.”
She should probably be offended, but she recognized the fact he was teasing. “We all have our secrets,” she said flippantly. “And ourrationalfears. Spiders are evil things best left far away.”
There was an amused glint in his eyes that warmed her a lot more than it should. He was such a handsome beast. Terribly so.
And that thought had barely gone through her head before an arrow went whizzing past her face. One so close that it barely missed hitting her.
To her even greater shock, Xaydin caught it and turned quickly in the direction it’d come from.
“Show yourself,” he growled.
Another arrow flew at them. Xaydin used his powers to create a large wood shield to catch it. The arrow landed in the center of the shield with a loud twang. He handed the shield to her, then put his hands together and made a pushing movement. The moment he did, she felt the air around them shift.
A few seconds later someone cried out.
Xaydin rushed toward the sound with her and Masakage hot on his heels. She wasn’t sure what they’d find until they broke through the thick growth to see anaþaswerewrithing on the ground.
Completely bald like the others she’d seen, theaþaswerewas at least seven feet tall with giant, bat-like wings. Writing covered every single inch of his body, including his eyelids and tongue.
He gave Xaydin a harsh, accusatory glare. “What did you do to me?”
“Returned your fire.”
Theaþaswerewas indignant. “I shot arrows at you! This is far more painful!”
Xaydin snorted as he created a bow and nocked an arrow. “Shall we compare the two and how much pain each one causes?”
“No!” Theaþaswereheld his hands up to shield his face. “I’m in enough pain. I’ll take your word for the rest.”
Just as Gisela expected Xaydin to fire an arrow anyway, he lowered his bow with a frown.
She was just about to ask him why when he spoke. “How old are you, boy?”
