CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO（Untitled）Branikk

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Branikk

We pass a couple of summer apple trees, and I ask Aurora to pause long enough that I can stand in the stirrups and pluck several of the small fruit, their bright yellow skin dappled with dots of pink. They make a welcome addition to our breakfast as we ride, small and tart and bursting with flavor. I wolf them down, tusks ripping through them, cores and all, but my bride takes dainty bites, circling around them with little human teeth marks.

Once done eating, Grace's body relaxes back into mine in a way it's never done before.

I love it. I love the new closeness and ease the previous evening created between us. I was right not to press things this morning, much as it pained my cock. I will remain the patient hunter, luring my prey to me instead of pouncing in unseemly haste.

I will make her pounce on me, make her think it's her idea. I will tease her until she writhes with need, begging me to take her.

My arm tightens around her as I breathe in the scent of her hair.

Aurora leaps a clump of ferns and races ahead, true to her impatience to create distance from the Ferris wheel.

I glance back every time there's a large enough break in the trees to see its circular top cutting across the sky. My friend certainly has a point. The great wheel is visible for miles.

A baying in the distance makes me jolt.

"What is it?" Grace says.

"I'm not sure," I say. "Regular wolves are few and far between in this part of the continent."

"If there's loud barking, then it's cu sith," Aurora says. "Although even the dogs aren't stupid enough to make unnecessary noise."

"Cu sith aren't stupid, so something's wrong."

"Cu sith?" Grace asks.

"A canine fae much like Aurora is an equine fae."

"Bah." She tosses her mane. "They're nothing like the wonder that is a unicorn."

I chuckle. "Keep going. We need to find out what's coming."

Instead of answering directly, Aurora puts on a burst of speed.

I clutch Grace to me, pushing down on the stirrups to lift us both from the saddle so we don't impact the unicorn's back. Leaning forward, I tighten the grip of my knees.

Pine branches slap my bare face and hands with stinging needles, and I tuck my bride farther into the protection of my body, curling around her.

Another howl, closer this time, sounding like it came from ahead, though it's difficult to be sure, moving as we are.

We break through another stand of trees to ride out into a small meadow, the tops of the long grass blown sideways by wind until it ripples like water.

Aurora pulls to a halt, and I slide from her back, lifting Grace down. "Go hide in the trees."

"What? No! I feel safer with you."

An overwhelming need to protect rises in me, one that doesn't want to listen to reason, even though she makes an excellent point. If we're facing multiple ogres or kelpies, they love to send a few of their number to circle around and attack from behind.

"All right," I grit out. "But stay with either me or Aurora."

She nods.

I settle my sword belt into place and unsling my bow, pulling an arrow as I do so. Bow nocked and ready, I ask Aurora, "Can you tell where the howl came from?"

"There." She jabs her horn northeast, almost in a straight line with the direction we'd been traveling.

I grunt and face forward, searching the trees on the far side of the meadow. "I wish I knew what was coming."

"Too bad we're not back at the Ferris wheel," Grace says, shooting Aurora a glance. "It would be pretty handy right about now to go up in it and take a look."

"I still say that infernal thing is exactly what's bringing this trouble straight to us."

My bride's wide mouth presses into a flat line, but she doesn't disagree.

Another howl echoes from the trees, far closer this time.

"It's definitely a cu sith," I say. Which means the real question is what's making it run in this direction, giving an alarm call. For all my friend's dismissive words, the canine fae are strong warriors, known for their bravery and loyalty.

My fingers tighten on the arrow.

The forest spreads thickly before us. Anything going on under the shade of the heavy tree canopy is well hidden, even in the strong morning sun.

But none of that matters. I don't need to see what's happening on the ground to know the trouble we face.

My heart thumps double time, shooting blood to my muscles as they tighten in anticipation of battle.

Because multiple flocks of sluagh appear over the treetops in a black thundercloud of malevolence.