Chapter 21 Reverie #2
Nathan still had his hand on the small of my back, guiding me like I was made of spun glass instead of someone who’d just taken down Cryptfiends and a coliseum full of psychopaths.
Zane and Zeke flanked us, eyes burning gold as their Draxon senses sifted through every scent and heartbeat in a mile radius.
Oren walked ahead, invisible—just his voice flickering through our minds when needed.
Jet stayed close, one hand hovering near me, the other curled in a fist that kept clenching and unclenching. We had a lot to work out. I knew he felt responsible for my capture, and that just wasn’t so. He’d done all that he could at the time, and I was determined to make him realize it.
Pantar padded quietly beside us, glaring at Dale from his perch on Nathan’s shoulder.
We were almost to the cave mouth when he stopped dead, ears flattening. A low, rolling growl vibrated from deep in his chest. “Something’s here.”
Fire ignited across Nathan’s palms.
Torren took a single step back, voice barely audible. “He… followed.”
The trees to our left shuddered. Bark splintered. Leaves burst from branches in a thousand frantic spirals.
And then he emerged.
The Varruk. Vee.
The same towering, obsidian-furred beast from the coliseum—horns curling into the shape of a crown, snout with fangs bared, talons carving the earth as he slowed to a halt. Eyes locked onto me first… then flicked to Pantar… then to the men surrounding me.
Zane’s fire roared to life.
Zeke’s ice crackled across his forearms.
Oliver and Deshawn stepped protectively in front of Chloe.
I smiled in welcome, happy to see my friend.
Nathan frowned at my expression.
“No. Absolutely not. We are not adopting another monster," Nathan said firmly.
“Look how much Pantar has brought to this Faction.” Jet nodded in the Fellat’s direction.
“Pantar is different. He’s classy and fierce. Like a murder-panther thingy with extra limbs.” Nathan explained, making absolutely no sense.
Pantar preened, as if he were being paid the highest compliment. “He has always been my favorite.”
I heard a snort somewhere to my left. Oren had gone invisible in case we needed a surprise attack.
The Varruk ignored the commentary and lowered himself—massive body folding, claws tucked in, head bowed toward me.
Submitting.
“Khal’ Sira… I tracked your scent. You freed me. I still owe you a death.”
Zeke froze. “What the hell does he mean by that?”
“He doesn’t mean it the way it sounded. I killed for him, and he’s honor-bound to kill for me,” I explained quickly. “At least, that’s how he put it.”
Nathan muttered, “Khal-what now?”
I ignored Nathan and looked at Vee. “You followed us?”
His head lifted. That monstrous snout almost brushed my hand. “Debt must be paid. I know where a portal is that you seek.” The air snapped with shock. “I have not traveled there in many years, so I can’t know its condition. But it is near to us.”
Oren materialized suddenly, voice low and dangerous. “Why help us?”
The Varruk rose to his full height—nearly seven feet—muscles coiling, teeth flashing.
Looking like a monster from nightmares, but there was intelligence behind it—something ancient, wounded, and bound by his own code.
“Because she did not kill me when ordered.” His gaze swept over my men.
“Because they would kill her, and that cannot be allowed.”
Then his eyes landed on Torren.
Hard.
Knowing.
For the first time, Torren didn’t look like the confident, arrogant man he usually presented. Neither spoke, but something important passed between them.
Nathan’s hand tightened around my hip, voice low. “Reverie… are you sure he can be trusted?”
There was a warm, instinctive certainty in my chest. “He’s not our enemy.”
Pantar moved to Vee’s side, enormous heads inches apart. The Fellat didn’t growl or try to attack. Instead, he reached out with one tentacle and slowly touched Vee’s shoulder.
Nathan blinked. “Are they fucking bonding?”
Zane laughed, “Looks like it. This Faction just leveled the fuck up.”
Vee turned, pointing a claw toward a rocky ridge behind the cave. “The portal is close. But others hunt it. They hunt you.”
Jet stepped beside me, voice tense. “Reverie, if he knows the route, he might be our only chance.”
Oren nodded once. “We move with him. Quietly. Quickly.”
Vee crouched, lowering himself as if he expected—Ancestors help me—to carry someone.
Zane whispered, “No way. No. Absolutely—”
Nathan shoved him toward Vee. “Shotgun. Enjoy.”
“REVERIE!” Zane shouted, shoving back at Nathan.
“Man the fuck up, brother.” Chloe laughed so hard she was leaning on her men to keep from falling.
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. Even now—dirt in my hair and an army hunting us—my men were chaos mixed with love.
We headed toward the portal with a monster who owed me his life and a Fellat who trusted him enough to bet our lives on it.
And somewhere behind us, I hoped Selene was sick with stress, worrying that the girl she tried to break… was coming back with an army of nightmares to finish what she started.