Vameer
Istare at the newcomer.
He looks like a normal druid.
Just a man with tattoos and dried mud on one side of his body, whose eyes glow when he’s using magic.
But he does not feel like a normal druid.
He feels… strong.
Volik breaks the silence. “Where did you come here from?”
“The jungle.” His voice is deep, but I can tell he’s young.
A young, powerful druid with a penchant for weapons of old.
I might actually like this one.
The druid known as Dread walks directly to me, stopping an arm’s length away.
Had we met before my change, before my mate bond, we’d be closer to the same size. But as it is, he’s shorter and not as broad. But he’s holding my gaze. Not backing down.
Not intimidated.
The druid holds his hand out between us. “The name is Dread.”
“Vameer.” I smirk as I dip my chin, but I do not take his hand.
One does not shake hands with an unknown druid. It is ill advised.
The druid turns so his hand is extended toward Rune, and my smirk drops.
My mate smiles and starts to lift her hand. “Hi, I’m—”
My gravito wraps around Rune and pulls her backward, out of Dread’s reach.
This time the druid smirks as he lowers his hand. “You’ve been gone a long time, Interfector Mali.”
I nod. “Too long. But I will stay this time.”
“Done fighting?” He makes a point to look at the sword tucked into my chain.
I shift my gaze to the double-headed ax slung across his back. “There are fights at home.”
He hums. “That there are.”
Rune purposefully bumps against my arm as she steps back up beside me. “Hi, Dread. I’m Rune. Sorry about that, I must’ve tripped.” She shoots me a narrow-eyed look, but there’s no real censure in it.
“A protective mate is not a bad thing.”
I drape my arm over her shoulders. “We would like a portal to Chicago, then to California, then back here, if you’re willing.”
“I’m willing.” He turns to look at Volik. “I will take venom as payment. For this and for what you owe me.”
“Fine.” Volik agrees. “But you need to provide the vessel. I do not know what it will burn through.”
Dread dips his chin. “Deal.”
“What venom?” I ask, and both men turn toward me.
An obnoxiously smug look covers Volik’s face. “Did you not gain venom with your mating? What a shame.”
I sigh. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Have fun spitting into a cup by yourself.”
The druid leans toward me, sniffing.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” He straightens.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I think I’d like to fight you.”
“Vameer!” Rune whispers at me.
But Dread grins. “I think I’d like that too.”
“For fun or for a wager?” I clearly don’t have a lack of enemies to fight, but I’m excited about the prospect of dueling with a strong druid.
I haven’t encountered many druids who land on the side of evil, but the ones I have were hard opponents.
Dread feels like he would also be a hard opponent. His magic clearly comes from a strong line.
Which makes me wonder… “How old are you?”
The druid watches me, like he’s looking for the reason for my question.
Apparently he finds it. “I was born long after you fell asleep.”
“Good.” That means there is no chance I killed his parents. “We are ready for our first stop if you are.”
Dread nods.
“I texted you both addresses,” Nix tells the druid. “And Rune, I’ll send you Dread’s number so you can text him after you’re done with May and let him know your location.”
Dread pulls a phone out of his pocket, taps it a few times, then turns to my mate. “It doesn’t hurt. You just walk straight through. Step straight through. Jump straight through. Fall straight through. Whatever you fucking do, do it straight through. And do not touch the sides.”
“Okay.” Rune’s reply is an exhale.
Then Dread flicks his wrist, and in the same split second that his eyes start to glow, a portal blinks into existence. “Wait for me.”