Spirit Rites (The Spirit Kingdoms #2)

Chapter 1

“Please help me,” I whisper as I stare at the jaguar in front of me and don’t dare move or even breathe.

I don’t know a lot about jaguars, but I do know they’re fast. Really fast. I’m pretty sure it could kill me instantly.

I haven’t looked it in the eye yet. I’m not sure if that’s the rule with jaguars, but I’m not taking a chance.

"Farrah, wait,” I hear Rysden say to Farrah, his mate and my friend.

She doesn’t listen and comes to stand beside me. A moment later, Rysden, King of the Wolf Kingdom, stands on her other side. Two wolves stand on either side of them. “Kinsley,” Farrah says quietly and squeezes my hand hard. “Have you tried talking to it?”

I don’t look at her, but I want to. “What? Are you out of your mind?” My voice comes out higher than I anticipated.

“Just try,” she says, much calmer than I am.

I think maybe she’s finally lost her mind. I mean it’s not surprising after everything she’s been through. But I do as she asks. “Uh, hi. My name’s Kinsley.” I shake my head. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever—My thought is cut off when a voice answers me.

Kinsley, I am Veyra, your bonded.

I stagger backwards in shock. “Ohhhhh.”

I hear Lox, Rysden’s friend, say something; but I can’t process it.

“Kinsley just met her spirit jag, which happens to be fully corporal,” Farrah says from right next to me.

I spin towards her in shock as my mind tries to process what is happening.

“It’s okay,” she says, trying to reassure me.

But there is no reassuring to be had here.

This is...I turn back to Veyra. Her green eyes follow my every movement.

Veyra, how? I don’t even manage anything else. I have no idea what else to say.

It took me a while to find you. You didn’t finish the third trial, and I lost your essence after that.

I was prepared to come to you in that trial.

It took me a while to find you. Her eyes stay pinned on me, and I can’t help but fidget under her assessing gaze.

Without turning away, I speak to the group gathered behind me.

“She said,” I swallow and take a breath.

“It’s because I didn’t finish the trial. So it took longer to find me.”

“Congratulations,” Farrah says brightly. “Are you okay?”

Everything seems to hit me at once. “I think I’m going to be sick.” The contents of my stomach suddenly decide they’re no longer satisfied to stay inside my stomach, and my stomach empties itself.

“Ew, thank you,” Farrah says.

“Sorry,” I whisper as I wipe my mouth. I didn’t mean to throw up all over her boots; it just sort of happened. She wraps an arm around my shoulder. “It’s okay; it’s a lot to take in. What happens next?”

It takes a second for me to realize she’s talking to Rysden, not me. “I’ll contact Kal.”

Panic explodes through me. “Oh, good heavens, no. Please, no.”

Farrah turns to me. “Breathe.”

“Please don’t let him,” I plead with Farrah, hoping she’ll see the earnestness in my eyes.

I’m not remotely pretending. Kal is none other than Kaldar, King of the Jaguar Kingdom.

I know he’s the king of jags, but I really don’t want to have to deal with him yet.

I just need a minute or a day, maybe a month, to deal with the fact that I have a spirit animal.

She’s corporal, but she’s mine. I stare at the gorgeous jaguar and fight tears.

I always wanted a spirit animal; I can’t believe I have one.

I hear Rysden say something, but his voice seems far away. I reach out a hand to Veyra.

Suddenly I hear a new voice behind me. “Can somebody please tell me why Jespar has been going crazy to get here? And why is there a jaguar here?” Everything around me slows down at the sound of his voice.

Kaldar. King of the Jags. My eyes shoot to Farrah’s as panic surges through me.

I hear a deep, raspy sound that makes me startle.

I turn slightly and see a huge, black jaguar approach me.

Fear takes hold of me, and I can’t catch my breath.

It takes me an extra second to realize he’s approaching Veyra, not me.

With fascination, I watch as he drops to the ground and rolls in front of Veyra before nipping at her.

Veyra takes a step back, and he moves towards her again. She takes another step away.

Fear for her makes me take a step forward. Is he trying to hurt you? I ask.

No. It is the mating way.

My eyebrows nearly hit my hairline. Oh. Well, carry on, then. She lifts her eyes to mine a moment and gives me an unimpressed look.

“That’s Jespar’s mate,” Kaldar says, breaking the silence. “Who is she bonded to?”

It hits me then. Jespar and Veyra are mates. Then that means...No. No. No. No. I whip my head towards Farrah, willing her to stay silent. “Harper!” I shout. “Over there!”

Harper turns towards me and gives me a look that is so Harper.

I would smile if it weren’t for the panic clawing at my chest right now.

She stares at me a moment, and I beg her with my eyes not to out me.

I can literally see her grind her teeth together before she lifts her head and smiles.

I cringe because it is not a friendly smile; she looks more like she’s going to murder the king of the jags.

Farrah’s eyes meet mine; hers are wide with concern.

I’m pretty sure she’s questioning my sanity right now.

Join the club. I’m questioning my own sanity right now!

“Why don’t we head inside?” Rysden asks in a deep voice.

I glance at him and try to give him what I hope appears to be a grateful look.

He meets my eyes a moment, and I grimace at the pointed look he gives me.

I look back at the jaguars. Jespar is still doing whatever it is he’s doing.

I’m still not exactly sure what, but I don’t think I want to stick around for it. But I also don’t want to leave Veyra.

Um, are you going to be okay with him? Do you want me to...I don’t know. Call him off?

Veyra lifts her head and locks eyes with me. I shiver at the intelligence behind those green eyes. I will be fine. He is my mate.

Right. Okay.

A hand slips into the crook of my arm as Farrah links her arm through mine. She tugs me towards the door a moment and then stops. “What is he doing?”

I stare at the jaguars. “Mating, I guess.”

Farrah’s wide eyes meet mine. “Really?”

“That’s what Veyra said.”

“Veyra? Aw, that’s such a gorgeous name.

” She absently reaches out and touches the top of Solace’s head.

Solace is a gorgeous wolf and also Farrah's spirit animal, that also happens to be fully corporal. Solace is mated to Shade, Rysden’s wolf.

I watch the two of them a moment and hope I can become close like that to Veyra.

I turn to face her and squint my eyes when I see Jespar is laying on the ground underneath her now.

“Okay, I think it’s time to leave them,” Farah says.

“Yeah.” I turn away quickly.

“Are they...like right here?” Harper asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Pretty sure,” Farrah says.

Harper glances at me. “You’re still looking a little green.” She glances over her shoulder and then back at me. “What exactly is your plan here?” Her voice is quiet, but it’s still too loud.

“Shh.”

Harper gives me her infamous look again. “Kinsley, he’s going to figure out that it’s not me.”

“Not if we don’t tell him.”

“And what, I’m just going to pretend to be bonded to your jaguar?” she asks.

I nod desperately. “Yes. That would be awesome. Will you do it?”

“Sure. No problem.”

Hope blooms in my chest. “Really?”

“No.” Just like that, my hope deflates.

“Come on,” Farrah says gently. “Let’s go inside.”

I glance around and notice that it’s just the three of us left out here.

The other guys must have gone inside. I glance over my shoulder to make sure Veyra is okay, but I squeeze my eyes tight and turn back around.

“I’m going to have that image burned into my eyeballs,” I mutter as I follow Farrah and Harper.

“Wait,” I say right before Farrah opens the door.

“What’s the plan?” Harper and Farrah both give me blank looks.

“Come on, Farrah. You always have a plan.”

“I don’t know, Kinsley. This just happened so fast. One minute, I’m in bed with Rysden—”

I throw my hand up. “Stop. I don’t want to know.”

Farrah laughs. “I’m just saying. One minute, everything was good.

Rysden told me now that he is King, he’s already passed a law that those who fail to produce a spirit animal during the trials don’t have to be banished.

I was so excited because you both can stay in the Wolf Kingdom with me.

He was going to tell Kaldar not to bother taking you back to his kingdom.

And then this happened. You produced a spirit animal. ”

“Fully corporal,” Harper mutters under her breath, like I need to be reminded.

“And now, Kaldar is here. Rysden was going to tell him that you both can stay now because of the new law, but now, well...” she motions towards the jaguars behind me.

I drop my hands to my hips. “This is all your fault,” I say to both of them.

“Our fault?” Farrah asks. “How do you figure?”

“Last night.” I check to make sure the front door is fully closed. “You both kept going on and on about him,” I whisper fiercely. “Saying I was in love with him when I’ve never even talked to him!”

“You were the one going on about his muscles and broad shoulders,” Harper argues.

“And the hair. Don’t forget the hair. You said you wanted to run your fingers—” I clap my hand over Farrah’s mouth.

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

She laughs and pulls away. “It’s going to be okay, Kinsley.”

I nod emphatically. “Yes, it is because we’re going to stick to the story that Harper is bonded to Veyra.”

Harper rolls her eyes. “It’s not going to work.”

“Yes, it is.” Do I think it will actually work? No. Am I desperate enough to try to make it work? Yes. I take a deep breath and push back my shoulders. “That’s the plan, and we’re sticking with it.” I step towards the front door.

“Kinsley, don’t you think we should talk about this?” Farrah asks.

“Nope.” I open the door and step inside. I suddenly panic when I remember that Kaldar has been with Rysden and Lox. Surely one of them is going to tell them that I’m the one bonded to Veyra, not Harper. I rush forward, ignoring Farrah’s hiss. I enter the large dining area and slow my steps.

Lox looks up at the three of us and grins.

I try to read his face and get a feel for whether or not he outed me to Kaldar.

“Welcome, Ladies,” he says. “Harper, how is Veyra doing?” he asks with a grin that nearly splits his face in half.

I scowl at him but wipe my face of anything but a pleasant smile when Kaldar turns towards Harper.

Harper stares at Lox, and I hold my breath. I squeeze my hands into a fist. Please, Harper. As if sensing my distress, she turns to me just for a moment. Then she pulls out a chair and sits. “She’s fine,” she says with a carefree shrug. I release the breath I was holding.