34. Riggs
RIGGS
The sun peaked over the horizon, its rays stretching across the deep-purple skies, shading the expanse blue.
Wind whispered through the trees, its chill leaving a trail of goosebumps on Riggs' arms. He shivered, grabbing his cloak in the saddlebag.
They had been traveling through the forest of Aldmoor for the past hour, and the deeper they went, the colder it became. At least he knew Esemeray was warm.
Riggs draped his cloak over him, adjusting his scabbard. The weight of his new sword strapped to his back felt…different. Good.
Thanks, Dad. Riggs smiled. Great birthday gift, and good talk.
Their conversation was worth having. His father had apologized. He could still hear his father’s voice before he slipped past the threshold. “Reach for the heavens my boy. I will be waiting for your return, I love you.”
Esemeray shifted in his tunic pocket, breaking his thoughts. She rested comfortably, curling in a ball.
She had chosen a mouse form. As if she couldn’t get any more adorable.
First a kitten, then a spider, now this?
Gods help him. She knew the way to his heart—all living creatures.
But after last night, adorable wouldn’t be the word he’d use to describe her.
He couldn’t help but grin, the memory of her still fresh against his lips. She’d come apart for him so beautifully, trembling beneath his mouth.
Right before they left, Riggs found himself in the bathing chamber, the taste of Esemeray clinging to his tongue, driving him mad.
It hadn’t taken long, not with the image of her writhing, not with the sound of her soft moans tormenting his mind.
He’d stroked himself hard, chasing that high again, needing it like he needed her.
“What are you grinning about?” Killian questioned, trotting beside him.
Riggs slipped a laugh, trying to brush it off. “Just how shitty you look this morning. Did you even sleep?” He assessed Killian’s hair tied in a bun yet still falling into his eyes.
“Too much on my mind.” Killian grunted, rubbing his beard. “Also, the moaning coming from your bedroom didn’t help.”
Heat crept along Riggs' neck.
Fuck.
“Are you withdrawing? I heard hallucinations are one of the many effects,” Riggs lied, heat blooming across his cheeks. The withdrawals were much worse. Diarrhea, dehydration, erectile dysfunction, and list went on, but hallucinations were not one of them.
Kills does not need to know.
“I guess you weren’t kidding then… Goolies are no joke. That was a hell of a hallucination.” He hummed. “It sounded so…real.”
“Strongest pain killer around.” Riggs cleared his throat, adjusting the reins in his hand. “When you’re no longer in pain, I got you something to subdue withdrawal symptoms, you will be good as new.”
Killian looked at him, his features softening. “You didn’t need to do that.” His throat bobbed. “Thank you, brother.” He pointed toward the crate with his thumb. “I should be feeling better once we make it to the temple. I’ll take it then.”
“I got it in here.” Riggs patted his pack. “I must warn you, Tyger has an effect of its own.” Riggs mentioned, keeping his gaze on the flower speckled path ahead.
“More hallucinations?”
Riggs nodded.
“How long does it last?”
Shit.
He had forgotten to ask Eddie.
“Eh, twenty minutes or so,” Riggs said, grimacing.
Once they reached Starfall he’d research it. They had plenty of book stores scattered around the market. Tyger was a typical potion right?
The wind gushed toward them, filling the air with damp earth and pine.
“How did she take it? I never asked,” Killian said, his brows dipping in concern.
“Who?” Riggs' hands tightened on the reins.
“You know who, brother.” Killian arched his brow. “The princess.”
Riggs schooled his features into neutrality despite his racing heart. “She took it as well as she could.”
“Better than you, I imagine,” Killian said, grinning. “You really liked her, didn’t you?”
Riggs knew Killian was high. Typically, Killian didn’t care enough to carry on a conversation like this. Not this early in the morning at least.
“I do—did.” Riggs offered him a tight smile. “Can we talk about something else?”
Killian was silent for a moment, then said with a sigh, “Are we doing any good even finding her sister? What if they both were running away from something?”
Riggs could feel Esemeray moving around as if she were surprised by his question. Riggs had weighed that option already.
It’s highly likely.
“It appears it is you, brother, who can’t stop thinking about her.” A grin twisted Riggs' cheeks. “What’s on your mind?”
“I’m sure you know already,” Killian said, glancing forward, and avoided his gaze, “about the scar.”
Riggs' stomach fell to the dirt. “What are you talking about?”
Esemeray shifted again as if she were trying to say something. After another moment of silence, Riggs asked, “When did you see her scar?”
When did this occur?
Killian faced him, his blushed skin was the same color as his bruise. “I may have upset her, and she showed me.” His cheeks and eyes drooped. “It was terrible…”
Riggs gulped, his gaze drifting toward a horde of lady bugs swarming the path. He wouldn’t use the word terrible to describe it. Messed up? Yeah. But terrible?
No.
Nothing about Esemeray was terrible.
How could it be? When everything about Esemeray was devastatingly, painfully beautiful.
Killian snapped his fingers. “Riggs, where did you go?”
Riggs returned his focus back to Killian. “What did you say to her?” he asked, forcing his tone to sound untroubled.
Killian’s lips tilted into a halfway smile—a face he only made when he felt guilty about something. It was a look Riggs knew all too well. “I may have assumed the reasoning behind her arrival.” Killian shrugged. “I said something inappropriate.”
“Such as?” Riggs asked, keeping his voice low.
Killian pulled on the collar of his tunic as he admitted, “Your death is not worth her pleasure.”
Riggs bit his tongue, his mouth going dry.
Killian grunted, flinging his finger toward the muddy ground. “Watch out! It’s a dravyn!”
Riggs yanked on the reins, glancing at the tiny orange-and-black snake slithering across the path ahead of them.
It was one of the most poisonous snakes in Aldmoor.
One bite would kill someone within twenty-five seconds.
It was so fast, victims wouldn’t even know what bit them. And its favorite snack was mice.
“Just a baby.” Riggs swallowed the lump in his throat, hoping it didn’t detect Esemeray in his pocket. The dravyn’s smell was merely one of its superior senses.
Killian shook his head, never taking his eyes off it. “Baby or adult, that thing will still kill you.”
Killian was right. It would. The dravyn will take extreme measures to capture prey, even as a small little thing. The snake disappeared into the thick brush beside them, as Riggs urged Storm to move forward, giving her a kick.
Nine hours later, and Killian finally decided to stop. Impatience weighed heavy on Riggs' shoulders. All he wanted to do was check on Esemeray—offer her water, feed her. An hour ago, he had dropped a few oats in his pocket, but she hadn’t made a move for it.
Riggs rubbed his hand against his tunic pocket, his heart pounding through his ears.
Esemeray wasn’t moving.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Riggs held his breath, tapping gently against his pocket. Her limp body bounced between his fingers. Riggs froze. He needed to make something up. Needed to get away from Killian.
“What’s up with you?” Killian asked, unsaddling. “You got dirt up your ass?”
“You know. I might. I should probably go wash myself.” Riggs' boots thudded against the ground. “And as soon as possible,” he said, urgency lacing his tone.
Killian scanned the flower speckled area, most likely looking for a place to pop up camp. “Grab wood while you are at it, I will set up the tents.”
Without another word, Riggs grabbed Esemeray’s cloak, shoes, a pack of food, his waterskin, and headed toward the forest. He didn’t waste a second before pulling her out of his pocket.
His heart surged. She was sleeping. He could see her breaths with each wiggle of her nose, could see her whiskers moving.
Thank the five gods. Her eyes cracked open.
She stared at him, her long lashes fluttering.
His chest expanded. “Give me two minutes.” She nodded, and curled into his palm, her tiny claws dragging against his skin.
Riggs hiked far away enough that Killian wouldn’t see or hear them speak before gently setting her down. Black mist plumed as her mouse form vanished and Esemeray was standing there, right in front of him. Bare.
Riggs smiled, wrapping the cloak around her, and snuggled her tightly. He dropped down to a knee, sliding the shoes on her feet, one by one. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“Thank you.”
He rose, brushing his thumb along her cheek. “I brought you some food and water.” He handed her his waterskin. “Drink as much as you’d like.” He watched the water spill down her chin as she took every drop. She needs more.
Riggs reached into his back pocket, grabbing the pack of dried oats. “It’s not the best food, but it will hold you over until I can find something more filling.”
Esemeray smiled, her cheeks stretching as she reached for the meal. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Something warmed inside of him. “I will always take care of you.” He didn’t mean just the basics. He meant it all.
Esemeray’s eyes danced around the forest, her face full of awe. “Where are we?”
Riggs glanced around at the dry, thin trees, sad to see the forest having fewer trees than at home. “We are still in Aldmoor, and a day away from Starfall Canyon.” He met her gaze and added, “I’m looking forward to showing you the night sky. It’s nothing like you have ever seen before.”
She twirled a piece of her hair, gazing back at him. He reached for her free hand and brushed his thumb along her skin. “How are you holding up?”
Esemeray chewed her bottom lip. “I wish we didn’t have to hide.” She shrugged one shoulder. “It’s hot in your pocket.”
Riggs offered an empathic smile. “You can always be my little bird. Killian won’t know.”
She nodded. “I could do that… At least I will be able to breathe.” Her eyes glittered. “What sorts of birds are known around here? You may need to give me a description.”
Riggs pointed toward a red bird perched in a tree above them. “What about that one? That species is called a feranhallow. They are one of the most astonishing birds in Aldmoor.”
Esemeray sighed, her arms banding around her waist. “Any form I take will always be a shade of black.”
“That’s okay, princess. No bird compares to your beauty. I promise Killian won’t know any better.” Killian was smart, but he never paid too much attention to the creatures surrounding them.
Esemeray rocked on her heels, chewing on a nail. “Have you found information on my sister?”
Riggs nodded. “Killian found a lead from a local in our village. Apparently, the man was close to finding her but then realized the girl he was following was a lycan.” He cocked a brow. “Granted, he didn’t know you and your sister were shifters.”
Esemeray gasped, her hands trembling at her sides. “A lycan?”
“They look like wolves but are much larger and can shift at will.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks were stained. “I know…”
“Are you alright?” Riggs asked, his features softening.
“I had a dream.” Her eyes shimmered. “There was a wolf—it…it attacked me. But Elora pulled me away.” Her lip quivered. “She said, save me…then burned to ash before I woke up.”
Riggs gripped her hand, wondering what that meant. “That sounds like a bad dream.”
“What if it wasn’t just a dream? What if she was communicating to me?”
Riggs inhaled the heavy pine, an unsettling knot twisting his stomach. “Have you communicated with her before in your dreams?”
Esemeray dipped her chin, nodding.
The hair on Riggs' arm lifted in warning. “I didn’t think that was possible.” Sucking in a sharp breath, he ran his hands through his hair. “Well, it sounds like we got a good lead then.”
Riggs jerked his chin toward camp. “I’m going to drop off firewood to Killian, then I want to show you something.”
“Show me what?” Esemeray asked with a gleam in her eyes.
“Just wait and see, princess.” Riggs reached for her hand and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. “You’re going to love it.”