Chapter 9

Ras insists on touching me constantly, holding my hand, stroking my hair, and carrying me.

I can't say I hate it, not after being starved of comfort for so long. After the close call with whatever that monster was, it's kind of nice, reassuring. He holds my hand now, leading me into the cool interior of the cave. It's not the chill emptiness from back at his ruined castle, but a sort of damp cold. The interior is dark, and it takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust.

Faint blue symbols light up across the walls, and I blink at them in surprise. It's quiet in here, save the faint sound of running water from deep in the interior.

I look behind me, confused. The forest was a cacophony of sounds, birds and insects and the rustling of larger game. But since we stepped in here, it's like the outside world has disappeared.

Ras notices my confusion and offers a smile. "The entrance is sealed. They cannot follow us here."

"Will they go after my sisters?" The words strangle me, but I force them out. I have to know.

"They might, but Lana, they are with their mates, too. I scented as much when I found you, remember?" His voice is gentle and low. "They will be protected. And if they are like you, they are not without cleverness or ability."

I scrunch my nose in confusion. "You mean when I threw the rock? That was stupid luck. You did the heavy lifting… er, biting." My stomach roils as I relive the crunch of his mouth on bones.

His lip curls in disgust, and I absentmindedly try to wipe some of the black muck from his beard. It's like tar though, and a low chuckle rises from his chest as I scrub.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of that." There's an edge to his voice and an awareness in his eyes that reminds me he's pure predator. My stomach does a little flip.

"What did you mean by ability?" I ask, carefully picking my way behind him, stepping where he steps. The stone ground is slick with moisture, and I slip and slide, lacking his grace. The cave narrows as he walks slowly, and I bite my lip as I watch him. He must be in pain, but he continues on, his fingers featherlight on mine. The shirt in my hand snags on the cave wall, and I press it close to my chest, afraid of skinning my arms if I get too close.

He says it's safe here though, and if that means I don't have to see another faceless monster, that works for me.

The air gets warmer as the narrow entrance opens up. My breath catches as I stare around in awe. A stream cuts a swathe across the rock floor, a natural barrier to the stretch of smooth, sandy bank ahead. It's huge, and I stop, circling around and slack-jawed in amazement. Plants climb the walls, hanging everywhere, and the cave seems to breathe. The air sticks to my skin in a wet embrace. I glance back at the stream, where steam curls from the surface.

It's a hot spring, so crystal clear I can count the rocks beneath, the bright fins of fish flickering away as they see us. It's brighter here too, and I tilt my head up. A massive hole in the cave ceiling displays a near uninterrupted expanse of sky. An ancient looking tree is the only obstacle to the light flooding in, dappling the ground around it in shadows as it reaches for the hole above.

"It's sealed too," Ras explains, watching me.

"Okay," I say, as if that makes sense, my eyes devouring the place. "Sealed how?"

"Wards. Magic barriers," he adds at my perplexed look.

"Sure," I agree.

"I will teach you how to make them. Later." His eyes are laughing, as though this is the best thing he could possibly say.

I shrug, and Ras pulls me along behind him. The walls here are etched with glowing symbols too, and if I squint at them, they seem somewhat familiar. Strange.

He sighs as his feet touch the water, and the water momentarily runs pink around him.

"I could've walked or run next to you. You didn't have to—" He looks up at me, golden blond hair falling over his eyes, and I falter, swallowing. "You didn't have to carry me."

"I am faster than you are. And your little shoes are a danger to you." He says it matter of fact, pointing to my flip-flops. Honestly, yes. He's correct. Flip-flops aren't the ideal footwear for running from monsters. I roll my eyes, exasperated.

"But your feet are a mess." Even now, blood leaks into the stream.

A corner of his lip kicks up. "Are you worried about me, Lana Kit?" The words are slow and heavy, and there's an undercurrent to them that sends heat through me.

Argh. Yes, he's eye candy. Yes, he's been kind and protective, in a sweet, oblivious way. But he has also made it abundantly clear he wants one thing from me, and that's sex. Or mating. Or whatever.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I pull my shoes off, wading into the water. It steams around my ankles, the current tugging against my legs. The rocks are slippery, and I hold my arms out for balance.

His smile grows, and he steps toward me.

"I don't know where I am, or what that thing was that attacked us. I would be foolish to not worry about you since you appear to be my only hope at surviving here."

"I didn't mean to offend you. I was only pointing out the truth." His lips thin out, and he narrows his eyes.

I feel a little guilty at that.

"You'll change your mind. About me." His grin returns, and I'm so caught up in staring at him, trying not to notice the fact that he is supremely naked still, that I miss my footing.

Whether from exhaustion or hunger or adrenaline or a combination of all three, my balance is off. I take another step, trying to right myself, and only succeed in flailing more.

Strong hands grip my waist. I'm still bare save for the navy sports bra, and his hands feel delicious against my skin, calloused and firm.

"Thanks," I squeak. His eyes are mesmerizing as he takes a long look at me through dark brown lashes— like I'm the most delicious thing he's ever seen.

Maybe this is how ice-cream feels right before I eat it all.

His head dips lower to me, and my gaze dips to his lips. His teeth are remarkably white and straight, and I have the insane thought that they must either have tooth magic or orthodonture in this world.

He's going to kiss me; I can feel it. My whole-body tenses in anticipation, and my mouth parts on an exhalation. I want him to do it, something must be deeply wrong with me, but I can't deny I am attracted to him. Who wouldn't be?

My chest presses against his as I lean towards him. My nipples pebble in anticipation, probably poking through the thin material of my bra. His body, something that I've been pressed up against for the last hour and am pretty well acquainted with, feels even more amazing like this— all hard heat and muscles.

A growling noise reaches my ears, and he stiffens. Was that him? Is he upset with me? Have I completely mixed up my signals? My radar must be completely off after Brad, and I?—

The growling noise happens again, and heat flushes my cheeks as I press a hand to my stomach. It's my stomach.

I'm hungry.

"I apologize." He straightens, displeasure wrinkling his brow.

Oh my god. Now he's going to apologize for almost kissing me? After we nearly got down and dirty at the campsite? The memory of mouth on mine, the way he touched me, sends a shockwave of arousal through me. I nearly pull him back down, half-feral with the sudden need to kiss him. If it weren't for the monster blood on his beard, I would be all over him.

I'm practically panting. What the hell is wrong with me?

Ras steps away. "I did not realize you were hungry, Lana." He smiles softly at me, and it's like the sun has come out after a storm. "Don't worry, I will catch you something. We will eat."

I snap my mouth shut, trying to regain some semblance of control over my raging hormones. Maybe there's something to this; he keeps telling me we're mates. My brain refuses to rationalize it. My body is practically a trampoline, it's so ready to jump his bones.

I squeeze my thighs together, trying to push away the images of his body on top of mine, his fingers between my legs.

"Food. Yes. Food would be good." It comes out breathy and low, and his smile turns predatory. I rub my eyes. Too bad this isn't a cold stream. An ice bath would be perfect right about now. "Wait, you aren't going to leave me here, are you?"

I really don't want one of those monsters to show up here without my lion-man.

Eep. Not my lion-man. He's not mine.

"No, I won't leave you. We won't be leaving the cave. We have most everything we will need here." He reaches back for my hand, tugging me further into the stream. The clear water eddies around my knees now, bathwater warm.

I look longingly at the water. A bath sounds so nice. I hadn't even counted on a good shower camping with my sisters, and now… guilt rushes through me.

"Do you think my sisters are okay, really? Are they somewhere like this?"

"Their mates will tend to them as I tend to you. I do not believe you have reason to fear." His hand grazes over my wrist, grasping my forearm.

"It's just…" I start, but I close my mouth, shaking my head. He tugs me through the underground stream, and my feet finally reach the rock and sand bank on the other side.

Now that my legs are cleaner, I realize how filthy the rest of me is. I glance up, realizing Ras is waiting for me to speak, to finish my thought. His focus is unnerving. Maybe it's because it's been so long since I've been with someone who cared what I thought or said, but it makes me nervous.

"It's just that I was looking forward to spending time with them, see, we we're on this camping trip?—"

"Camping?" He tilts his head, his eyes furrowed in confusion.

Oh. He doesn't know what that means. "We were supposed to spend time together. Outdoor sister bonding time. Sleeping under the stars and all that," I clarify. I guess I'm getting the camping part, at least. "For the first time in years, I was going to be with them, and then… well, you know the rest." I'm not quite sure how to put it into words.

He rubs his beard, and some of the black monster blood flakes off. Gross.

"Things are different now. With the harbingers here, and the long sleep, and you and your sisters…"

My stomach growls again, and I press my hand to it.

"Come. Let us talk over food." He pulls me close and presses a kiss to my head. The gesture is intimate and effortless, and anticipation flutters in my stomach.

Or maybe I am just hungry.

God, I hope it's the latter, because I am so not ready for another boyfriend. I steal a look up at him, his broad chest and long, golden hair.

Problem is, I don't think what he has in mind for me is even in the same universe as a girlfriend.