Chapter Fourteen
Igrabbed my shoes from beside the door. Tiptoeing out into the hall, I gently closed it behind me. Jazriel was still sleeping, and after the show-stopping performance he’d given me and the follow-up encore, he deserved to sleep in.
My night would have been perfect if August had been with us. But I hadn’t seen him since he’d carried me into the lodge the day before. I tried to tell myself he was just tired and was sleeping like a rock, but I couldn’t completely silence the voice that was telling me he’d left without a goodbye.
The long hours of sleep, combined with my mate’s incredible stamina, and my anxiety over August, had left me buzzing with so much nervous energy my skin crackled with tiny electric shocks every time I brushed against something.
I needed to run, and thanks to the suitcase filled with clothing and shoes Ryls had delivered while I’d been on the trail, I had the proper shoes to enjoy it.
Once outside the lodge, I stretched and then started jogging along the trail marked as being the easiest. My long strides quickly turned to a run, and within minutes, I felt the tension in my muscles fade.
Ahead of me on the trail, I caught movement. Slowing to a walk, my eyes made out the form of a man sitting on a log on the side of the path.
“Good morning!” I called out to the man sitting on the side of the trail. “Everything okay?”
The man gave me a lopsided grin. “I’m fine. Just a little dizzy. I guess I’m not used to running at this elevation.”
“It can take some getting used to,” I commiserated, although my phoenix shifter side made altitude of little concern for me.
The man’s chocolate brown eyes squinted up at me. “Hey, aren’t you Iolani? I was planning to come find you when I got back to the lodge.”
“Um, yeah?” I answered, hesitant to answer this complete stranger, even though there was an odd sense of having met him before.
“Sorry! That sounded so creepy.” The man smacked his forehead in an exaggerated gesture. “I’m Thom, and I was sent by Xerxes—well, Ryls. She threatened to come here herself if Xerxes didn’t send someone to help watch your back. Did you get the suitcase I left for you at the front desk?”
“That sounds like Ryls. She’s a firecracker when she gets an idea in her head.” I chuckled. “And yes, thanks for the clothes! I traveled light since I knew I would ride up to the lodge. So how’d you get an entire suitcase up here?”
Thom shrugged. “The weather cooperated yesterday morning for a helicopter to fly up here. After dropping the gear, I rappelled down.”
He stood. “If you’re ready to head back to the lodge, I’m good to jog again.”
“Sounds good!” I grinned, and let him set the pace before following into step beside him. “So when do you leave?”
“Whenever you tell me to, boss lady,” Thom wheezed, clearly still struggling with running in the thin mountain air. “I’m on permanent loan until either you’re finished with your work, or until you get tired of me and send me packing.”
“I hope you’re being paid to do this.” I winced, hating that he was being forced to help me.
“Don’t feel bad! I volunteered. It beats cleaning up the mess at Xerxes’ home and military base in Mexico.” He shot me a smile that, combined with his boy-next-door good looks, would’ve had most girls hurrying to drop their panties.
But although I felt a connection to him, I didn’t feel the pull of the fated mate bond. Plus, I had my hands full with August and Jazriel. The last thing I needed was a third man in the mix.
As we rounded a corner on the trail, we came face-to-face with a moose. I didn’t know if it was a male or female, but I didn’t think it really mattered. Not when it was almost two feet taller than me at its shoulder and its antlers were almost wider than I was tall. Plus, it appeared the only thing this moose hated more than mornings was humans.
“We need to back away very slowly.” Thom’s hand grabbed my arm, and he pulled me backward.
The moose charged, closing the distance between us with an almost paranormal speed. I didn’t want to injure the beast unless there was no other choice, but I also didn’t want Thom to get stomped into a pancake.
Shoving Thom out of the way, I ran toward the moose. At the last moment, I veered to the side and shot down an animal path and away from the main trail. The moose took the bait and changed direction to chase me.
I ran through the woods, weaving between tree trunks and ignoring the thorns yanking at my hair and cutting my skin. When I was sure Thom would be well out of the moose’s line of sight, I turned and ran back to the main trail, planning to spread my wings and take to the air.
But as I raced back onto the trail, I was rammed in the side by what felt like a freaking boulder. My body flew back in the direction I’d just come, sliding across the ground and into the underbrush. I didn’t even have a chance to call my magic before a large hoof cracked down on my head.
Over and over, the two moose stomped and kicked my crumpled body. Ribs cracked, I shrieked as my ankle and forearm shattered under the weight of the hooves. Each time I tried to call my magic, another sharp blow to the head caused me to lose focus.
I’d just closed my eyes to wait for the death blow I knew was coming when a strong wind surged down the trail, whipping up dirt and leaves. An ear-drum piercing shriek of raw fury seemed to come from everywhere around me.
Opening my eyes. I watched as the large gryphon dropped to the ground, still screaming at the moose. He wrapped the talons of one of his massive feet around me, not crushing me, but making it clear he was claiming their kill.
How lame. The only way I’d been able to get the sexy gryphon to claim me was to look like roadkill. I’d learned a lot about weird human kinks during my time on Earth thanks to the internet, but this was a new one I wasn’t really sure I could get down with.
Bellowing in annoyance, the moose slowly backed into the woods.
The moment they were gone, August shifted.
“You really suck with animals, you know that?” His voice was rough, but his hands were gentle as he practically scraped me off the trail.
“I noticed. Really sucks, since I wanted to be one of those princesses who had animals singing to her and cleaning her house.” I laughed, then regretted it as pain ripped through my chest.
Closing my eyes, I called my magic and sent it searching for the damage.
Footsteps pounded against the pavement. “Is she okay?”
“She’s alive,” August answered bluntly, making it clear he wasn’t interested in conversation. Then his voice dropped, and he whispered, “I should spank your perky little backside for this. Why would you go out alone?”
I couldn’t answer. Partly because I was weirdly intrigued by the idea of being spanked by him, and also because I was dying.
The only problem was, I didn’t want to die and regenerate in his arms. That was probably the fastest way to expose my secret.
“That thing came out of nowhere!” Thom stared at me, his face pale as he strode beside August. “Are you okay, Iolani? You saved my life!”
“Well, she shouldn’t have, and if she dies, I’ll kill you too,” August snarled, his lip curling.
“Stop it. This wasn’t his fault.” I tried to hide how difficult it was getting to breathe, thanks to the blood slowly leaking into my lungs. “Thom was sent here by Xerxes to help me with… stuff.”
“Well, maybe he should’ve started by helping you stay alive.” August wasn’t in the mood to be reasonable, and I didn’t have the energy left to argue.
Hooves pounded down the path, and a moment later, the pegasus shoved his face next to mine. Bingo. He was my ticket to saving my secret.
Focusing on the link between us, I sent my thoughts flooding into his mind. Listen, I know you can read minds. Do NOT shift to your human form.
Jazriel’s head reared back in shock. There’s no way she could know that?—
I cut him off. I figured it out on the trail and confirmed it yesterday on the patio when you were getting turned on by the thoughts I sent to you. So don’t even try to deny it.
He still didn’t believe me. Okay, but that doesn’t mean she can read my thoughts…
I rolled my eyes and then groaned as knives stabbed my skull. Yes, I can. Now shut up and listen. I’m dying, and if I don’t get away from August in the next couple of minutes, my cover will be blown. Follow my lead.
Jazriel whinnied, and his ears dropped.
“August? Every step is jarring and hurts so bad,” I gasped, not needing to pretend to be in pain thanks to the horrific pain of bones grinding together and internal bleeding. “Please let Jazriel carry me on his back. It will be smoother and hurt less.”
August didn’t even question my request and quickly settled me on Jazriel’s back. The pegasus eyed me with anguish. I’d hidden my plan from him, but he still sensed he wasn’t going to like it.
“Let’s go, Pony Boy. We need to get her to the lodge and slow the bleeding to give her time to heal,” August snapped, and began to run alongside Jazriel, leaving poor Thom to bring up the rear.
Okay, there’s a large pond alongside the trail right before we exit onto the lodge’s property. I need you to buck me off. Aim for the pond, I told my mate while using just enough magic to keep my heart beating.
You want me to kill you?Absolutely not.
I’m already dying. I promise I’ll be dead before I hit the water.
Ha! And what do you expect me to tell August?
Tell him you stepped on a bee or some crap like that. He’ll be so relieved I’m healed, he will not think twice about you.
I might be a jerk, but I’m not that heartless. Find another way.
My vision was darkening, and we were nearing the pond. We were running out of time and it was now or never. I’ll make this up to you later. Now, aim for the pond.
WHAT?
I sent magic surging to his butt, giving him a non-fatal shock.
The pegasus screeched as the muscles in his hindquarters spasmed, sending me toppling toward the pond that ran alongside that part of the trail.
Yee-haw!
My plan worked beautifully.
I sank below the water’s surface just as I turned to ash, and regenerated a moment before August dove in after me. He yanked me to the water’s surface, where I sucked in a breath of fresh mountain air.
“I’m going to turn that horse into glue.” His tone was murderous, but his eyes were soft.
He started to step from the pond, then realized I was naked, and paused, his eyes scanning my body. “Where did your injuries go? And your clothes?”
Okay, so I didn’t think that part of the plan through.
“Maybe they were those fun ones that dissolve in water?” Jazriel suggested with a smirk.
I glared at him. “How do you know so much about this Earth when you were in captivity for so long?”
Jazriel sat down on the grassy bank, not caring that he was nude, and grinned. “It’s amazing the stuff people talk about when they think you’re a dumb animal. Not to mention how many movies I watched over my guards’ shoulders as they streamed movies and shows on their phones.”
“Why did you call it ‘this Earth?’” August asked, and I could practically see him trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. “You make it sound like you’re an alien.”
Hoping to distract him, I feigned a shiver even though I wasn’t cold. “May… Maybe we should talk about this once I dry off?”
“Hm.” August turned to eye Thom, who’d politely turned away from the pond. “You can return to the lodge.”
“Thom’s here to help me with my work. Ryls and Xerxes sent him,” I told both of my mates.
“I don’t care who he is, no man is going to see my ma—” His eyes widened, and he tried to hide it. “You naked.”
“I saw her naked,” Jazriel volunteered, licking his lip as he looked at me. “You have no idea what you missed last night.”
Why did he always pick the worst times to goad the gryphon?
August turned his back to Jazriel and ran his hands over my skin. Magic sparked between us, and I caught my breath at the unexpected intimacy.
“You are completely healed.” August stated the obvious, not ready to let it go. “That shouldn’t be possible. Even the strongest species would need hours to heal the fatal injuries you healed in seconds.”
I tried not to notice the way his soaked tee was clinging to his broad chest. “My magic is stronger after I’ve eaten and slept.”
“And don’t forget riding this pony’s bony. That definitely helped,” Jazriel called helpfully from behind August.
“Does he ever shut up?” August closed his eyes, and his lips moved as he counted to ten. He was somewhat less murdery-looking when he opened his eyes.
Seeing that Thom had taken his advice and disappeared to the lodge, he sat down on the bank, pulling me onto his lap as he continued searching my body for injury. “Is he telling the truth? Does sex give you power?”
“Yes.” There was more to it than that, but I wasn’t ready to give him details.
“What are you, little bluebird?” His fingers brushed over Jazriel’s mark, and I thought I caught a flash of pain in his eyes.
His fingers moved up my belly, where they slid between my breasts.
I caught my breath. “Are you going to stay with me?”
August didn’t respond. He seemed in a trance as his fingers trailed across every inch of my skin except the parts that burned to feel his touch.
Catching my chin between his finger and thumb, he brought his mouth so close to mine that his lips brushed featherlight against mine.
“Dude. Stop driving us all crazy and just freaking kiss our girl!” Jazriel snapped.
I swallowed my pride and pleaded, “Please stay with me.”
August slowly released my chin and leaned away from me. “I can’t.”
My eyes filled with tears, and Jazriel was there in an instant, lifting me into his arms.
“You better take good care of your eyes, since they are the only set of balls you possess,” he spat at August, then carried me toward the lodge without a backward glance.