Chapter 15
I take a few steps away from where Kaldar is sleeping and try to still my racing heart.
I glance at the fire quickly, wondering if I should add more kindling for more light.
But when I hear a low growl, I quickly change my mind.
The bushes only a few feet from me rustle, and I try to fight my instinct to flee.
My heart is hammering in my chest, and my legs are trembling.
I think waiting to see what’s coming is worse than whatever is actually coming.
And then the bushes part, and I don’t have to wait any longer.
I stare as a large jaguar steps out of the bushes.
A jaguar. I lower my weapons to my sides in shock.
I’m unsure whether it’s male or female, but it looks just like Veyra.
I take a step back, and the jaguar’s head pops up.
I take a shaky breath as red eyes lock onto me.
I don’t move as it takes a step closer. The fire is between us, and I make no effort to change that.
The animal takes a few steps to the right, and I circle a little to the left, keeping the fire between us.
I watch it warily. In my head, I know it’s not Veyra.
The eyes aren’t the same. But it’s still hard when this creature looks just like her.
The creature paces back and forth, and I do the same.
It suddenly lifts its head and then turns towards where Kaldar is sleeping.
I take a step towards the animal, keeping my weapons at my side.
It makes a sound in its chest that I can only assume is a warning.
I keep my voice low and calm. “Go away. I don’t want to fight you.
” I’m not really sure why I’m talking to the animal, but I really don’t want to fight it.
It takes another step towards Kaldar, and I step in front of it.
My legs are still shaking, but I lift my weapons.
“Shoo. Go away,” I try again. The jaguar takes another step forward and lowers its head.
“Please don’t,” I mutter under my breath.
I don’t know if I can take the life of a jaguar.
“Just go away. Please.” It takes another step forward, and dread pools low in my stomach.
It comes closer, and I brandish Kaldar’s long knife.
“Go away. Get back.” Those red eyes pierce me, and my feet feel glued to the ground.
It takes another step forward, ignoring my outstretched weapons.
I take a step back to counter the action. “Go. Leave.”
And then it pounces. One minute it was stalking me; the next it’s flying over my head.
Shock holds me immobile for a second as I register what just happened.
And then I whirl around. It’s creeping forward, head lowered, towards Kaldar.
Any thought I had of trying not to kill it dissipates as it gets ready to pounce on an unsuspecting Kaldar.
“No!” Before I can get there, it leaps. “No!” I scream even as I’m already moving.
I plow into the animal a second after it pounces on Kaldar.
The animal and I roll, and I feel its razor sharp claws get my sides, but the pain doesn’t register for more than an instant.
I’m too busy trying to dodge its bite. Kaldar told me how strong the jaguar’s bite is.
It makes a sound and falls off my body. I jerk my head to the side and see a knife sticking out of its side.
I turn my head back to see Kaldar in a semi-sitting position, hand extended.
I want to be relieved, but I can’t. Not yet.
I see movement out of the corner of my eye.
I’m already moving. The jaguar makes an awful sound and stands to its feet, and then it leaps at me.
I’m knocked to the ground, but it keeps moving forward.
Anger surges through me when I realize it’s not after me; it’s after Kaldar again.
I hear his grunt, and all rational thought leaves my mind.
I scream as I drive my knife into its other side and push him off.
It makes a terrible sound, and I want to cover my ears.
I pull my knife from its body and slash at it again, screaming in anger.
Finally, it doesn’t get back up. I bend over, trying to catch my breath.
A sob rips through me, and I reach up to wipe the wetness on my cheek.
I hadn’t even realized I was crying. Grief grips me as I stare at the beautiful jaguar bleeding out.
I stagger a moment and fall to my knees as another sob racks my body.
I hear a wet cough, and I jerk around and jump to my feet. “Kaldar.”
I drop next to him. I reach out a hand to his chest, and it comes away slick with blood.
He coughs again, and it’s too wet. I try to pull him into a sitting position, so he can breathe better.
I can’t catch my breath. There’s too much wrong in this moment.
I can’t fix it all. The world around me seems to spin, and I feel like I’m losing complete control.
I reach out to Kaldar, trying to steady myself.
But the world spins faster and faster, and then the ground beneath my feet gives way.
I lose all sense of reality until suddenly the world around me slows down, and the ground beneath my feet becomes firm again.
Too many things hit me at once. First is relief.
We’re back outside Rysden’s home. I spin towards Kaldar.
“We did—” The words die in my throat when I take in his state.
His face is deathly pale, and I can see where his shirt is wet with blood.
He tries to take a step forward and stumbles.
I come under his shoulder and throw his arm over my shoulder and try to keep us both on our feet.
Panic courses through me as I try to keep both of us upright.
“Rysden!” I shout, knowing I need help. “Lox!”
The door opens, and Farrah steps out, eyes wide. “Kinsley?!” Then her eyes widen. “Rysden!” She hurries down the steps towards us. Rysden and Lox follow her seconds later, and Rysden takes Kaldar’s other side. Before we can take a step forward, a voice calls out from behind us.
“Stop!” I try to see behind us, but I can’t turn my head with Kaldar’s weight on me.
I have no intention of stopping. Kaldar needs help now.
“Move away from my king.” Those words have their intended impact on me.
I freeze a moment before I glance over at Rysden.
His jaw is tight, but he doesn’t look surprised.
His eyes meet mine a moment, and he seems to say something; but I’m not sure what.
“Step away from my king and turn around slowly.”
I look to Rysden for guidance. He doesn’t look happy, but he gives me a small nod.
We manage to turn around, keeping Kaldar’s body between us.
I glance up at him, but his head is fallen forward.
He’s not going to be any help right now.
I lift my chin and look at who stopped me.
I’m surprised to see five armed guards. They’re not of Rysden’s kingdom; that’s instantly obvious.
They all wear green cloaks, as opposed to the red of Rysden’s kingdom.
It takes me an extra second to realize they are all aiming weapons in our direction; I blame my state of mind on the impact of getting sucked back here.
“I suggest you lower your weapons,” Rysden says in that voice of his that is beyond scary.
“We will not lower our weapons until you step away from our king.”
And just like that, everything Kaldar and I have been through comes roaring to the surface.
The pain, the fear, the uncertainty, the panic.
I snap. “If you want your king to survive, I suggest you get back to your kingdom and get the antidote to a mireling’s bite.
” When none of them move, I want to scream.
I kind of do. “He’s going to die! A mireling bit him almost twenty-four hours ago.
That’s why he’s not even conscious. His breathing has slowed down, and I’m pretty sure his heart is in distress.
He’s also bleeding rather badly. So, if you want to have a king to rule over you, I suggest you lower those weapons and go get the antidote. Now!”
Five sets of eyes stare at me, and I do realize I probably look like a mad woman. But I am so past caring about any of that. Finally, one of the men steps forward. “I will go, but if it is truly as you say, it will take too long.”
“Go!” I shout at him, having lost complete sanity.
“As for the rest of you—I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care.
Either help or get out of the way. Rysden and I are taking Kaldar inside.
” I start to turn around, and Rysden follows suit.
I’m acutely aware that Rysden is carrying most of Kaldar’s weight, but I can’t bring myself to let go.
I see Farrah’s wide-eyed gaze when I turn around, but I ignore it for now.
We manage to get Kaldar inside. But he’s totally dead weight now, and it’s impossible for us to transport him this way.
“Please, Miss,” a deep voice says, close to me. “Allow me to help you. I can see you are injured as well. Let me help.”
I turn to the big man, ready to snap at him, but I see the earnestness in his expression. “Be careful with him,” I tell him.
The man gives me a stern look. “He is my king.”
I extricate myself from Kaldar, and the bigger man takes my place.
Rysden and the other guy make quick work of carrying Kaldar to the couch.
Hector is there a minute later, and they rip Kaldar’s shirt open.
“What happened?” Another warrior asks me.
This voice is not nearly as gracious as the last guy.
“Kinsley,” I hear Farrah say. “Why don’t you sit down, and we can tend to your wounds.” I hear her, but I can’t look away from the motionless Kaldar on the couch. His face is so pale. His chest is covered in blood, and yet, I know that’s not the most severe of his injuries.
Bonded One, let us in.
The voice in my head nearly brings me to my knees. Veyra!
Let us in. Jespar needs to be with his bonded. She pauses. And don’t let anybody near him. He is...unpredictable in this state.
I’m moving before she finishes talking. “Kinsley?” I hear someone call out, but I ignore it. I’m almost to the front door when it shudders. My eyes widen, and I race forward and fling the door open to a snarling jaguar. Jespar rushes past me, and I whirl around in a panic and race after him.
“Stay out of his way!” I shout, heeding Veyra’s warning.
When I get to the main room, the men have all backed away from Kaldar and eye Jespar warily.
Jespar snarls at the men when he gets close to Kaldar.
He sniffs all over Kaldar’s body and stops at his wrist and then goes back to his chest. Jespar licks Kaldar’s chest a few times.
I watch as he sniffs his hand again, and then watch in amazement as he licks Kaldar’s hand.
Again and again, Jespar licks Kaldar’s hand.
A strange sense of emotion overcomes me, and I cross my arms over my chest. I feel something against my body and reach out instinctively to Veyra.
I rest my hand in her fur as a feeling of deep gratitude wells up in me.
I missed you. I don’t know how it’s possible to miss you when I only knew you such a short time before I left.
We are bonded, she states simply as if that explains everything. And maybe it does.