Blinking rapidly, I take in my surroundings only to see black and white fur beneath my cheek. Lifting my head slightly, I catch sight of Moni riding on top of a rhinoceros as they disappear inside a massive brown tent.
‘Lynx?’I guess as I see Slayer, Knots, Zeke, and JP run into the tent behind Moni.
‘Ah, Sleeping Beauty is finally awake. I was wondering if Slayer really had a magic dick. I was starting to worry that he was actual competition.
‘Competition?’
‘Of course. Remember, I still hold The Guinness World Record.’He chuckles.‘Hold on,’he warns and leaps down from his platform to the ground, following everyone in.
Once inside, Lynx lays down, and I shakily slide off him onto the ground in a heap. I’m too exhausted to move, and for somereason, my body feels as if I’ve participated in a triathlon, though I don’t remember much of the Rage level.
“Rez!” JP calls out.
“Are you okay?” Levi asks.
“Show us where you are hurt,” Knots demands.
All my men surround me as I allow them to prop me up against Lynx and look me over.
“I think I’m okay. I’m just tired,” I explain.
“Well, before you go to sleep, let’s get some food in you and definitely get you cleaned up,” JP says, giving me a sheepish smile before moving away.
He walks over to the middle of the tent, where a fire pit is dug out and lined with rocks, and above it is a hole allowing for the smoke to filter out. I watch as he efficiently starts a fire and pulls out a frying pan and a pot. I guess I will be treated to some of his cooking tonight.
The tarp flutters on the far side of the tent, and Chester falls through the flap before correcting his stance and pushing up his glasses. Glancing in our direction, he smiles and holds up a piece of paper.
“It looks like we’re in for a treat tonight, guys,” Chester says with a smile. “We have a ten-hour break.”
“Thank Bubble Boa and Hamster Balls. I feel like I could sleep a whole month,” Moni chirps as she flies around Chester’s head before landing on his shoulder. “Oh, by the way. The bathroom is on the other side of this flap.”
Well, now I feel like we’re glamping.
“Just wake me up when it’s time to eat,” I say, rolling over and curling up into Lynx’s fur.
‘Rezzi-bear, you know I love you, right?’
‘Uh huh.’I snuggle deeper into him.
‘And I would do anything for you?’
‘Get to the point, Lynx. I’m tired and getting grumpy.’I yawn.
‘I’m all for cuddling, but you stink. I’m sure you really don’t want to be dragging parts of the Typhlotic chicken around in your hair all night,’he points out.
‘What?’I sit up and examine my outfit in horror, gagging at the sight. My once black leathers are covered in a dark red and other questionable substances. Hastily standing up, I move away from Lynx but find myself wobbly as I reach out.
“I got you,” Knox says, reaching to steady me. Reaper chooses that time to come up, leaning against my legs with a whine.
Levi whispers a spell under his breath, easily cleaning the gore off of me before Knox pulls me further into his grasp. “Are you okay?” he asks, tucking a stray clump of hair behind my ear. My eyes widen as his look intensifies, his green eyes scanning my face as if he’s looking for something.
“Yeah. I’m fine, just exhausted,” I assure him, giving a small smile and then gasping in horror as I see his neck.
“Knox! What happened to you?” I shriek, looking at the mess of a bite he obviously got on the last level.
“You don’t remember?” he asks tentatively, and all I can do is shake my head. “Here, let me hold you for a few before catching you up.”
Knox pulls me down into his lap, and I follow without complaint. I release a small sigh as I melt against his broad chest, soaking up his heat as he wraps his arms around me. Levi gives me a sweet but worried smile before leaving to clean the rest of the group, which I finally notice looks as rough as I feel. Reaper slowly creeps up by my side and gives me his puppy eyes, and I give in, allowing him to crawl into my lap and Knox to take on more weight.
