Episode Twenty-Nine The Deal

D eklan

I've been saving my energy because the journey was so long, but now that we're close to home, I hand my bow and arrows to Luka and tell him, "I'll meet you at the cave," then drop to all fours and break into a run.

My senses are on high alert, sniffing for Mirron. He and Alliana could be anywhere. They were hunting for the small game that inhabits every inch of our hunting grounds. I'll scent him, though, then follow it until I find him.

The back of my mind finishes my thought, dead or alive . Shaking my head, I try to toss that thought out of my brain.

I catch his scent, then pour on the speed. I haven't had a sip of water in hours, but I push that to the back of my mind as I race toward Mirron. Could it be he's near our cave? That's what my nose is telling me.

Did I imagine this whole thing? Are he and Alliana cooking dinner right now? That's what I'm smelling—dried meat and carrots and onions. Have I lost my mind and imagined all of this?

I may be crazy. Maybe I just got a pang in my heart and made up a story about our matebond so it made sense. I don't slow down, though. Not for a second.

I'm confused. I smell monks. Perhaps a dozen of them. Did they attack my mate and the prize in our own cave? I push all my thoughts away and focus on the rhythm of my limbs pounding the ground. My worries are just a distraction.

When I get near the cave, I stop running, rise to two feet, and grab my knife. It's the only weapon I have left, having given my bow and arrows to Luka because I can't run on all fours with them.

I'm strong, but I've heard the monks are stronger than wolven. I'm bigger and good in a fight, but I doubt I'll be able to win against twelve of them. Before I barge into a situation where I'll become a captive, I need to do recon. It will do my mate no good if I get myself caught or killed.

As I stand, chest heaving, trying to decide my next moves, I hear, "Deklan, come in. Your mate needs you."

Was that the silverback monk's voice?

"Dek!" It's Alliana. "Hurry, Mirron needs you."

Although the thought flashes through my mind that they might have a knife at her throat and have forced her to call me, it doesn't stop me from racing to the cave and bursting in.

Alliana hurls herself at me, talking so fast in her strange accent that I have to pay close attention to her lips to figure out what she's saying.

"They came to get me from Up Above. They threatened me and shot Mirron. The monks offered their help and brought him home, Dek. They say they can make him better, but they needed you so they can do something called an Energy Transfer."

I cock my head and look at the silverback, trying to suss out what kind of trick this is. Look at him, acting so innocent.

"What do you offer and what is the cost?" I ask. One thing I know about life, nothing is given for free.

"Our people have medicine, of a sort. We have healers in our troop. It's passed from father to son. Reese is our healer."

He points his chin toward a male who looks a few years younger than me. Like most monks, he's built strong but wiry, not thick like minotaurs. He dips his head at me in greeting.

"Come over here," he says. "Your mate needs you. Now!"

"Not so fast." The silverback holds out an arm and Reese freezes, deferring to the head of his troop. "You must first agree to the price."

I almost say, "Anything," before I think. Then I realize what they probably want. "You can't have her. She's our mate." I bow up and bare my fangs, ready to kill or die over this.

Then I realize it's not about my life. It's Mirron's life hanging in the balance. How could I be forced to make such a terrible choice between my mate and our prize? It's only been a few handfuls of days, but we all love her.

"We are honorable. We follow the laws of old, wolven. That she is your mate is no longer in dispute. I want five cows, field dressed, delivered to our village. You will stay and eat with us as we ask all the questions we want of your mate."

My gaze darts to Mirron. What could he possibly know that the monks would want?

"Alliana. We want to hear many things from Alliana. Agreed?"

"Deal," I say, hoping this isn't a trick. "What do you need of me?"

Reese steps to Mirron and kneels at his hip.

"There." He points to Mirron's other side. "Sit."