Chapter 8
Sunlight glinted off of Ember’s wings as she turned and dove through the air. Racing toward the ground, she caught her targeted prey in a vicious snap of her talons. Pushing through the dense underbrush, Raiden slowly made his way to her.
Ember cawed at him from the ground as he knelt.
A twinge of pain slithered from his rib cage, where the poisoned injury had been, to wrap around his hip and down his thigh.
The pain was more aggravated from their long walk than he’d anticipated.
Thankfully, Daya hadn’t noticed. She’d been gone hunting so much lately that she probably assumed the exaggerated limp was simply slow healing and not a regression.
Refusing the offered food from her kill, Ember hopped onto his hand while Daya stored the rabbit in the game bag.
Even the bird knew he was pushing his injuries further than he should.
He could have sworn her beady eyes narrowed in critique as she peered at his side and then up at him.
This time was important for Daya, though.
He could rest when she left on her next hunting trip to make up for it.
“What a smart girl you are.” Reaching up, he gently ran his fingers over her, rivetted by the amber streaks in her red feathers that nearly sparkled in the bright midday light. “And gorgeous, too.”
She ruffled her feathers in a distinct preening motion. Daya made a derisive sound, eyes flicking to the bird in an annoyed frown. Ember only fluffed herself more.
Raiden chuckled at Daya’s expression. “Well, that must have been quite the comment. Care to share?”
Daya’s startled brown eyes snapped his way as she rose from the ground.
He stared back, waiting patiently as she decided whether to confide in him or not.
It was far from first time he’d observed the unusual interactions between her and the hawks.
After two months with her, he was certain they could communicate.
Curiosity plagued him, along with a bit of envy.
“Is Ember as feisty as I think she is?” He pushed a little harder.
Another moment passed before she gave in. “Probably more.”
Triumph swelled in his chest. Finally, she’d truly trusted him with one of her secrets. It was the tip of the iceberg, but it was a beginning. As his elation settled into a warm glow, he noticed that tension continued to bubble from Daya, vulnerability shadowing her eyes.
His glow dimmed. “Anaiah, you’re safe with me. You know that.”
“It’s not something I talk about.”
“Is your magic why you choose to live a solitary life on the mountain?”
“It’s a factor.”
A factor, but not the factor. Magic was a threatening topic in Eldridge, more so for those who actually possessed magic and were forced to hide their gifts or face persecution.
A lone female huntress was a rare occurrence in the realm but not completely unheard of.
Living within the border of a town instead of high in the mountains would have made her life easier with access to supplies and trading opportunities.
Her life was still such a mystery. And then there were her hawks, who behaved more like people.
Daya moved with a slight stiffness as they continued through the forest. It wasn’t like he remembered enough to share his own history with magic, but what could he do to calm her fears and bring the illusive smile to her lips?
He was supposed to be giving her a day of escape, not causing her stress.
Ember cawed at him as she circled back, fading in and out of view as she flew through swaths of shadow created by the forest. An idea struck him, and he held his arm out for her to perch, silently requesting the intelligent bird’s presence.
A rush of air struck him as she dropped abruptly from flight and landed on his leather-covered arm.
“I need your help.” He kept his voice low as he stroked her soft feathers. “You can see me when I’m using magic to hide, yes?”
They were under a slight shadow, so he shimmered magic over his opposite hand.
Her eyes snapped with predatory alertness to the use of magic.
It was an educated guess after playing with her and Neka in the forest as he rebuilt his mage skills.
He was also banking on the fact that the hawk thoroughly understood his words.
“Can you hunt for us? Daya and I hide, you hunt. Hide and seek.”
Ember’s head bobbed in interest, and she gave a soft, affirmative squawk. Raiden grinned. This will be fun. The hawk took off from his arm, flying up and disappearing into the trees.
Hustling as much as he could without causing more damage to his body, he caught up to Daya and grabbed her hand, tugging her off the trail and into the dense woods.
“Raiden, what—”
“Come on!”
It was a testament to her trust that she didn’t stop and demand an answer but continued to follow him through the brush. She matched his limping walk, keeping pace with him easily.
Bypassing thicker trees that threw large shadows, he found a smaller tree standing at an odd angle to the mountain. Ushering Daya into its sphere, he wrapped his arms around her and pinned her to the tree.
“Just breathe with me, Daya, like you promised,” he whispered.
Veiling them with his magic caused the light to stammer in waves of slow motion before settling around them in a darkly shimmering cloak. He cinched it tight around them, weaving the edges into the fabric of the shadow until they were completely concealed.
“Raiden…”
The urge to kiss her flooded him with desire. This close, he could smell the rich scent of her skin—rain, woods, and a hint of lentha nectar—and wondered if she would taste as good as she smelled.
He brushed his lips along her jaw. “Come on, anaiah. Play with me.”
Daya’s lungs rose in a shuddering breath, awareness of a more primal nature rising in like a swift tropical storm between them. He basked in the heat for just a second before untying his tongue.
“Didn’t you ever play hide and seek?” he asked.
“Wha-at?”
Reveling in the fact that he’d pushed her off guard—another first—he smiled against her skin, letting her feel his joy. A rare moment to cherish. No secrets, no memories, no talk of the future, just as he’d promised.
“Fun,” he whispered. “You don’t have enough, and I plan to change that.”
“By playing hide and seek?”
“For starters.”
Her hand tightened on his chest, probably deciding whether to grab him or push him away. Suddenly, the intensity unfurled, and she relaxed in his arms, letting her head rest against his. He felt her shake her head, and he grinned. Exactly what she needed.
The sound of pumping air thundered through the quiet as Ember swooped down, as if for the kill. She pulled up and turned at the last second, her wing sending a plume of air across the back of his neck.
Dropping the magic, he laughed and stepped back, bringing Daya with him into the light. Ember circled and dropped down again to land gracefully on his arm.
“Good girl,” he murmured, stroking her feathery chest.
Looking back to Daya, he found her brown eyes blown with heat and just a touch of astonishment.
He quirked his eyebrow in silent question to see if she wanted to keep playing.
It would be a fight to keep the desire between them at a simmer while they played, but he’d do anything to lift the heavy weight from her shoulders, even if just for an afternoon.
A smile fought its way to Daya’s lips, and she nodded.
“Again, Ember,” he said.
As their winged partner flew away, he reached for Daya’s hand and moved out, scoping for new shadows to hide in.
“You’re ridiculous,” she said, but he could hear the spark of laughter in her voice.
Anything for you, love.
Turning in a circle, he assessed their surroundings for hiding places that didn’t require too much physical effort to get to. Aches and pains were already beginning to feather across his senses for his faster than normal gait.
“Over there, see the overhang?” Daya asked, pointing.
Squeezing between two trees, they ducked into the tiny alcove. Facing the entrance, Daya held her hand out, fingers grazing the living green. The willowy branches of the tree began to move, shifting and growing until they became a thick wall, completely blocking their hideaway.
Pure admiration flooded him. She wasn’t just using a second ability; she had immense control. Fire heated his blood at the show of well-honed power. When she finally dropped her hand, he wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and pressed his mouth to her ear.
“You are incredible, woman.”
The shadows heightened his vision rather than limiting it, so he was able to see the expression that moved across her face when she tipped her head back to look at him.
Staring into her eyes, he realized she didn’t just need a stress-free afternoon. She had complete confidence as a huntress, as a falconer. Even, he suspected, as a mage. This was about the woman inside, the one she hid from the world.
If she kept looking at him like his words were the core holding her universe together, he was going to have to do something drastic. He tucked a finger under her chin and drew her closer.
He kissed her cheekbone with reverence and continued down her neck. Her breathing quickened, the gorgeous sound ringing in his ears as her lips parted in desire. Dancing on the line she’d set, he brushed his lips over hers in a soft caress.
Come on, anaiah. Believe in me, in us. It had to be her choice.
A loud squawk wailed through the quiet, making Daya jump in surprise. With a groan, he turned his head and found two squinty eyes peering at him through the green curtain. The rest of Ember’s body remained outside the protected space.
“You have terrible timing,” he told the bird. “Truly terrible.”
Daya laughed loud and hard as Ember ducked out of sight. It had a cleansing sound to it, her whole body shaking with the effort. A heartfelt smile grew on his face as he watched some of the tension drain from her body.