Chapter Twenty-Six
R owena took pride in walking side by side with Slay, all the way through Golgerra.
The city already felt different; there were no guards posted anymore, no sections of the city forbidden to certain folks.
Seeing people mingle freely, going about their business, made her feel so fucking proud that she’d played any role in it at all.
Before they left, she even took Slay to the Hall of Heroes, entry previously forbidden to all but the highest caste.
He enjoyed the historic statues and the precious artwork, but since he wasn’t Golgerran he couldn’t deeply appreciate how momentous the occasion was.
Chantisse met them near the outer gate, taking time from her demanding schedule to say farewell in person.
That attention to detail and personal concern would serve her well as prime minister, along with many other admirable qualities.
Carefully, Ro put out a hand. She still wasn’t a hugger, but she nailed the handshake.
“I’m leaving Golgerra in the best possible care,” Rowena said.
“There’s room for you in my cabinet,” Chantisse replied. “You’d be a good fit for the social welfare program I have in mind. You could do so much good here.”
Ro hesitated. Fuck, haven’t I given enough to this city? Then she said, “I appreciate the opportunity, but I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Hettie ran up, ruining any chance of a quiet escape, because she had Kani and Nolen with her, and the girl seemed to be trying not to weep.
Her brother was more stoic, but Rowena still knew a painful twinge at the thought of never seeing these two again.
She wished it was easier for her to show physical affection but Slay solved the dilemma by hugging each kid in turn.
“When are you coming back?” Kani asked.
“Who knows?” It was an honest answer, exactly what she’d expect from Slay, then he made it better. “But you can always visit us, wherever we are.”
Nolen’s eyes widened at the prospect of leaving Golgerra. Likely it would take a while for that freedom to sink in. “Can we? Really?”
“Absolutely,” Ro said.
Farewells to Alastor, Ded, and Graff delayed their departure further.
Ro had spoken to them already in private, but they insisted on seeing her off, eyes deep and mournful.
Frankly, their presence made it harder for her to leave.
Then a runner came with a message for Alastor, something about locating Renna’s family, whatever that meant.
The messenger offered a welcome and necessary distraction, as Slay was running out of patience and signaled that he was going—with or without her.
Oh hell no, you’re not leaving me.
Ro took the opportunity to slip away in the confusion.
Still, nostalgia washed over her as she passed through the massive stone arch that led to the external gates.
For the first time in living memory, there was no attendant, and the doors stood wide, allowing citizens to come and go as they chose.
And when Ro passed into the cool, fresh air of a late spring or early summer morning, an invisible weight slid from her shoulders.
We did it. I’m free.
Closing her eyes, she tipped her face up toward the sun.
When they’d dragged her to Golgerra—by her own choice—there had still been snow on the mountain.
During her time underground, she’d lost track of how long it had been, but the world had changed.
Now the stony path was framed in green, stubborn plants determined to live even at this altitude.
Much like me.
“You look like that first breath was better than sex,” Slay teased.
“Maybe not better but…” She trailed off with an answering smile.
“Never mind, I don’t want to lose in a fight against a sunny day.”
She grinned because it was so obvious that he was only messing with her.
From his energetic demeanor, it seemed like he was eager to get going.
They had a few supplies packed up in a bag that Ro could strap to her chest and still fly.
Slay didn’t appear enthusiastic about handing it over, but he couldn’t carry it in jaguar form.
For her part, she was relieved to serve some purpose on this trip since he’d be finding the path and hunting their food.
She had a weirdly shy moment when she stripped, though Slay had seen her naked often enough.
Under the open sky, it felt strange, however, because the sun would find every mark on her body, merciless in its glare.
No point in fretting over scars that proved her resilience, so she shifted and spread her wings.
The warmth felt heavenly on her skin, and she’d eaten so well while helping with the election that she had the strength to fly for days.
Slay got naked as well, unselfconscious about his nudity as only an Animari could be.
Butt naked, he crammed their clothes into the bag, so casual that she wished her current form allowed her to smile.
But her mouth was permanently pulled into a snarl, showing a ridiculous amount of teeth.
Once she’d hated her shifted form because she was so much different than the other Golgoth.
But she loved Slay for not reacting, not even once.
She loved him for other reasons too, so many that she’d lost count, and the feeling spilled from her heart into her bloodstream, pumping through her with each new beat.
“Let me help,” Slay said, strapping the sack in place. “I’ll call twice if I’m stopping to rest. You should be able to hear it even overhead.”
She inclined her head since he couldn’t understand base Gol.
Then he did something nobody had ever done; he stretched on tiptoe and kissed her ridged forehead, like she was beautiful to him even in this form.
Her eyes burned, though they weren’t shaped to allow tears to fall.
Tenderly, she traced his features with razor-sharp claws and he held still, letting her caress him with trust that arrowed to the center of her being.
There was nobody in the world like Slay.
He stepped back when she dropped her hands and slid into jaguar form.
With a little snarl, he set off, racing down the steep path leading away from Golgerra.
Rowena got a running start, as getting lift took more effort carrying ballast, but it was nothing compared to the weight of the bodies she’d hauled upward, then dropped.
She caught the wind with her wings and leaned into the updraft, letting it carry her.
It wasn’t difficult keeping pace with Slay when she rode the currents down the mountainside, gliding from one to another with a joyous elation she’d rarely known.
Come to that, most of her happy moments involved Slay in some regard.
Around midday, he called out as promised and she landed beside him.
He’d shifted and donned loose, drawstring pants in the time it took her to settle on the ground.
Eating would be easier in her other shape, so she shifted as well and put on a long tunic.
He didn’t seem to feel the cold as much as she did, but it was warm even dressed like this.
They were still on the mountain, but she glimpsed the foothills ahead.
Lower down, the green was dotted with purple, blooming wildflowers that were known as shalai in Golgoth, or heart’s ease in the common tongue.
The sweetness of their early blossoms perfumed the wind, and she drew in eager gulps as Slay pulled a water bottle out of the bag.
He offered her the first sip and she drank down a few eager swallows before handing it back.
She realized his gaze was locked on her lips like he wanted a kiss, and she decided not to make him ask.
Boldly, Ro planted a loving one on his mouth and wondered if he could taste the difference.
All the times before, she hadn’t known consciously how much she adored him.
“Mmm. You’re making me hungry for something besides food.”
“But it would only drain your energy instead of giving you strength to run,” she said, dancing out of reach.
“I’m not too eager to test those rocks either.” Slay indicated the ridged and bumpy trail.
“Ever made love in a field of flowers?” Ro waggled her brows.
“Never. But I’m willing to give it a shot with you.”
“Even if we roll off the mountain?”
The ledges framing the path were narrow, overflowing with purple flowers that might conceivably cushion their bodies enough—no, she had to stop thinking about wild sex.
In the end, they didn’t make love, but he did cuddle her as they rested.
And they ate some of the food they’d packed, because Slay had anticipated there would be little for him to hunt this high up.
As the terrain grew less rugged, there would be prey for him to take down in jaguar form.
She might be able to strike like a hawk as well, take down a caribou for instance if the herds were still roaming after the long winter. They might’ve already moved north.
“I love this,” he said suddenly, his face against her hair like it was a river he could swim in. Sometimes she thought he might even be sniffing her.
Is that normal? She’d never had a lover before, and maybe it was an Animari thing.
“What?”
“Being with you.”
The trip went faster than Slay wanted once they left the highlands.
It was easier going on level ground. They ran until they were tired, and about halfway to Ash Valley when their supplies ran out, Ro helped him take down a magnificent stag.
Hunting with her was fucking awesome. Afterward, they built a fire and roasted enough meat for a feast. The rest they left for forest scavengers, who’d eat the carcass to the bone.
The weather held, dry and warm, so they slept curled up together.