Strip Search #3
But Nik’s too busy to even notice. His horse screams and rears at the unexpected sound. Mo whirls, tugging his lead rope out of Nik’s hand before he rushes into the woods to our right.
My pulse roars in my ears as I watch Nik wrestle his horse back under control. I take a staggering step towards the woods, set to run, but my whole body feels cold and leaden, my breath coming in short gasps as if I’ve just sprinted a mile. I shiver uncontrollably, my ears ringing like a bell.
My vision swims before Nik appears in front of me, his face a mask of fury, but his barked order seems to reach me through water.
Around me, the forest goes unfocused, my vision tunneling in.
I sway where I stand as Nik’s warm hands grab my shoulders to shake me.
His lips form my name, but I don’t hear him, don’t hear anything but the roar in my ears.
“-ey, HEY!”
I shiver as my eyes flutter open to see Nik hovering over me.
His anger has been replaced with wide-eyed concern, and all at once, I realize I’m on my back.
Nik’s on his knees beside me, his face close to mine like he was checking for breath.
He seems to realize it, a flush rising to his pale cheeks.
Yet as I look up at him, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed how blue his eyes are. As dark and deep as the Lenear Sea.
He goes to pull away, but I follow him as I sit up before my lips crash against his.
It’s like an intrusive thought come to life, yet where our mouths connect, heat seems to travel through me.
The chill that’s settled in me eases, and my shivering stops, warmed from the simple connection of our lips.
It helps clear my thoughts even as I crave more of it.
I reach a hand up to cup his neck, pulling more of that warmth into me.
And I don’t think I imagine Nik’s quiet moan, his gasp of pleasure against my skin, before he abruptly pulls back.
But I’ve already grabbed a strand of spells from around his neck. His eyes widen in shock, but I release the first thing I touch: the spell I created with Arlon and Orabelle during my week collared. An evocation that forces Nik away from me in a barrage, like a flurry of shoves from an auroch.
He fights against it, but the last crack of power throws him back. He skids to a stop in the wet mud as I scramble to my feet, my lips still tingling. Then, Nik lets out a sound that is so out of place that I can’t help but stare.
A giggle.
It bubbles out of him, completely uninvited. It’s only then I realize that the clothespins Orabelle yanked off me while making that spell caught a bit of enchantment, too. It’s disoriented Nik enough to make him harmless. At least for a second.
I waste no time as I rush for him, pulling the rest of my spells out from under his armor.
It’s no easy task either. He’s fastened his chest plate down so tight that I have to unfasten the buckles at his shoulders before I can pull them free.
He vainly grabs for them, blinking hard as he tries to shake off the laughter, but I’m quicker.
I dance away, backing up to the edge of the road.
“Don’ doit, Dom,” he slurs, hiccupping over wayward giggles as he tries and fails to get to his feet. “Won’ be s’ nice next time.”
I drape my spells around my neck with shaking hands. “I-I’m sorry. I can’t stop now.”
A quiet nicker of concern sounds out behind me, and I turn to find Mo watching us uncertainly from the edge of the trees.
After scaring the shit out of him, it’s a miracle he didn’t take off for the Crux, but I’m glad to see that he’s decided to stick close to me.
I give his neck a pat as I check him over, making sure he’s alright and everything’s still secure before I mount up.
Nik swears, feet slipping on slick leaves as he fails to get to his feet. The spell is holding strong, but it won’t last forever. And as soon as it wears off, I have no doubt that he’ll be coming for me again.
The least I can do is make it harder for him.
I nudge Mo over to where Nik’s horse has been tied on the other side of the road. I untie her reins from the low-hanging branch as Nik manages to stumble unsteadily upright.
“M’erfucker! Don’ you dare!”
I level a glare at him before I release a low caliber evocation into the air over his horse’s head.
Mo flinches at the crack of sound, but Nik’s mount isn’t nearly as solid around magic.
She spooks, taking off down the road, and I send another evocation crashing after her to make damn sure she’ll be running for some time.
Nik swears as he topples to the wet ground again before another wayward giggle escapes him. I turn to look down at him.
“I’ve got a dozen worse things I could have done hanging around my neck,” I say as I tuck my spells under my shirt. “Remember that if you catch up to me again.”
“DOM!” Nik shouts, but I turn Mo away and nudge him to a run.
And as we thunder down the road, that voice I almost remember whispers to me, a quiet plea.
East, Dominai. Hurry.
TO BE CONTINUED...