Chapter 7

Hannah

I felt like I’d barely recovered from my coughing bout when the world went a little crazy around me. Oddly enough, I felt completely safe in Blade’s capable hands. He had not guided me astray yet, and he’d proven how amazing he was at steering that hover bike thing through the trees. Of course, I had all that faith only because I hadn’t realized yet what exactly was chasing us.

Minotaur. I wasn’t quite sure why, but my mind had a lot harder a time accepting that those were real. Orcs still looked mostly human. Blade had long pointed ears that he’d liberally decorated with silver piercings. His skin was green, but other than that, only the tusks that stuck from his luscious mouth made him different. A difference that he’d already shown to me didn’t matter when it came to kissing. My pulse sped up just thinking about the smoldering make-out sessions he’d seduced me with.

These overlords were something else, though. They were huge, even compared to the orcs seen running alongside them. With thickly muscled legs and big hooves for feet, long cow-shaped tails whipping behind them, and chests so big they put bulls to shame. The horns that topped their bull heads were massive and so sharp-looking, too. They were terrifying to behold, and utterly inhuman and alien.

I clung to Blade’s chest and gazed down into the woods and behind him for any sign, any hint. They were still racing after us. They were on foot now, but I’d seen the silver glint of something even further back once. A vehicle of some kind that would swoop in to move them faster to where we were if they needed it. What options did we have? Blade was risking himself by helping. It didn’t sit right with me, even if I wanted nothing more than for him to stay by my side. I didn’t know what I’d do without him. Flounder through those woods until I collapsed, and they caught me, most likely.

When I hadn’t been able to catch a glimpse for some time, Blade slung his flying motorcycle down into the woods again. In silence, we flew for a long time beneath the verdant canopy of the trees. I was extremely grateful that he’d taken a moment to grab that blanket, despite those scary overlords approaching. It kept me warm, and soon I felt drowsy from the gentle motion of the bike, too.

I hadn’t been sleeping well for a while now, my mind troubled with my health and my impending death, according to the doctors. In Blade’s arms, it was easy to forget all that and just linger in the protection he offered. It even felt like I was with someone who cared, someone willing to put his own life in danger to keep me safe. It was a heady feeling, and I was smiling as I slumbered.

“We’re there, lass,” Blade murmured against my ear, and I roused sleepily and blinked into his dark brown eyes with their otherworldly gold sparks. Where? I had a faint recollection of him talking to me during the journey; explaining where we were going. But I had not registered much of it. He knew it from my confused expression and his ever-present smile grew bigger, his dimples flashing at me.

“This is one of the many Ironheart safe houses scattered throughout our territory. It is safe. My brother has sensor scramblers installed everywhere. They won’t be able to track you here.” I lifted my head to look around at this safe house and gaped when I realized we were still hovering midair, right next to a giant tree.

A house sat among the massive branches, or rather, a small, cozy cabin. It was dark inside, but there was just enough daylight left that filtered through the leaves above to illuminate it. Round windows, a curved door with a gleaming brass doorknob. The door sat on a small wooden landing with just enough space for Blade to park his flying motorcycle. The house nestled against the thick trunk of the tree like a birdhouse, with its entire roof covered in lush thick moss. It blended, it looked cute, and I instantly imagined what it might be like to live in a tree.

The interior was a little cramped for Blade, but still felt spacious to me. It was a single room, one corner partitioned off with a beautifully lacquered and hand-carved room divider. There was a big fluffy bed and a kitchen against the wall, some chairs, and a small wooden table as round as the windows. It was cozy and warm inside, and when I followed Blade’s lead and kicked off my boots, my feet sank into something that wasn’t quite a carpet. It was more like a thick, spongy moss, but dry and warm at the same time.

“Wow, this place looks amazing. Are you sure we’re safe here for the night? Don’t you have a family to return to?” The words rushed nervously from my tongue as my eyes took note once again of the big fluffy-looking bed. I had this sneaking suspicion that Blade would insist we share that, and the way my belly fluttered told me I was not opposed to the idea.

He was dropping his saddlebags on the table and had his back turned to me. In the warm lamplight inside the cabin, the shadows played lovingly over his muscled physique and the intriguing tattoos that covered him. I couldn’t help it. He was just so sexy and I was extremely drawn to him. That was bad; I shouldn’t get attached, shouldn’t let him get attached to me. It wasn’t fair.

“Yes, and no. No family. I’m exactly where I want to be,” he declared, and the smoldering look he cast over his shoulder left no room for doubt. I suddenly knew that he was going to pull out all the stops tonight. Maybe I should give into that for once, walk on the wild side and all that. Just once before this stupid disease claimed me.

He made us a quick meal of reheated stew he’d pulled from a container in his bags, then livened it up with fresh herbs that grew on the windowsill. Afterward, he urged me to take a nice warm shower behind the room divider, and he offered up another of his shirts for me to sleep in. That all seemed so normal, and like he wasn’t planning on ravaging me at all. I was on pins and needles, tingling with excitement by the time I exited the shower unit. He wasn’t going to just pretend to be a stranger now, was he?

When I’d curled up under the blankets, he’d already slipped behind the beautifully carved divider for his own turn under the water. But I couldn’t sleep, aroused and confused at the same time. I tried to focus my mind on more important things, like reaching those stones he’d mentioned tomorrow so I could try to go home. In the cozy warmth of the cabin, I was starting to wonder why I even wanted to leave. Blade was right, there was nothing waiting for me on Earth. Nothing at all.