Chapter Eight
Neith
It’s hunting me. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that is what it is doing, and yet I am reluctant to swing my newly found sword, I don’t want to hurt it. I can’t explain why, it is trying to kill me, snapping at my heels, and I had absolutely no problem with killing the long-limbed creature but for some reason, I pause in harming this one even though it seems just as intent on eating me.
I just need to get to the door.
It’s still a fair way in front of me, and I get the shock of my life when a tall, dark figure steps out of the tree line. He is fucking hot, and I know I shouldn’t be noticing that right now, but anyone would. His face is scared, he is easily the same height as Reed but slimmer in build, more like Ransom. Two perfectly formed horns protrude from his head, curving backward and not detracting from his appeal at all. This man is a fighter. That is easy to see. I want to study him more, but his purple eyes widen in shock as he spots me, and the door is closing. I need to leave.
Me being the smartass I am, I grin at him and wink. Everything that happens next happens in a whirlwind: the door is a few strides ahead of me, the beast launches and clamps down on my shoulder, and the man, if he even is a man, cries out in dismay. The clock ticks down to seconds, and I smack the beast on the nose with the hilt of my sword. It lets go, the growl cutting off abruptly, and I swear its eyes widen, but I don’t have any time to do anything about it as I throw myself through the door just as it snaps closed.
That was too fucking close.
I lay on the ground, gazing up at the familiar trees of the earth realm. My shoulder is screaming in agony, but I can’t relax.
I force my feet beneath me and push myself up, grateful that I still have my sword with me.
“Miss, did it,” Flinotive says, his voice laced with awe. His eyes widen as he spots me, in all my blood covered glory.
I point my sword at him, “Walk. You are coming back to the house with me. You can explain to the guys that you had a hand in this and that I am not bat shit fucking crazy.”
Surprisingly, he doesn’t argue. He just stares, and his eyes widen when they see the sword. He turns and walks forward. Smart imp.
“How long have I been gone?” I ask, studiously ignoring the pain thrumming through my shoulder. I grip the blade in my hand tighter, a pulse of magic thrumming through it, before it dissipates, I don’t know what it is, I don’t know what it has done but the pain is easier to deal with, so I am not going to question it.
“Ten minutes, miss,” he replies. “Time moves differently here to when you are there.”
I nod, but I am not in the mood to speak, even though I know that I should be asking questions, all I want to do is get back. I want Doc to look at my shoulder, and I want my fucking desserts after I have showered the blood from that fucking creature off me.
The house comes into view a lot quicker than I thought it was going to, and either I came back closer to the house than when I left, or I didn’t get as far into the forest as I thought I did.
My sword is still pointed at the imp as I move to push open the door and then force him inside, he goes willingly.
“Neith, you’re back quicker than I thought you would be,” Raiden says, and I follow the sound of his voice into the front room to find all of them, minus Reed, and River, where I left them.
As soon as they spot me, they all jump up, looking at me in alarm until they freeze when their gazes land on the imp.
“What the fuck?” Griff curses.
“What’s all over you?” Ransom adds. Before yelling, “River! Reed!”
Reed arrives in a split second, but River doesn’t.
“That’s an imp,” he says, then gets a closer look at me, his eyes widening in shock.
“Before anyone says anything, he’s going to explain,” I start, glaring at the imp.
“Neith, imps don’t talk to other supes and even if they did, we wouldn’t be able to understand them, they don’t speak in our language.”
I shake my head, “He does,” turning to the imp, I say, “Tell them what you did, and where you sent me.”
“What the fuck,” Doc asks.
His expression is so shocked that it derails me for a moment, and I ask, “What?”
“You spoke their language,” Evander replies.
I shake my head, “No, I didn’t.”
“You did,” Reed says bluntly, and really, if Reed says that’s the case, then I have no reason not to believe him.
I shrug, I will deal with that in a minute, “Tell them, in a language that they understand.”
The imp stares at me for a moment before he nods, “As you wish.”
“It spoke,” Raiden says, eyes wide.
“It spoke our language,” Doc adds.
I sigh, “Thank fuck you can understand him.”
“We do not like to speak to outsiders but miss commands it so I will do as she commands.”
“Oh, now you fucking listen to my commands,” I growl at it, my hand clenching on my sword.
The imp grimaces slightly but does as I have previously asked and tells the guys what happened, “Miss had to complete a task, she had to get home, and I sent her to another realm.”
“What!” Griff exclaims.
“Had to be done,” Flinotive replies.
“Why?” Reed asks.
“That’s what I would like to know,” I reply.
Flin shakes his head, “Can’t say. Bye now.”
That’s it, he’s gone.
“Where the fuck did he go?” Evander asks, looking around the room to see if he is hiding anywhere.
“Probably back to the forest, there are quite a few of them living in there,” I reply tiredly.
“I have no idea what the fuck just happened,” Doc comments staring at me, his gaze runs over me, and he wrinkles his nose, “where are your shoes?”
“A puddle ate one and I sacrificed the other one,” I reply, wriggling my toes, and leaning on my sword, pointy side down.
“Where did you get the sword?” Raiden asks.
“I found it when I was about to be eaten,” I reply simply, then gesture to the blood that is splattered all over me, “I won.”
River choses that moment to come into the room, his happy smile drops immediately as he drops the bags of what I am assuming is dessert on the floor and rushes toward me.
“You’re bleeding. Badly,” he says, his eyes wide with concern.
The others tense.
I frown and then nod, “Oh yeah, hang on.”
I start to lean the sword against the back of the couch but think better of it when I realize that it is absolutely covered in blood and grossness from that creature.
“Can you hold this?” I ask, looking at Reed, before I hand it over to him, I add, “She saved my life, she means something to me.”
He nods in understanding, I mean, really no one should be surprised that I have bonded with another inanimate object, not after the way that I treat Betty.
“Got it,” he confirms, but as he takes it from me, magic suddenly flares in the room, and I watch in shock as the sword zaps him.
“What the fuck just happened?” Raiden asks.
“You know we were saying that enchanted objects were rare?” Doc says drily, “Well it appears Neith has found herself an enchanted sword, and one that doesn’t like to be touched by others.”
I throw my hands up in the air, which in hindsight maybe wasn’t a good idea because I still have the sword in my hand and the bite in my shoulder that makes me hiss with pain, I growl and look at the sword, “For fuck sake, I can’t put you down because you are going to get blood everywhere so I have to give you to Reed until I clean you. Do you really think after you saved my life, I would give you to someone who I didn’t trust with my life, and therefore yours!”
“You trust me with your life?” Reed asks, his voice coming out weird, but I am too focused on the sword to check why.
“Duh. One second, I am having an argument with a sword,” I reply.
“I trust them, you trust them,” I tell it, and then add thoughtfully, “only them. No one else. If anyone else tries to grab you, do the zappy thing.”
The sword hums with magic in my hand, it feels like it is agreeing so I’m going to assume that it has worked.
“Erm, Neith,” Griff starts, and I glance up at him, “that’s not how enchanted objects work, you can’t just tell them not to do something.”
I frown, “I’m pretty sure I just did. It agreed.” I hold the sword out to Reed, ignoring everyone’s incredulous looks because I am very aware of how crazy it sounds, “Take it.”
Something in me softens even more toward the big hulking guy, when he doesn’t even hesitate, he just reaches out and takes it.
“Well?” Van asks.
Reed shrugs, “She’s right, it hasn’t shocked me, it’s behaving itself.”
I grin, “I have a way with inanimate objects. It’s a gift.”
“You have a way with enchanted objects that for sure,” Raiden replies, “and it very well may be a gift.”
River storms toward me, none of the usual bounce in his step or mirth in his voice. There is a distinct growl in his voice as he says, “She. Is. Hurt.”
The guys still, as their gazes move to River.
“Shit,” Evander curses.
I’m about to ask Van what is going on and why they all look so worried when River reaches me and scoops me up into his arms, being incredibly careful with me.
“River, I’m going to get grossness all over you,” I protest half-heartedly because being held by him has instantly drained the last of the tension out of me.
How the fuck did he do that?
The only response I get from River is a growl, which vibrates through me and goes straight to my clit, fucking hell, that was like the best vibrator I have ever owned. Now is not the time to get distracted, especially since the guys have become impossibly tenser. Glancing up, I see that River’s eyes are entirely his kitsunes, and extremely pretty, they are a mix of gold, orange, and red and glowing with power. I know that his shift is really close to the surface, and I am reasonably certain that the only reason why he hasn’t shifted yet is because he has me in his arms.
“What’s going on?” I ask since no one has said anything.
At the sound of my voice, River’s chest rumbles in almost a purr, and I find it strangely comforting.
“Well I’ll be damned,” Doc mutters.
I give him an unimpressed look as I ask again, “What is going on? Not that I mind being held by River because well, obvious reasons, but this doesn’t seem like he just wants to hold me? Plus, I am covered in blood and icky grossness from being in the, wherever the fuck I was, I still don’t fucking know.”
“Obvious reasons?” Raiden asks, a smirk playing around his lips. When I just stare at him, narrowing my eyes to prove my point, he sighs, “It appears that River’s kitsune is having a problem with you being hurt, and didn’t like that we were taking too long to see to you.”
“Oh,” I reply. I’m not really sure what else to say. I feel like Raiden is giving me the simplified version of what is going on with River, but like everything else, I just leave it. I am sure that I will figure it out at some point, and if I don’t, I will forget about it.
“River, Neith is bleeding. Can I have a look at her and make sure that she is okay?” Doc asks.
I would be offended that he isn’t asking me if he can look at me, but I know that shifters, especially alphas can get a bit funny when they have been triggered. River is definitely an alpha and a damn strong one at that, which surprises me because of how laidback and bouncy he is, that, and he easily lets Evander be in control. I feel like I am missing something big again. The last thing we want is for him to get defensive, which probably won’t be good for anyone in this room.
River growls.
“That’s a good sign,” Griff says drily, and I smirk.
“Not helpful,” Reed grumbles, although there is no mistaking the flash of amusement in his eyes.
I sigh, we aren’t getting anywhere, I am tired, my shoulder is burning with pain now and I desperately need a shower.
I place my hand on River’s cheek, stopping him from glaring at the guys as his gaze immediately moves to me, his cheek nuzzling my hand and threatening to derail me in the absolute cuteness of the act.
“River, babe, I really need you to let Doc look at my shoulder, I got bitten, and it hurts like a bitch,” I explain, hoping that I can get through to his kitsune and him since they are one and the same.
River stiffens and then dips his head to my wounded shoulder and inhales deeply, exhaling a vicious sounding growl that really shouldn’t turn me on, but it really fucking does.
“Shit,” Reed curses. “I really don’t want to have to take her off him. Not only is it going to trigger his fight response, which means both us and him could get hurt while we try to calm him down, but Neith could get hurt too.”
I don’t like the sound of any of that, so I know that I need to do something to try to diffuse the situation. The problem is I have no idea what. I try to cast my mind back over the books that I have read about shifters to see if I can remember anything that may help me. I think I remember that you are supposed to be firm with them, but then that could be that you aren’t supposed to be firm with them because they saw it as a challenge. I don’t remember, but it is all I have.
“River,” I snap, and he finally lifts his head from sniffing my shoulder. “I love that you are being all growly and protective, it’s weirdly hot, I will admit that, but I need Doc to look at my shoulder, and he can’t do that while you are behaving like you are, I’m in pain, Doc can fix that. Got it?”
River lets out a sigh and then strides across the room with me still in his arms, I sigh, thinking that he hasn’t listened to a word that I have said and that he is just going to carry me around for however long it takes for him to calm down, which I wouldn’t usually complain about, I mean there is something thrilling about being easily carried around by a man, at least there is for me, but my shoulder fucking hurts.
I’m just about to try again when River gently lowers us onto the couch, being careful not to jostle me, and then looks up at Doc.
“Fix,” his voice is a rumble of a growl, more his kitsune than his human voice, and absolutely fascinating.
“Well okay then,” Doc mutters. He wastes no time in summoning a bag that I am assuming contains some sort of medical supplies.
“Can’t you just heal me?” I ask.
He glances up at me, surprised, “I can, I just assumed that you wouldn’t want me to since it’s not an emergency. Most humans find magic uncomfortable and don’t like being healed when conscious.”
“I’m not human though,” I point out, saying it aloud for the first time feels strange and almost like I’m pretending so I add, “well, not entirely. There is a little supe in me. That’s what she said,” I snicker.
Raiden bursts out laughing while everyone else just looks amused. Evander shakes his head with a smile. It says a lot about the current state that River is in because he doesn’t laugh at all, and I know that he would have found that just as amusing as me under normal circumstances.
I think.
Doc gains my attention again, his expression still amused, “As you pointed out, you are still mostly human, so I just assumed that you wouldn’t like it. If you are sure that you are okay with it, then I will use my magic, but I still need to see the wound.”
I nod, “Yeah, it’s fine with me. I like the feeling of magic. I am going to need help to show you my shoulder though if River isn’t going to let go of me,” River growls in protest, and I smile, “I guess that answered that. The bite is on my shoulder, if you could pull the jacket off my arm, then I can pull my arm out of it. You are probably going to have to cut my shirt to get at it.”
Doc nods and he grasps the sleeve of my jacket and pulls, together we manage to get it off. I really wish that River’s shirt that he gave me back in the golden bubble wasn’t white when gasps and growls sound throughout the room and the magic level amps up, the guys all gritting their teeth but somehow managing to stay upright this time, under the onslaught of Reed’s power, which I’m assuming means that he is holding the majority of it under wraps like usual.
“What the fuck, Nene,” Evander is the first to speak, “why didn’t you tell us that you were that badly wounded? We wouldn’t have carried on asking you questions.”
I shrug and then wince slightly as it jostles the wound, “I have a really high pain threshold, and I can compartmentalize really fucking well. I was fine, it’s not life threatening.”
“Don’t do that again,” Reed demands, and I raise my eyebrow, he adds somewhat reluctantly, “please.”
“Fucking hell, she got Reed to say please,” Ransom teases. His face becomes serious as he looks at me, “He is right, though he could have said it nicer, if you are hurt, please tell us, please don’t stay in pain. It’s unnecessary.”
I nod, my eyebrows pulling together slightly, “Okay, I can do that. Just don’t get mad at me if I forget.”
“How could you forget that you are in pain?” Griff asks, sounding confrontational, but I don’t think he means it that way.