Chapter Thirty-Eight
THE SPY
Swirling clouds of dirt erupted behind a trio of horses. Our group hustled into the tree line that bracketed the road. Weapons unsheathed, and magic coursed through my veins in preparation for the oncoming group.
Familiar voices hailed us. A man and a woman rode on two large steeds, with a third riderless horse tied to the back of the second. I smiled as Xuri and Finn dismounted, the sound of Finn’s laughter singing in my ears. The other two mounts conspicuously missing.
“Where are the other horses?” Bowen asked, while Xuri mother-henned Dom.
She turned at the question. “Some dreki stole two horses in the night, along with a lot of our supplies. I never even heard them. At least we still have three to ride on, right?” she asked rhetorically, sheepishly.
Bowen assessed his options, quickly claiming Xuri’s horse. She huffed without real bite to it. Someone had to share her steed.
Evander interjected, “My journey ends here. I have a friend in this town I want to check in with. I’ve given my stash of elixirs to Bowen for safekeeping, and I’ll put together a larger supply to have delivered later. Bowen knows how to contact me.”
I offered the soldier’s sign of respect, as did Dom, and Evander quietly departed.
Finn returned his attention to the horses, then darted between Dom and me. He patted my shoulder, then spoke genially in my ear, “Good to see you, Rebby.”
Dom cleared his throat, a dark expression cuing Finn to back away.
“I’m sure Finn and Dom have much to discuss. I’ll take the third horse.” I strode confidently in its direction.
Shadows coalesced in front of me, forcing me to an abrupt stop. I slyly glanced over my shoulder.
Dom glared down at me.
“You’ll ride with me,” he commanded, his body now blocking my path forward.
Stubbornness clamped down along with the desire to rile.
“We may not have time when we return to update your second-in-command. Now’s your best chance, and we need to get going.” I pushed past him, my hips confidently swinging.
A shadow grasped my wrist, spinning me around. Dom was beside me in an instant. “Such a menace.” His fingers grazed my arm, lingering. It effectively disarmed me. “I would prefer if you would ride with me, Liora. Please.” His voice rumbled like velvet gravel, meant only for me.
“If you reached the point of begging, then I suppose I can make an exception.” I smirked.
His eyes turned molten. “Begging is nothing. For you, I would crawl. You’ve had me on my knees for a while.”
His words lingered in the air, a sultry smoke curling around us.
He brought my hand to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles.
I allowed him to lead me to our horse. Mounting first, he pulled me up to sit in front of him.
His thighs caged my own. It was cramped and constricted, but his firm arm around my waist eased the discomfort.
Finn took the lead for our group, retracing the path he and Xuri had just arrived from. Plenty of daylight stretched before us to lead us back toward Lyrae.
We had traveled a few hours when a flock of vultures circled. Several dove down without returning to the skies.
We slowed our approach as we drew near. Finn, being the only one with a horse to himself, dismounted first and entered the grove of trees. We followed swiftly behind him, stopping short at the scene.
Several bodies were partially buried, the exposed flesh getting picked clean by the winged scavengers. What skin still remained was mottled and bruised. Dark, swollen veins stressed against ashen skin. I turned away, swallowing bile.
Finn pulled a smooth rock from his pocket, holding it tight. He and Dom exchanged a knowing look.
“You’ve seen this before.” Not a question.
Finn waited for Dom’s cue before responding. “Yes. At a Berine mining location. We believe there are experiments taking place. Though the aftereffects suggest they haven’t been successful. We hope.”
I forced myself to look at the bodies. They were too decayed and mangled to recognize identifying features. One appeared abysmally young. I squinted closer at its shoulder where the golden shimmer of Glint stole my breath. Frost crackled at my fingertips. This had to end.
“We need to move on. We don’t know what might be hovering nearby, and I don’t want to find out,” Xuri stated. In silence, we returned to our horses.
The plan was to push through and make a quick stop in Aphellion for supplies and a true rest. Dom, Bowen, and I were working under significant exhaustion. From there, we would head straight to the Perellian Forest and the Nymphian Library.
The compass continued to strengthen in color and brightness the further south we drew, the closer we came to the library.
I was confident his cure would be there.
I sank into Dom’s chest, enjoying what few moments I would have with him.
He deserved so much more than his enemy’s discarded puppet-weapon. But I would make it up to him.
The whisper of warm shadows caressed my body. And I didn’t stop them.