Chapter 37
Iyana
“Absolutely not.”
“Come on, Iyana,” Talon pleaded. “You should know how to defend yourself.”
“With that?” She gestured at Emmeric’s second sword, the one usually on his back, which Talon was currently holding out to her. They had taken a break for lunch and to let the horses rest when Tal had become restless. Iyana thought of overexcited dogs who ran around in circles for no purpose whatsoever. Talon was the human equivalent, bouncing on his toes, trying to convince her to swing a sword around.
“Yeah! What if your magic runs out or doesn’t work? Then what would you do?”
Iyana shrugged. “Yell for help? Besides, that thing’s as tall as I am! I honestly don’t even know how Emmeric wields it.”
“With a large amount of skill and impressive muscles,” Emmeric said. He was sitting on a log, whittling a small piece of wood. Iyana rolled her eyes. “But, honestly, Mouse? Tal has a point. I may not always be there to protect you.”
“I’d be there,” Altair said, leaning against a tree, arms crossed. Kaz and Zane were both standing by, watching the exchange. Iyana raised a brow as if to say, see?
“Okay, fine,” Talon said. “A dagger.”
“Oh, sure, I’ll just take a knife into a sword fight with highly trained men. That’ll go over well.”
Talon ran a hand through his hair, aggravation written on his face. “Phaedros take me. This is why I want you to train, Smalls!” He blew out a breath, and his nervous energy calmed somewhat. “A bow and arrow then.”
“There’s no possible way I have the upper body strength for a bow,” Iyana argued. Talon yelled in frustration.
Zane moved forward, placing a hand on Talon’s shoulder. There was definitely something going on between those two. “How about a compromise? A run?” Godsdamn him and his princely diplomacy.
“I could go for a run,” Talon said.
Iyana scrunched her face in disgust. “I don’t run unless I absolutely need to. Besides, I can think of much better exercise.” She raised an eyebrow at Altair.
Kaz clapped. “Fantastic idea, sweetcheeks. Let’s all get naked. I call dibs on chuckles first.” While Iyana knew Kaz was (mostly) joking, a bolt of jealousy ran through her. Altair was hers.
“I can’t believe I’m the one about to say this,” Tal said, “but it’s not the best time for a Team Save Arinem orgy. Let’s reserve that for a reward at the end of this.” Kaz pouted.
“We really need a better name…” Zane said.
“Sorry, but I agree with them about the run, my star,” Altair spoke up. Iyana gave him a rude gesture. Traitor. “It’s never a bad idea to stay in shape.”
“We can all go!” Talon was bouncing around again, the purest definition of an excited puppy.
“I’ll stay to watch the horses,” Altair said. “One of the benefits of being a star—I don’t need to run to stay in shape.”
“Phaedros take you, Altair,” Iyana said. “You’re going to make me run, but you won’t go?”
“Nope. Have fun, astalle.” He gave her a brief peck on the mouth, probably knowing if he tried anything more, she’d bite his lip.
She sighed in resignation and joined Zane and Talon. In a flash of light, Kaz shifted into her leopard form, and that wasn’t fair either. Emmeric set aside his whittling; it wasn’t far enough along yet for her to see what it would eventually turn into. Reaching over his head, he pulled his shirt off in one swift motion. Emmeric hadn’t been lying when he said he had impressive muscles. The blue, swirling dragon tattoo on his left arm stood out starkly from his lightly tanned skin. He most definitely was an attractive man. Emmeric glanced up and met her gaze. Then they both slowly noticed Talon, Zane, and Kaz also all staring at him.
“What?” Emmeric asked, concerned.
Talon blinked. “Oh, nothing, just seriously reconsidering that orgy.” Kaz chuffed in agreement, and another bolt of jealousy hit Iyana. Get it together.
Zane smacked Talon’s chest lightly and shoved him away. Emmeric chuckled a little, shaking his head. Iyana left to follow the group to go on this run she really didn’t want to do, but Altair gripped her upper arm. His grip was tight, just short of painful.
He leaned into her ear. “Astalle, this is your last warning. If you so much as glance at him that way again, Kanaliza or not, I will kill him.”
“Duly noted,” she said, breathless, then jogged after the rest of the group.
Emmeric
Running felt amazing. The air blowing through his hair, the cold nipping at his skin, the burn in his muscles. Emmeric couldn’t remember the last time he’d run for no reason. Usually he was chasing something, or something was chasing him, or he was playing circle run. Gods, circle run felt like an entire lifetime ago, even though he’d been playing in the arena less than a month before. He missed the sport—the adrenaline rush without fearing for your life and the roar of the crowd. The feeling when he won.
Kaz ran next to him in her black leopard form, gorgeous rosettes shining in the muted sunlight. She had the ability to run so much faster if she wanted, but she appeared content to keep pace with Emmeric. The runner’s high kicked in, and suddenly living forever didn’t seem so impossible. Tilting his head back, he howled at the cloudy sky, then put on a burst of speed. Kaz growled with the challenge and chased him through the trees. He dodged and swerved around the woods, hearing Kaz’s giant paws directly behind him. Then he was rolling to the ground, the snow a balm against his sweaty skin, with a gigantic cat standing on top of him. Emmeric laughed again when she licked his face.
“Gods, stop,” he said, giggling. “Your tongue is so scratchy as a leopard.”
Kaz shifted back, so that she straddled Emmeric’s lap on the ground. His hands drifted to her hips as she ran her hands up his bare chest. “This tongue is perfect though,” she purred, licking up his neck. Tightening his grip on her body, he rolled them both over. Kaz wrapped her legs around him, grinding her hips into his. He was seconds away from fucking her on the forest floor when crashing and swearing wound its way towards them.
“That’ll be Iyana then,” Kaz said. Emmeric leapt to his feet, but not fast enough for Iyana to miss what had been about to happen. She stopped next to them, noticing Kaz on her back on the ground, and Emmeric’s face flushed. “Catch ya later,” Kaz said with a wink before shifting back to a leopard and darting off.
This was twice now Iyana had caught him with Kaz. Phaedros take him, if he was trying to win her from Altair this was a piss-poor attempt. Was he trying to win her affections? The poor girl doubled over with her hands on her knees, panting for breath, face red with exertion, hair mussed perfectly. She looked amazing. Emmeric smiled.
“Running suits you, Mouse.”
“Shut. Up,” she said between heaving breaths, glaring at him with her gorgeous, caramel-colored eyes.
Iyana hauled herself off her knees to stand up straight, but stumbled, unused to strenuous exercise. Emmeric was there, catching her before she hit the ground, and drawing her towards him without a second thought. Her warm hand was on his bare chest, steadying herself. Emmeric’s heart beat in double time, and not because of the run. He wondered if Iyana could feel it underneath her fingertips. They spent several moments staring into each other’s gaze. His body was screaming at him to kiss her, kiss her, kiss her. When he was a second away from giving in, he saw her eyes shutter and she tried to push away from him.
“Fuck you, Emmeric. Get off of me.”
He released her and took a step back. “You want me to let you fall next time, then?”
“Yes,” she snapped. Her hair was still a mess around her head, chest heaving with deep breaths, brown eyes staring at him with anger and confusion, the same intense emotions pulsing down the bond.
“Where is this attitude coming from?” Emmeric was done dealing with her hot and cold attitude. They either were getting along great, or they were at each other’s throats. Things had seemed to be going well until she caught him and Kaz in the throes… oh.
“Is this about me and Kaz?”
“No,” she said, quickly. Too quickly.
“It is. Are you…jealous?”
Iyana squinted at him and made a pfft sound in an attempt to seem indifferent. “You wish.”
That was Emmeric’s last straw. He prowled towards her, anger rising within him. Iyana dug her heels in, staring him down and raising her chin defiantly. Gods, he hated how beautiful she was when she was at her most stubborn. It was infuriating. He came in close enough that one deep breath would bring their chests together, but he didn’t touch her.
Glowering down at her, Iyana’s wide eyes met his—a war of conflicting emotions taking place in their depths. “I know you feel this connection between us, Iyana. Don’t try to deny it.”
“It’s the bond,” she whispered.
“Maybe the bond is some of it, but there’s more there.” He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and didn’t miss the way her breath hitched and eyelids fluttered. Then he stepped away from her abruptly.
“But you’re with Altair. You don’t get it both ways, Mouse. You either be with him, and let me pursue my own relationships, or you admit to yourself there’s more here.”
“There’s nothing between you and me,” she snarled.
“Then you have no right to be jealous. And you have no right to be angry with me after all I’ve done for you. Everything I’ve given up for you, Iyana.” She rubbed at her chest, where their bond resided. But for the first time in a while, his own anger and hurt were overriding anything he might be picking up from her. Good.
“Just…leave me alone,” he said, anger draining out of him. He turned and left her there in the woods. Godsdamn her and her double standards. She could find her own way back. After all this business with Uther was over, he would wash his hands of Iyana and never see her again.