13. No good options
13
No good options
Talon
I heard the sound of rushing water up ahead, growing louder as we approached. Moonlight actually managed to make its way down to us and glinted on the black surface of a wide river. Regular-size trees grew along the river banks, taking advantage of the gap in the canopy. Reeds sprouted from the water, indicating the current wasn’t too strong, and likely not too deep. There was a lot of mud on the banks, though. My nose wrinkled as I looked at it.
“We have to cross it?” I asked.
Nidori nodded, pointing through the trees. “We’re heading for those mountains.” I didn’t see any mountains, but I didn’t argue. “We’ll walk along until we reach the pass. Once we’re past them, there is a beach where it’s the shortest ride to the island.”
“There may be a bit of a problem with crossing it,” Kaine said, frowning.
“What do you mean?” asked Nidori. “It’s not deep here.”
“Running water is dangerous for a maoferni.” I said suddenly, remembering something my father had told me once.
“A maoferni?” Asked Nidori, wrinkling her nose. “What’s that? ”
“A descendant of the demon Mazroak,” I answered. "Also, what Kaine is."
He shot me a glare.
“Oh. Is that why you can do your invisible magic?” Nidori asked. “I didn’t think that was normal.”
“Mirilith has fire and fury; Mazroak knows water and vice.” I recited.
“Thanks for the nursery rhyme.” Kaine folded his arms. “But yes. Invisibility is a bonus, but I can suck energy through blood. The downside to that is running water can suck that energy right back out.”
Nidori frowned. “Oh, tinder and ashes. That’s not good.”
I glanced upriver. “Maybe we could head upstream and fell a tree if it gets narrow enough.” Or maybe he wouldn’t find a way to cross, and we’d have to leave him behind.
“Hmm.” Nidori crossed her arms and looked at the water. “It’s too far for me to make a bridge. But I can make a boat. Then Talon can push you over. Ta-da!”
“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all night,” said Kaine.
So much for leaving him behind. Nidori rubbed her hands together and landed on a tree. She closed her eyes in concentration and pressed her small hand against the trunk.
For a moment, nothing happened, but then the tree started to quiver. The upper branches groaned as they twisted together, weaving and knitting into a shape that formed a small boat. The boat lowered to the ground, then separated from the tree with a crack.
“Wow,” I said, stunned. I had never heard of woodweaving like that—just stories of vines and shoots .
Nidori looked pleased, but tired, stretching her tiny arms before reaching out to Kaine. “Can you put me in there? I just…want to lie down for a bit.”
Kaine stepped toward her and picked her up, holding her delicately. I put our packs inside as he climbed in. There was barely enough room for him to sit inside. Nidori ended up on his lap.
“You’re amazing,” he said, planting a kiss on her head. I felt a wild stab of jealousy. Was he just trying to gain her favour? Get her to ask him for help?
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said sleepily, beaming.
I took off my shoes and socks, squeezing them in behind Kaine, and rolled up my pants and shirt sleeves. I was already out of my comfort zone, and I felt so exposed while showing even this much skin.
“Don’t suppose you’ll get out and help me bring this to the river?” I asked.
“Nah, love,” he said with a cheeky grin. “I wouldn’t want to disturb Nidori. Besides, I’d miss the show. Don’t suppose you’d do us the favour of taking your shirt all the way off?”
I felt my cheeks grow hot again. Was he joking?
“Ohh, you should, Talon. We wouldn’t want it getting wet,” said Nidori, eyes fluttering open. “You should take off your pants and your shirt. It’s so hard to warm up when you get wet and cold.”
“Excellent thinking, Nidori.” Kaine raised an eyebrow at me. “Go on. Strip.”
The command froze me, making my face burn and my blood heat. I swallowed, reining myself in and dropping my eyes. People did not want to see me shirtless. Even the one lover I’d had preferred to meet in the dark. But Kaine was a maoferni. It was possible he was familiar with demon traits. Perhaps he wouldn’t find me completely hideous .
And they had a point; I wasn’t worried about the cold, but the riverbank was so muddy. With the thick, slimy, nasty green mud too. That did not come out of fabric easily.
I turned around, unstrapping my sword and shield. I wiggled out of the cloak that fastened at the back, using my wing to slip it onto the ground. My vest came next, and the light pieces of armour I wore. Gauntlets, breastplate, shin guards, and then I stood there for a moment, heart hammering in my chest. The armour wasn’t quite in a neat pile, and I nudged it straight with my tail. I glanced back at Kaine and Nidori and swallowed.
I could deal with dirty clothes, right? Clothes I’d have to dry while wearing, so they’d be all stiff and wrinkly all night. And the dirt would set as it dried and cake in, and any stains would set. And that mud might smell. Actually, it definitely looked like it would smell.
Okay, maybe I couldn’t deal with that.
I took a breath and unbuttoned my shirt on the side, taking it off and folding it. I took another breath, my hands shaking as I pulled my pants down. Scooping up the pile, I used my tail to grab the cloak and turned back to Kaine and Nidori.
Fuck. I should have just kept them on. I looked down at my bare skin, the blue-purple hue that darkened over my joints. I adjusted the clothes in my grip, trying to cover as much of myself as possible and bracing myself for the look of disgust. Nidori was peeking over the side of the boat curiously. She nodded and muttered to herself. Kaine’s eyes skimmed me up and down, lingering on the dark, hair that dusted my chest. My face was burning, and I swallowed, trying to pretend I wasn’t almost naked in front of the hottest person I had ever met.
Approaching, I shoved the pile into the boat. I felt very exposed when I put them down. With a cough, I began to push the boat down to the river, very aware of Kaine’s gaze on my forearms. I was just using my arms, not wanting to draw attention to my wings, but it was hard to move the boat, so I sighed and lowered them to help push as well.
It was a lot easier to push with both, and the boat was soon at the bank. I gritted my teeth as I slid the boat down and across the smooth, green muck. It did stink, and my legs sank almost knee-deep as I heaved the boat forward, gouging a deep groove in the mud as we made our way to the water. My feet were making disgusting squelching noises as I pulled them free. I think it would have been better if the mud had consistently been one texture, but it was a silky smoothness interspersed with slimy, rotting plants and hard flecks of stone. The embarrassment of stripping down was definitely worth keeping this filth off my clothes.
“Ew.” Kaine’s lip curled in disgust, and I glared at him.
It was a relief to make it to the water. The boat grew lighter, but I had to adjust as it was tugged by the current. I grabbed the sides securely with my hands and waded in, hooking the talons on my wings to the boat for extra security. The water was cold, and the stones on the riverbed were smooth and slippery beneath my feet.
“If you tip us out, I’ll be climbing on your shoulders,” Kaine warned.
“I’ve got you,” I said dryly. Now I was imagining his legs wrapping around my neck as he pressed close.
“Absolutely.” Nidori reached out, a tiny hand resting on my thick forearm, trailing up a prominent vein. “Look, Kaine, just one arm is as strong as a tree trunk. He won’t let us go.”
She beamed at me. If I wasn’t so cold, I would have blushed again.
I went slowly, ensuring I had a good grip against the current. A bit further downstream, there was a bank with a bunch of rocks at the shore—no mud. I angled us towards that .
When we reached the other side, I dragged the boat to balance between some of the smaller rocks. I clambered up and started to unload my bags and clothes.
Nidori gave another huge yawn but still buzzed out of the boat, re-securing her tiny pack.
The small boat rocked as Kaine began to stand. I instinctively reached out, steadying his shoulder. His hand landed on my bicep as he stumbled momentarily before righting himself. Despite the fact he had landed both feet on the ground, his hand lingered there, his touch like lightning. I stood, heart hammering, hyper aware of how close we were, especially as I was nearly nude. It was seriously unfair how gorgeous he was. His hand was cool on my skin, and his eyes roamed over my body before fluttering up to meet mine. The forest seemed to melt away as I looked at him. This close, I could see the long eyelashes brushing his cheeks. His gaze flicked to my lips. Was he leaning forward, or was it just vertigo? I could feel my dick shifting, responding to his gaze as I pictured leaning down and kissing his sly smile.
Fuck, I was out here in my underwear while starting to get a semi. I turned away quickly, grabbing my clothes so I had something to cover up with.
“My very own prince charming,” he said wryly. Had he seen it before I’d covered myself? My face was burning with shame, and I desperately avoided thinking about how that only made me more aroused.
“We should find a place to sleep soon,” I muttered, trying to preserve my dignity as I sat on the side of a rock and dipped my legs in the water. In an attempt to distract myself from Kaine, I worked furiously to scrub off the remains of the mud, scrubbing so hard, my skin felt raw. When I was done, I slipped on my pants, burning a bit of extra body heat to dry off. “I don’t think Nidori and I are fully adjusted to being up all night yet.”
“I’m fine,” Nidori said with a large yawn.
“No, you’re exhausted,” Kaine responded. “Let’s find somewhere to settle, princess.”
She gave a hum of pleasure and nodded.
“Hang on,” I said, getting the last of my clothes on. Something had caught my eye. I sighed as I saw my cloak—somehow, the corner had fallen into the muddy riverbank.
“What?” Nidori asked, coming over.
“It’s filthy.” I wrinkled my nose.
Kaine snorted. “It’s just a bit of mud. Not like you can avoid it out here.”
I splashed some water on it, trying to get the worst of it off.
“I prefer to not look like a vagabond,” I muttered.