8. Eight

Eight

Ata had a plate of food ready and waiting by the time I left the cavernous oasis. I slumped down by her side, wrapping my arm through hers and leaned my head on her shoulder.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Ata laid her head atop mine and pulled me closer. “I know.” She lifted the plate off the ground and handed it to me. “Everyone is on edge. Let’s just get to wherever we are going, in one piece, then I will tell you everything.” I nodded, digging into my food.

“We will rest here until the moon is fully risen, then we will hike to a safe house at the edge of the realm. If we move quickly we can make it before dawn. We will be safe there while we plan our next steps to get a group of this size safely to Locdragoon,” Landers said, the deep timbre of his voice echoing through the cavern.

“Can’t we just . . .” I tried to think of the right word to describe how we got here, but I had no idea what it was called. “Fly there? Like we did from the academy?” The corner of Landers’s lips tilted up as he tucked a map inside his jacket pocket. “It’s called tethering.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. Can we or can we not?”

“No, we cannot.”

“Why?” I snapped back. Landers raised a brow at my tone and smirked with amusement.

“When you learn to tether, you learn to cover your scent as you go so no one can track you. When you use magic like tethering to travel, your natural scent is heightened to a strong enough point that it is left behind like a trail. I do not know your scent well enough to cover it. We took a risk tethering you here from the academy, hoping the battle was causing too much chaos for anyone to notice. We cannot take that same risk getting to the safe house.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting him to give me an explanation. “Okay.” I nodded in understanding.

“Get some rest. This hike will not be easy.” Landers said, turning his eyes back to the maps still laid out in front of him.

Ardan draped a blanket around Ata’s shoulders, and pulled her back between his legs. I watched as he wrapped his arms around her, nestling her small body into his chest and placing a soft kiss at the base of her neck. They had always toed the line between friendship and something that could be love if Ata would only let him in. Over the years she had made it clear to Ardan that she wasn’t looking for a romantic attachment because she would never stay at the academy. She had kept him at arm’s length, withdrawing into herself when they got too close, but I knew that all she had to do was ask, and he would follow her to the ends of the universe.

As they exchanged hushed words and laughs, I wondered if she would change her mind; if things would be different for her now that they were both free of that place.

“Here.” Taft squatted down in front of me and set a blanket at my side. “Wren and I are going to take first watch. I should be back in an hour or so.”

“Is that safe?”

“I’ll be fine,” Taft assured me. “Try and get some rest.”

“Please be careful.”

“I will.”

My eyes blinked open to Ata above me, shaking me from my slumber.

I didn’t remember falling asleep,

“We are packing up,” Ata said as I stretched my arms to each side, nodding as I yawned. Pain erupted through my wrists and I snapped my arms back into my chest, hissing at the stinging wounds. The red hue along the edge of each one seemed to be getting darker with each hour. I pulled the sleeves of my tattered sweater down to cover my hands and pushed myself off the ground. I was not going to be the person that slowed us down.

“It is time, we need to go,” Andrues stated to no one in particular as he pushed his hood back over the top of his head and disappeared through the opening. I hadn’t heard his voice until now; I hadn’t expected it to be so deep. Wren threw on his pack and headed after him, giving Pri a playful push on the way out. I smiled at the gesture.

“Here, I got this,” Ardan said, sliding the pack off Ata’s shoulder as she caressed his back and I smirked at her with raised brows. Ata rolled her eyes, throwing her middle finger in my direction before following him out of the cave with Pri close behind them. With just the three of us left in the den, I could feel the tension snap into place like a tightrope.

Taft moved to pull the bag from my shoulder and I shrugged it back on.

“Let me carry it for you,” Taft said, pulling on it again.

“It’s okay, Taft, really. I’ve got it.” I smiled up at him as my fingers tightened around the straps. His hand raised to grab at the bag again but Landers intervened, setting his hand over the mine. My heart stuttered in my chest as our skin touched.

“The lady said she’s got it,” Landers said coolly as Taft locked eyes with him.

“This doesn’t involve you,” Taft snarled.

My eyes shot back and forth between them and I scoffed. “Grow up,” I murmured at both of them, pushing between their bodies as I stepped through the opening.

Moonlight shimmered against the trees as the chill of the midnight air nipped at my nose. I sauntered to where Pri and Ata stood huddled together, pulling at the collar of my jacket to shield my neck from the breeze.

“They never learn, do they?” Pri remarked with a knowing smile and I rolled my eyes with a nod of agreement.

The dense forest loomed around us, its thick green canopy obscured by a heavy blanket of fog. The darkness pressed down on me and unease churned in my stomach as Andrues lifted his hands into the air. His fingers swirled into the fog as if he was beckoning it towards him and a dim silver rope-like light appeared at eye level.

“This will keep you close, even if you lose sight of anyone around you,” he said, tying the rope around each of our waists. “If this line turns any other color, do not move, do not speak, and do not touch anything that may appear to you until it has returned to silver.” My throat bobbed. “These woods will play tricks on your mind, do not trust anything you see or hear until we get to the safe house.” The rope tightened around my waist as he walked back toward the front of the line, tugging us forward at a swift and steady pace.

We fell silent as we began the hike to safety, pushing one foot in front of the other through the shadow-shrouded woods.

My heart drummed in my chest as the familiar safety of darkness slowly turned into an eerie source of fear. I let my shadows flow out of me, ever so slightly, to act as a shield on my back as I forced myself to take slow deep breaths. You are fine. You will be fine. Everything will be fine.

My mind wandered to the fortress that I had left behind so selfishly as we hiked through the tree-packed mountains. I prayed to the Gods that the students had made it out alive; that Asrai had not been killed for protecting us.

We hiked for hours. The crisp wind now a small reprieve to my sweat-soaked clothing. I really should have let Taft carry my bag, I thought to myself as I adjusted its weight from shoulder to shoulder. With every step it felt like a new stone was getting added, pulling me down with its weight. This hike should not feel so treacherous for the amount of training I had done every day for the past thirteen years.

Andrues’s words echoed in my head as I adjusted the strap across my chest. These woods will play tricks on your mind. I shook the thought away as I pushed forward, slipping every so often—adding mud to my already blood-caked hair. I wiped my brow with the back of my hand before coming to a halt. I swung my head around, holding my breath to listen and searched the darkness. A slithering sound rustled in the grass to my left, then to my right.

Nothing. I saw nothing there.

“Look what we have here,” a soft, screeching voice sang from the woods around me, echoing as if coming from all directions. I grabbed at the rope around my waist and tugged on it. Out of the blackness, a red light trickled down, drowning out the silver beneath it. My eyes widened as fear and adrenaline surged through my veins, urging me to run.

Do not move. Do not speak. Do not touch.

Do not move. Do not speak. Do not touch.

I chanted Andrues’s words in my head over and over as I slowly lifted a hand to cover my mouth, trapping the scream that was building in my chest.

“Such a pretty thing.” Closer, it was getting closer. “I wouldn't mind a little taste,” the voice hissed into my ear and I could feel the breath of this invisible thing caressing the back of my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut, silently begging my body not to move. Like a snake, I felt it slither around my legs and up my body, tightening around my waist.

“Look at me.” Its breath brushed against my eyelids. “Let me look into those eyes.” The song-like voice erupted into a thunderous snarl and shadows detonated from me, engulfing my body and trying desperately to fight this invisible thing off me.

I collapsed to my knees, my hands grasping my ears to block out the screeching sounds reverberating all around me. My eardrums felt like they would burst at any second. Blood began dripping from my nose.

Do not look. Do not look. Do not look, I begged myself over and over again as somewhere in the darkness, I heard Ata’s blood-curdling scream.

Shadows whirled around me as the feeling of tethering ripped at my limbs. My bones felt like they were breaking as we collided with a stone floor. My eyes snapped open.

Ata’s screams resounded through the room as I pushed off the floor and ran to her. She was thrashing, her pupils dilated and white as I collapsed onto my knees beside her, trying to pin down her flailing limbs.

“What’s wrong with her?” I shrieked into the room. “Ata! Wake up! Wake up!” I screamed, shaking her body wildly, frantically trying to release her from this trance. Tears flowing down my face like twin rivers—the salty water searing into my cheeks.

“Move.” Two strong hands darted under my arms and pulled me out of the way. Taft grabbed me from their grasp, holding me tight by my waist as I kicked and screamed at him—clawing at his arms to get back to her side. Ardan grabbed my shoulders, helping Taft restrain me as Wren pulled Pri behind him. I watched as Andrues knelt beside Ata, placing his hand on her forehead.

“Get your fucking hands off of her necromancer!” I screeched at him as he leaned to her ear—palm still pressed to her forehead—and whispered into it.

She went silent.

Her hands collapsed to her sides and her eyes fell shut. I gasped, breathing deeply, watching her closely. She jolted up and retched on the ground next to her. The hands around my body loosened their grip and I sprang to Ata’s side, pulling back her hair as she retched again.

“What did you do to her?” I snarled over her back at Andrues. He stood, dusting off his knees casually before walking over to a table on the far side of the room and sitting down. I let my eyes scan our surroundings, pulling Ata closer to my side.

We were in a cabin that looked lived in. A large, pillowy couch with fur blankets strewn across it sat in the middle of the room facing a fireplace that crackled underneath the flames. The large, rectangular dining table where Andrues sat lined the far wall that led into a kitchen full of hanging baskets of fruits and dried spices.

“Other than a nightmare here and there, she will be fine.” Andrues’s voice was calm and steady as he leaned back into his chair. Ardan rushed to Ata’s side with a glass of water as I circled my hand across her back. “You, however”—he pressed his palm flat on the table and pinned his cobalt eyes to mine—“need to learn to control your shadows. You let them loose and almost got us all killed.”

“My shadows?” I sneered at him. “They were trying to protect me from whatever that was. If you would have warned us about what was in that forest then maybe, just maybe, we could have avoided this!” I waved my hand over Ata.

“I did warn you. The Saangra cannot be seen and I cannot guess what creatures are lurking in these woods.” he said, his tone still annoyingly cool. My temper heated the longer I glared at him.

“Let us all take a breath.” Landers stepped forward, blocking my view of Andrues before I could throw another jab in his direction. “We are safe for now, even if it was a close call.” He said, looking at Andrues who nodded in agreement and leaned back in his chair. “Rest. We can revisit this conversation once the adrenaline is out of our systems.” Landers raised a brow at me, waiting for confirmation that I would agree. I lifted my chin, scoffing at him as I turned back to Ata. She had stopped throwing up and was now trying to find the strength to stand.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, as I intertwined my fingers in hers and helped her to her feet.

She nodded, her voice was weak as she said, “I need sleep.” Her knees buckled and Ardan caught her before she could hit the ground. He whisked her up with ease and headed toward the flight of stairs.

Ardan stopped at the first step and looked over his shoulder and, without as much of a word, Landers answered. “Take any room.”

Ardan nodded and disappeared up the steps, Ata tucked tight into his chest.

I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands as flakes of silver and red blood mixed with mud fell to the floor. I was disgusting. I smelled disgusting. I needed a bath and a bed.

As if he read my mind, Taft scooped my bag up off the floor and headed towards the steps, stopping only for a moment to kiss me lightly on the top of my head and tell me he would go find us a room.

From the corner of my eye I watched Wren remove Pri’s boots. She set one hand on his shoulder for balance and lifted her foot into his hands as he pulled at the laces one by one. I glanced around the cabin. It was quiet, giving way to the sound of flames purring in the corner and the wind rustling the trees outside. As I turned toward the stairs I caught Landers’s eyes probing me with an emotion behind them I couldn’t place.

“What?” I snapped, trying to keep my face hardened as I stared back into those brilliant green eyes. My facade slowly faded as his eyes fell to my lips and lingered there for a moment before meeting my stare again. My heart raced as his lips curled into a soft, alluring smile.

“Goodnight, Hyacinth,” he said as I turned on my heel and ascended the stairs.

I rounded the corner of the second floor landing, my heart still pounding from our interaction. Overwhelmed and exhausted, I slid down the wall, closing my eyes as I rested my head against the cool surface.

The way he said my name.

The way it rolled off his tongue like a melody sent a surge of electricity that shot through every nerve ending in my body. The sound of my own heartbeat filled my ears as I clenched my eyelids tight, trying to force the thought out of my mind. I slowly opened my eyes and examined the hallway where I sat. It was a long corridor with three rooms situated on each side and two floor-to-ceiling windows at each end of the hall.

“Cin, are you okay?” Taft’s head peaked out of the doorway of a room at the right end of the corridor, his question bringing me back to the present. Sighing, I pushed myself from the floor and sauntered over to him. What I wouldn’t give to just wrap myself up in his arms right now and fall asleep.

I leaned my head into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. “I drew you a bath,” Taft whispered into my hair then pushed me back to arm’s length as his face contorted. “Gods you stink,” he said, playfully sniffing the air around me. I smiled at him sarcastically before slipping into the room. I could hear Taft’s soft laugh behind me as he shut the door, clicking the lock into place.

It was a modest-sized room with long windows lining the north wall. Two chairs were tucked into the corner and I began making plans to sit in front of these windows to write. It was the perfect place for it, especially with the fireplace that was just off to the side. I sighed, shrugging out of my jacket and tossing in on the floor at the base of the bed and walking over to the lavatory door. I slid it open and gasped at the sight in front of me.

The “bath” that Taft drew for me, was in fact, a pool. An actual pool, that sat next to a large window looking directly into the forest. I squinted my eyes, trying to see through the darkened window. I am going to have to take another bath in the morning, I thought to myself as I peeled my shirt from my skin. Throwing it into the corner, I unlaced my boots as fast as my fingers could possibly go. I pushed the leather pants from my thighs and dipped my hand into the water.

The warmth of the water sent a wave of relief through my body as I swirled my fingers. I pulled out my hand and inspected it, my eyes darted to the water then back to my hand. Not one drop of mud was anywhere on it, and the water looked just as clear as before. I stuck my other hand in and pulled it back out immediately.

No mud.

I stood there, staring at my hands stretched out in front of me and grinned. I rushed into the natatorium, submerging my entire body as fast as I could. This kind of magic I could get used to; I had never seen anything like it. I swirled my arms around and ducked under the water, holding my breath for as long as I could before emerging back onto the surface. My face had never felt cleaner, every inch of me felt like it had been polished.

The heavy door slid open with a faint squeak as Taft stepped into the room. Smiling down at me, he folded his arms across his chest and leaned his back against the wall. He watched as I swam towards him, pulling myself against the lip of the pool and resting my elbows on the cool tile floor between us.

“Hi,” I said, my voice soft and low as I let the warm water seep into my muscles.

“Hi, Cin.” He pushed himself off the wall and squatted down in front of me. “Feeling better?”

“Much.” I flicked my fingers from the water splashing him with a few soft droplets and giggled. “Are you going to join me? Or let me enjoy this all by myself?”

“If you insist.”

“I do.” A mischievous grin spread across my face as he stood in front of me. Slowly he lifted his loose, tattered shirt over his stomach, gradually revealing every inch of his hard, sculpted muscles. His bruised and cut skin flexed as the air brushed against it and I watched, savoring every detail. He placed his hands on the waistband of his leathers and my heart raced as his fingers pushed the top button open, then the next, and the next, until they were open in front of me.

My throat bobbed with anticipation as he stripped out of his leathers and tossed them to the side. My eyes scanned down over his obliques, to his manhood.

I needed him.

I pushed off the lip of the bath, backing up to get a full view as he took one, then two steps down into the pool. Taft walked toward me, stretching his hand out and hooking it behind my neck as he pulled me against his body.

His chest tightened as my hands raced over it, feeling every muscle beneath my fingers as they inched down toward his length. His lips met my neck as I wrapped my fingers around him and began to move my hand in soft, deliberate strokes.

“You will be the death of me, Cin.”

I smiled up at him and tightened my grip. He let out a deep growl, sweeping me off of my feet with a hand on the back of each thigh and lifting me out of the pool. My nipples peaked against the cold air as he set me down on the ledge. I leaned back onto my elbows, locking my gaze with his between my thighs.

My core throbbed, desperate for his touch as he slowly spread my legs apart, letting his tongue trace up my inner thigh. As his warm breath fanned across my sensitive skin, I whimpered, arching my hips towards him. I could feel my heartbeat pounding in that bundle of nerves right at my apex. A small breath released from his lips right before he reached out his tongue and flicked that ball of pleasure between my legs. I gasped, throwing my head back as pleasure shot down my spine. Moan after moan escaped my mouth as he devoured me, each hand holding me tightly in place as his tongue pushed me toward the edge.