Chapter Five
My muscles ached as I pumped my wings, trying to catch up with the blue-haired beauty miles ahead of me. I’d awakened with an ache in my chest and had known in an instant she wasn’t in the lodge.
Storming into her room, I caught the soured scent that told me she’d been ill again, and my heart had twisted. I should have made her leave the door open so I could hear her if she needed me.
Her spicy amber scent led me out to the open balcony, and without a second thought, I’d launched myself into the dark sky. For two hours, I tracked her through the skies, that spark of fear for her safety shifting to confused anger.
Why hadn’t she told me she was leaving? Or given me a clue about her next move?
Because you acted like an idiot and she’s probably happy to be rid of your presence.
My inner voice was brutal, but probably right. I was a brewing storm cloud, while Iolani was the dewy ground after a gentle spring rain. She was full of hope and the promise of beautiful things to come, while I was cold and empty.
Why couldn’t I just turn around and forget about her? That would be the best for both of us. She was safer—both heart and body—if she stayed far from me.
But there was no way I could leave until I made sure she was okay. Although I hadn’t scented another presence in her room, I couldn’t rule out that she’d been taken from the room by force. I knew very little about her, but I got the distinct impression this hadn’t been a sightseeing trip.
She was on a mission.
Regardless of my annoyance, I’d been impressed at the speed my little mate could fly. Shifting to my gryphon form with its larger wingspan, I’d been able to cover many miles and close the gap between us. Still, it was just after two in the morning by the time I spotted her circling a mile ahead of me.
The fear that had slowly been growing in my chest faded just at the sight of her.
That relief was short-lived.
Because she’d tucked her wings and plummeted to earth almost faster than my eyes could track. It was as though she had no intention of stopping.
Had she been shot down? What if she’d had another episode and passed out?
My heart had stopped beating at the thunderous boom as her body collided with the ground and blue fire erupted around her. I blurred through the sky, pushing myself to close the distance even though I knew it was too late for me to save her.
No one survived a freefall like that.
I came to a stop mid-air, my massive wings keeping me from dropping to the ground as I stared in horror at the blue fire erupting from where she’d impacted.
My brain struggled to comprehend the truth that I’d lost my mate. I didn’t even realize I’d stopped breathing until a form stepped from inside the fire and I sucked in a gasping breath.
Could it be?
Iolani stepped from the flames, like an ancient goddess of war. Her skin was bare except for the fire dancing over her like an eager pet greeting its master. Long blue hair flowed around her face as though it were made of fire.
Her mouth moved, but I couldn’t make out the words. Silver wings snapped open, and my eyes widened as fire rippled over her wings without burning a single feather.
How had she survived that fall? It was impossible.
I didn’t care. All I cared about was that she was alive.
So you can have another chance to ignore her and act like the backside of a donkey?
Flashes of light flickered in the darkness surrounding her, and I shrieked as I recognized the loud pop of gunfire.
She’d survived the fall only to be shot.
Pumping my wings harder, I pushed myself to get to her side, ready to protect her.
Covering the last of the forest between us, I watched as Iolani stood tall, not so much as flinching as the bullets fell around her. There was a sharp crack, the angry neigh of a horse, and I was forced to shield my eyes as brilliant fire exploded over the rocky outcropping.
I’m almost there, Iolani…
The fire was gone just as fast as it had begun. It was obviously paranormal in origin, but I didn’t have a clue where it had come from or who was controlling it. When it died back, the men were gone.
I scanned the woods, but there were no signs of movement other than the riderless horses weaving through the trees, trying to get as far away from the fire and bullets as possible.
Again, I breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted Iolani standing tall, a dark stallion behind her. She’d been spared the fire’s fury… and now she was going to face mine. How could she risk her life like that?
As I covered the last few feet of forest separating us, the ground gave way, sending Iolani and the dark horse plummeting off the cliff.
After seeing her crash into earth, I wasn’t sure if Iolani had the strength to fly herself to safety. What if she’d injured her wing and was unable to fly?
I dropped from the sky, my body piercing the air as my eyes locked onto my target.
Iolani had maneuvered between falling boulders and was clinging to the neck of the horse. He was frantically trying to right himself, and I saw the dark wings for the first time.
Pegasus.
My shock over the impossibility of what I was seeing disappeared as the realization of what Iolani was planning hit me. Despite the size difference, she was going to extend her wings to slow their fall, even though his weight and the speed of the fall would shred her muscles. Even if she had healing abilities, she wasn’t likely to fly again.
Releasing another angry shriek, I tucked my wings, easily catching up with the pair just as I saw Iolani’s back muscles tense. Time was up.
My claws sank into the dark beast’s flesh. I did my best not to injure him more than necessary, but I found it hard to care about his well-being when I suspected Iolani could have glided to safety if she hadn’t wanted to save him.
Using the air current weaving through the deep ravine, I carried the pair clear of the crashing rocks. The pegasus was slightly larger than a Clydesdale, but his weight was nothing to me. I was large enough I could carry a helicopter for an hour or two without feeling the strain.
Anxious to check Iolani for injuries, I found the nearest moss-covered bank, and dropped the pair, before landing on all fours. Spinning around, I shifted and rushed back to Iolani’s side.
I dropped to my knees beside her, pulling her onto my lap as my eyes scanned her for signs of blood. My fingers tangled in her hair, as I tilted her neck to inspect the deep slash on her cheek.
It was the only wound I found.
The scent of her blood, combined with the fear of thinking I’d watched her die, and the rage over seeing her put herself at risk, boiled over.
My fingers tightened in her hair, and my left hand gripped her hip. “Tell me you weren’t about to spread your wings and have them ripped off your back so you could save the jackass.”
“He’s not a donkey!” Iolani retorted, her eyes meeting mine without apology.
“I don’t care what he is.” I snarled, pulling her face close to mine. “Tell me you weren’t about to risk serious injury for a stranger.”
“He’s not—” she began.
“You could have flown to safety, but you were willing to risk death for him.” Our lips were so close I could taste her warm breath on my mouth.
“It would have been fine,” Iolani answered stubbornly, pursing her lips, and her eyes daring me to… what? Punish her? Demand an apology? Kiss her?
Our gazes remained locked as I struggled to cope with what she’d stirred in me. Emotions weren’t something I was used to, and I didn’t know how to handle them.
A raspy voice broke the silence. “Are you going to kiss her, or…?”
In unison, our necks snapped up to the man standing just behind her. He was a similar height to me, but leaner. While I was built like a grizzly bear, he had the body of a sleek racehorse.
I dropped my hands from Iolani’s body, only then realizing we were both naked and her bare skin was brushing against mine.
“Of course not,” I answered briskly.
PDA had never been my thing, but I instinctively knew if I kissed her, it was going to become harder to walk away after I deposited her back in the safety of the lodge.
The man held out a hand to Iolani, and she tentatively placed her hand in his. “Then allow me to express my gratitude.”
Pulling her to her feet, the stranger’s arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her into his arms in an enthusiastic hug that made me want to kill him.
He smiled at Iolani’s squeak of surprise. “Can I kiss you?”
“Ye…yes.” Iolani’s voice was breathy, and I was instantly irritated that it had been caused by another man.
I watched in shock as his lips captured hers in the type of kiss you’d expect to see from longtime lovers, rather than strangers. Clenching my jaw, I tried to tear my gaze away, but found I couldn’t. An odd flicker of what I suspected was jealousy grew as Iolani’s bare legs wrapped around his waist and his hands moved to her butt to brace her.
She was my mate.
Even if we hadn’t accepted the bond, she was mine, and he had no right to touch her.
Logically, I knew I was being unreasonable, and she had every right to be touched by whomever she wanted, but that didn’t stop me from standing and moving to yank her out of his arms.
“Enough!” I roared with enough ferocity to send sleeping birds tumbling from their nests and darting through the quiet forest.
Ponyboy sidestepped my attempt to yank her away and lifted a single brow in my direction. “And you are?”
“Her m—” I caught myself before the word slipped out. “A concerned friend.”
A lazy smile slid across the man’s angular face. “Well, then. I don’t think you have any say in how I thank my beautiful mate for coming to my rescue.”
His mate.
My knees buckled, but I stubbornly locked them into place, disgusted by my body’s split-second sign of weakness.
Too angry to speak, I turned on my heel and strode into the forest without a backward glance.
Good. She had a mate to protect her now and I could leave without worrying about harm coming to her.
This was what I wanted.
Taking to the sky, I pumped my wings, heading toward home and trying to ignore the pain in my chest that grew stronger with every mile I put between me and Iolani.