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“Yay, no exploding today,” I deadpan.

River chuckles, “We need to head back down, do you want a lift?”

I think about it for a moment and shake my head, “Nah, I’ve got this. I got up here after all. Maybe let me go first though so if I do fall, I’m not going to land on you and hurt you, or make you drop the gem and cause us to lose the trial.”

River’s eyebrow rises, “Like hell. I’ll go down first, and I will catch you if you fall.” His expression fills with fire, “Always. Got it?”

I swallow thickly as an unexpected wedge of emotion tries to escape, in a voice that gives away just how much his words have affected me, I reply, “Got it.”

River’s eyes flash to those of his kitsune, and he takes a deep breath before he nods once and then starts to move down the truck so there’s enough room for me to move out onto the trunk as well.

“We’ll go slow, there’s no rush,” he says gently as I move out onto the trunk. His voice becomes teasing as he adds, “I’ve got a fan-fucking-tastic view. Damn, Neith.”

I burst out laughing, the comment easily cutting through my nerves, and when I glance down at him, and see him smiling, I know that was his intention.

Chapter Twenty-One

Neith

Ireally shouldn’t have worried, my magic keeps me stuck to the trunk, although I have no idea how, and we swiftly move down. Before I know it, my feet touch the floor and I turn around to look at the guys with a giant smile, finding them all smiling at me proudly.

“Well done!” Reed grins as he pulls me in for a tight hug, lifting my feet off the ground and then only just stopping himself in time before he kisses me. As he puts me down he growls, “For fuck sake.”

I grin and pat him on the chest, “It’s alright.”

“I beg to differ,” Reed mutters seriously.

“Me too,” River adds.

“And me,” Doc smirks, his eyes flashing gold as they meet mine.

“I’m pretty sure we’re all in agreement that it is not alright,” Ransom points out.

“Agreed,” Evander says.

Griff’s eyes study me closely, “I’m tempted to suggest that we throw caution to the wind, but then logic dictates that we don’t.”

Raiden sighs heavily, “Caution is unfortunately and regretfully right in this case. It’s okay, we can make up for it.”

My eyebrows rise, and my lips tilt up into a smile, “Oh, I am so going to hold you guys to that.”

“Good,” Reed replies. He glances at the sphere still in River’s hand, “Wow, that’s pretty. What the fuck is it?”

“We figured that it was some sort of gemstone,” I reply.

River looks at Raiden and holds it up for him to take, “Any ideas?”

Raiden takes it from River and studies it closely. As he opens his mouth to reply, there’s a flash of light.

Everyone moves with precision and ease, all of our weapons are drawn, and magic is heavy in the air, as everyone prepares to attack. It only takes a couple of moments to realize that we aren’t about to be attacked, but rather the Choosing has done its thing, kind of like when I was doing my trial with the levels, and hanging in the air, in glowing script, is what we need to do.

Van reads it out loud, “Take the Bellator Lapis, and deliver it to the highest cave, north of this point.”

“Well, that’s nice and vague,” River adds.

“Bellator Lapis?” Griff asks.

“It literally translates as Warrior Gemstone, which is an interesting name,” I reply immediately.