Chapter 29
Emmeric
Aloud scream rent the air.
Iyana.
Without thinking, Emmeric leapt from his bedroll and tore through the dark forest towards Iyana. Dread choked him. Anything could be lurking in these woods. Anyone. Prince Zane might have caught up to them, or another one of Uther’s lackeys. He darted between silver-painted trees, leaping over a log. A check of his bond told him Iyana wasn’t currently in pain, but it was more difficult to pick up on her pain if she was unconscious. Oh gods, what if she was unconscious and being hauled away from him? Emmeric ran faster. Talon wasn’t too far behind him, but then a blur streaked past them both. Fucking star and his super speed. While he begrudged Altair’s swiftness, at least someone would save her. Hopefully before it was too late. Briefly, Emmeric again wondered why Altair never came for her after she had been captured.
It seemed to take forever to reach her—following the tugging in his chest, trusting it completely to lead him to Iyana. There were no further screams. Emmeric put on another burst of speed, putting all of his circle run and work training to use, pumping his arms, breaths coming out in shallow pants.
He skidded to a stop next to Altair, who was standing still with his arms crossed, brow furrowed. Emmeric took in the scene in front of him.
Iyana was on her back on the forest floor, lit up by a moonbeam, with a gigantic black leopard standing over her, pinning her to the ground. But the leopard was licking her face in big swipes, a purr emanating from its chest. Iyana was giggling and scratching the cat behind its ears. Emmeric looked to Altair for an explanation, but the star’s lips were pursed in annoyance, so he didn’t venture to ask. Talon caught up to them, chest heaving, red hair flung out at all angles.
“Damn,” Tal panted, “did you get faster?” Noticing the leopard and Iyana, he asked, “What’s going on here?”
Emmeric shrugged, glancing again at Altair out of the corner of his eye. He still didn’t offer any sort of answers. There was a blinding flash of light, and when Emmeric’s vision cleared, a naked woman had replaced the leopard—still leaning over Iyana—her skin shimmering in the moonlight.
“Hello,” she purred to Iyana. Iyana shrieked, scrambling out from under the strange woman, and running to Altair’s side. He kept his arms crossed but gave Iyana a quick once-over. Emmeric did the same, searching for any injuries, realizing again that he wasn’t in pain, so Iyana couldn’t be either.
The naked woman stood from the ground with a feline grace, brushing leaves and dirt off her body. Her skin was dark, smooth, and beautiful. Her hair hung in multiple long braids with beads of various colors scattered throughout. Emmeric’s gaze traced her body from her fit calves and thighs to her flat stomach, pert little breasts up to her full lips. Lips that were currently pouting. In the past, Emmeric would have bitten that lip before doing other dirty things. It wouldn’t matter he didn’t know who she was, or her name. He wondered why it was ‘in the past’; there was nothing stopping him from doing that now. The woman’s deep brown eyes focused on Iyana, twinkling with mischief.
None of them had made a sound, all in shock. Emmeric saw the woman’s gaze bounce off of Iyana and onto Altair, sparkling with playfulness, then turning to hunger. She glanced between Emmeric and Talon, the same predatory hunger on her face before breaking out into a large, beaming smile.
“Well, hello,” she said in a sultry voice, twirling one of her braids around a finger. “What would four attractive people such as yourselves be doing way out here in the woods? Something fun, I hope.” She threw Emmeric a wink.
“You’re a shifter,” Iyana said, breaking their silence.
The woman’s gaze shifted back to Iyana, glancing at her up and down. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty,” she said. Talon snorted.
“Rude,” Iyana said, shooting a glare at Talon. “I’ve never met a shifter. I was under the impression they were extremely endangered.”
“We are,” the woman chirped. She certainly was very chipper. “I’m Kaz. And now you have met a shifter! So happy I’m your first.”
Iyana blushed at the insinuation. She introduced each of them to Kaz, who smiled brightly at them all, flashing white teeth.
Emmeric cleared his throat. “Do you, uh, want some clothes?”
Kaz’s eyes lit up, and Emmeric immediately regretted his question. “Why would I need clothes when I look like this?” She gestured towards her body. He pointedly kept his vision on her face, which made her eyes spark with a challenge. Kaz placed her hands on her hips. “So, where are we going?”
“We?” Talon asked, grinning. The bastard was enjoying this far too much, whereas Emmeric and Iyana were both uncomfortable, and Altair seemed annoyed.
“Yes, we,” Kaz said. “We’re friends now.”
“We absolutely are not friends,” Altair said, breaking his silence. His arms still crossed, brow furrowed. Emmeric didn’t understand why the star was so aggravated with the situation. Emmeric felt thrown off balance, but not angry.
Kaz pouted again. “You’re no fun.”
Altair gave her a feral grin. “Oh, I can be all sorts of fun.”
Iyana placed a hand on his arm, the annoyance seeming to melt off him. Altair’s arms unfolded, his face relaxing. “I don’t see why she can’t come, Altair. It may be helpful to have a shifter on our side.”
“Ooh, please tell me we’re on a world saving mission.” Kaz bounced on her toes with anticipation. Emmeric most certainly did not peek at the way her body moved with the motion.
“She’s annoying,” Altair grumbled.
Iyana grinned at Kaz. “I think she’s fun.”
“She’s also standing right here,” Kaz said.
Iyana’s smile faded as she winced. “Sorry,” she told Kaz. Turning back to Altair, she said, “Please? It’d be nice for another woman to be around.”
“Getting tired of us?” Talon asked, smirking.
“Never,” Iyana said, returning his smile.
Talon looked to Kaz. “Question: how do you feel about Emperor Uther?” Emmeric rolled his eyes. Leave it to Tal to get straight to the point.
Kaz frowned. “That guy’s a piece of shit. Seriously, he can suck my—”
“I say she’s in,” Emmeric interrupted, his best friend laughing loudly at his expense.
“I like her,” Talon said.
“Me too,” said Iyana, glancing up at Altair, a silent plea behind her large, caramel-colored eyes. It didn’t take long for him to relent.
“Fine,” he sighed, exasperated. “Since I’m outnumbered. But she can walk, on two feet or four, since we only have the three horses.”
A loud whoop came out of Kaz as she jumped in excitement, startling the birds into flight from the surrounding trees. “I’m not walking though, I’ll ride with chuckles,” she said, nodding towards Altair.
“You absolutely are not,” the star retorted.
“Okay…” She scanned between Emmeric and Talon. “Then I pick grumpy.” Kaz pointed to Emmeric. He sighed. Did Talon really give off strong I’m not attracted to women vibes?
“Can you do something about this, Altair?” Emmeric asked, waving his hand towards Kaz’s naked figure. Altair flicked his fingers toward the shifter, a tunic and breeches appearing on her instantly.
“What the shit?” Kaz exclaimed, her goofy persona dropping immediately in the face of unexpected magic. She drew herself up straight, face now serious. It took less than a second to transform from a sultry young woman trying to have some fun to someone capable of extraordinary violence. Emmeric wondered what her background was for there to be two completely different sides to her personality.
“Yeah,” said Iyana, “he can do that.”
“What are you?” Kaz asked, narrowing her eyes at Altair. Emmeric appreciated her suspicion. Everybody else seemed to have accepted Altair with open arms, without questioning his motives or history. And he was tight-lipped with both. Emmeric made sure never to let his guard down around the star.
“You were the one who wanted to come with us without any information, princess,” Altair sneered.
Kaz’s suspicion increased, heavy in the air. To Emmeric’s surprise, he found he could sense the magic gathering around her. She was moments away from shifting.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Kaz said, all serious business now.
“He’s a star,” Iyana said. Altair glared at her for revealing his secrets so easily, and she only shrugged. “What? She’d figure it out, anyway. Plus, you just threw a large amount of magic in her face, so it’s kind of your fault.” Altair looked like he was about to commit a murder, but swiveled on his feet and marched back to camp without a word.
“Don’t mind him.” Talon waved Altair off. The newly formed group of four began trekking back towards their camp and horses, Kaz falling into step with them easily. “Tell me, new friend,” he said, batting his eyelashes, “what is my nickname?”