Chapter 23 #2
“I was around for two centuries, love.” She laughs.
“It’s why Ohni won’t let me die, not completely.
But I don’t mind. I have seen some amazing things since my body faded.
Ciricidians would call this transcendence.
Except I’m tied to a damned moon. Talk about cabin fever.
Anyway, take the egg. You may exit that way. ”
A light blazes in from an opening passage in the rock.
“Thanks,” I say.
She dips her head. “Thank you for the conversation. It gets lonely being the only ghost in this place.”
“I know that feeling,” I tell her.
“Thank fuck!” Carnas stops in the light and lifts his hands toward us. “Who’s that?”
Ruby waves and fades.
Spike leans around the corner and punches him in the shoulder. “You’re seeing shit. Too much candy powder.”
Zorin collects the egg, draws me under an arm and guides me out of the shadows to the light again, while Carnas and Spike join us.
“What happened to Geist?” I finally ask.
“I sent him through his portal without his throat.”
I gape at him.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t bite it out.” Zorin hands me the egg. “Get your prize. I’m going to go wash off in the river.”
“You found her!” Davarok and Kren are with me in a flash of blue fur. We’ve surfaced just outside of the maze.
Zorin drops to all fours. His teammates shift too, and by the way they move their heads, I can tell they’re conversing.
They stare at the blood, looking about as distraught as I feel when I see just how much there is.
I’m not used to someone killing for me. But Zorin seems to be making a habit of it.
Geist deserved what he got. The Myndrous too.
Zorin lumbers off toward the rocky riverbank, his muscled shoulders and hips swaying like he’s stalking prey behind every boulder. His pack watches him, shaking their heads like something isn’t right.
Davarok shifts upright. “Ohni is off handing out the golden egg awards. She’ll be by in a few minutes I’m sure.”
Esrynne, their only female, joins us. “You cannot let him keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Walking away from you.” Kren straightens. “He’s got orders, sure. But we’ve been talking. Zorin wants you, but he’s afraid of taking what he wants, and not just because of possible jail time. He’s not just washing off in the creek. He’s beating himself up for almost losing control around you.”
I chew a nail. If they only knew.
“He never does anything for himself,” Esrynne adds. “He’s always helping us.”
Spike watches Zorin sulk into the water. Carnas, who’s still at my side, is locked onto Esrynne. She gives him a mildly disgusted glance.
“I’m all for fun and games,” Davarok remarks, resting his hands on his hips, chewing on something. “But this is how Zorin is. He puts everyone else before himself. Sooner or later it’s going to be the death of him. We do what we can to mitigate it. But you might be able to save him from himself.”
Me?
“Give me a piece of that,” Esrynne says, snatching a strip of jerky out of Davarok’s hand.
“Finally! It’s good, I promise.”
She bites off a piece and throws the rest of the stick at Carnas. “The fuck’s your problem? Do I have something on my face?”
Carnas fumbles but catches the dried meat.
Davarok glances between them, crosses his arms, and chuckles. “Try it.”
After biting off a piece, Carnas nods. “That is good.”
Davarok pumps a fist. “Told you, cousin.”
“What do you want? A fucking cake? Congrats. It’s good. Now shut up about it.” Esrynne gives Carnas a look up and down then turns to watch Zorin in the river.
“How am I supposed to help him?” I ask her.
She repositions her armor as if it itches. “Zorin’s pretty transparent. What you see is what you get with him. He needs someone to care about him as strongly as he cares about all of us.”
Davarok chuckles. “Azrim on the other hand, total Dirender. He’ll go off and punch holes in ships…”
“Or he could come up behind you with a claw out.” Kren shivers.
“But you trust him?” I ask.
Davarok shrugs. “Eh. As much as someone can trust a reaper with a hard on for causing fear and playing with souls before he rips them out.”
“Dude.” Kren motions to me.
“Sorry.” Davarok shrugs. “I’m just being honest.”
Kren lets out a deep sigh. “At least he’s our reaper.
No matter what, both of them fight the good fight.
And they’ve carried far more pain than most of us.
Sure, a lot of us are the last of our packs, but that’s nothing significant.
Being the last Aegeris isn’t easy. So being chosen by him is no light matter. ”
I watch Zorin climb out of the water and shake off. His tail swings as he walks down the riverbank away from us. “I understand the mission. Thanks guys.”
“Don’t you want some ice cream?” Davarok asks. “I was hoping to steal some.”
Kren swats him in the side. “All you think about is food.”
“And females.” Davarok grins, showing his pointed teeth.
“Hold this.” I offer Carnas the ruby egg, which he promptly takes and cradles like a pup, catching Esrynne’s attention. I waggle my brows at her, to which she wrinkles her nose.
I start after Zorin, feel them following me, and pause. “Hey, can we have just a little space? Geist isn’t coming after me. I think I’m safe now, right?”
Kren and Davarok exchange looks, but they stay behind as I sneak toward Zorin.
Zorin needs someone to fight for him. But first, I’ve got to find a way to get him to believe I’m not going anywhere, no matter what anyone says.
He’s right. It’s time I start fighting for what I want.