“No, not a sense of being followed. I just feel …” I shook my head. “Like something is on me, but not on me? I don’t know how to make that make sense. Let’s just get this back and rest. Maybe I’m just tired.”
Samkiel watched me for a few seconds before scanning the forest around us again. I knew if something even moved in my direction, he’d chop it in half. I knew I had a tendency to be protective and territorial, but sometimes I think he had me beat in that department. After a few more seconds, he finally nodded and slung the twisted creature’s head over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing, even though it was triple his size.
“Perhaps it’s your dream man attempting to make contact because I don’t sense anything of significant power in the vicinity. At least nothing that would alert either one of us.”
I snorted at his hint of jealousy and started back toward town. “I only have one dream man, and he currently reeks of intestines.”
He looked down at his blood-caked armor as I passed, the silver coated in a patina of rust brown. He casually flicked what looked like a piece of entrails to the forest floor. His chuckle was deep as he fell into step beside me. “I honestly did not expect to be swallowed whole.”
“If you’re nice to me, I promise to swallow you whole tonight,” I teased, tossing him a wicked grin.
I could see the smile and bright flare of lust in his eyes, but he wasn’t ready to be distracted. “About your dreams, though,” he started. “Have they gotten worse since the last episode? You seemed fine the last two nights we’ve slept.”
Samkiel lifted a low-hanging branch high, allowing me to slip underneath. Dried leaves crunched beneath our armored feet as we slowly walked down a slight slope.
“No,” I said. “He hasn’t been in them since the possession, but you’ve also not left my side.”
Samkiel nodded, but I knew those wheels in his head were working overtime. I knew what he was contemplating and was sure he would come to the same conclusion I had.
“To be honest, and not to stroke your ego too hard here, but I think Reggie may be right. Whether it is your power or that he is an Ig’Morruthen and straddling the line of life and death, I think he fears you.”
It was the truth. Something about Samkiel or our bond deterred Gathrriel. We came over a rise, and the city flickered into view below us, lights snaking between the thick foliage.
“I had the same theory,” Samkiel said.
“Yeah?”
“I do not feel like testing it, though.”
He had made that very clear. I doubted he would allow me to even go to the bathroom by myself at this point.
“I don’t want to either,” I agreed. “Especially not here. If he takes over and gets even a drop of blood, he will be sealed with my body. I don’t know how to break that or if we even could.”
Samkiel stepped in front of me, stopping just at the edge of the city.
“After we drop this off, I have an idea,” he said, his blood-smeared gauntlet still holding the silver rope strapped around his chest. “I want us to visit a friend of mine.”
My brow rose. “A friend? Who?”
A short laugh left Samkiel at my tone. “His name is Killium. He and his wife are actually the ones who made the ring for you. I’ve known them since before the fall of Rashearim. They fled to escape Nismera’s reign, and now they have more underground connections than I do. Maybe they know where I can find more information on Gathrriel and what he wants without us even having to go to the Otherworld. Or perhaps they know of an ancient book or text with some information on him or possession in general.”
I nodded, mulling it over, and finally said. “Okay. How far away is he from here?”
“Maybe two days,” Samkiel said. “I can try to get us there as quickly and quietly as possible.”
Two days. It wouldn’t alter our plans much, considering we’d planned to be gone for a week, but I had a feeling that the two days might turn into more.
“Okay,” I said, patting his chest before stepping around him. “But first, let’s go make this town a little less stressed. We will get our answers, one heroic adventure at a time, big guy.”
Samkiel popped my ass as I walked in front of him, and I snickered.
“WE GATHERED ASmuch as we could.” The man was down on one knee before Samkiel, hands that were calloused and far too overworked outstretched before him, offering Samkiel a heavy bag of coins. The people of the town, wearing worn and tattered clothes, stood beyond him, watching and waiting with wide, weary eyes. Had they grown so accustomed to strong hands and sharper weapons that they assumed we would return and demand blood for our labor? “Our stock is lower since we are so far from her empire.”
I snorted, rolling my eyes. Unfucking believable. Samkiel looked at me. “She calls it an empire? It’s like she wants to be an evil superpower,” I said, my voice rife with disgust.
Samkiel shook his head and turned back to the man kneeling before him. He pulled on the rope, unstrapping the creature’s head from his back and dropping it at his feet with a thud. It landed between them, its tongue lolling in death.
“Stand,” Samkiel said, and the man did, one trembling knee at a time.
