Page 60 of Lucifer's Mirror

Well, obviously not. I go still and squeeze my eyes shut. I can feel his chest rumbling beneath me. He’s chuckling to himself.

I slowly ease myself off him and roll over. My gaze goes straight to Khaosti—as it always seems to do. He doesn’t look happy. His eyes are sort of feral, and a growl rumbles in his throat. I look quickly away.

Therion is expressionless. No surprise there.

Zayne raises an eyebrow. “Busted,” he says.

Chapter 28

Where We Kick Some Ass

“It’snotlikeanythinghappened,” I mutter to Zayne. “We were just keeping warm.”

He reaches across and pats my arm. “Of course you were.” He chuckles. “You should have seen that asshole’s expression as we came around the corner and saw you two lovebirds all tangled up together. It was worth an all-night ride.” He winces. “Though my balls are killing me.”

“Good.” I presume by “that asshole,” he means Khaosti, who has studiously ignored me since his arrival and that one searing look we shared. I suspect—from the smug expression on Thanouq’s face—that he was quite aware of their approach and could easily have moved me into a less compromising position if he’d wanted to. Which clearly, he hadn’t. No, because winding up Khaosti is a much better option.

Not that it’s any of Khaosti’s business who I… keep warm with.

We’re leading the horses and heading in the direction of the camp. Apparently, there’s no time to waste. We need to hit them while they are preparing to set off on the day’s march, when it will all be a little chaotic. Thanouq, Khaosti, and Therion are walking together, going over strategies that don’t involve me and Zayne because we won’t be taking part in the actual fight. Me, for obvious reasons. I get that I’m less than useful usually, and right now even more so. Though I actually feel better than I have in a while.

I thought Zayne was going to argue about his exclusion, but Thanouq spoke quietly to him—no doubt telling him that he had to look after poor little helpless me in case everything goes wrong. Because I would never find my way to the Crone alone. Grr. One day, I swear I will be strong. In the end, Zayne gave a nod. He usually hates authority figures, but he seems to respect Thanouq.

Up ahead, the sky is filled with a dirty haze. Smoke from the campfires, I suppose. As we get closer, my stomach ties up in knots and the sour taste of bile floods the back of my throat. Part of me wants to tell them to turn around, to let the slavers go on their way. I don’t want my friends in harm’s way, and I certainly don’t want them to die. Even asshole Khaosti. Okay, maybe especially asshole Khaosti. But the rest of me can’t help thinking about that dead little girl and how many more could die if we do nothing.

I can smell the camp now. Not just the smoke, but…actually I don’t want to think about what I’m smelling. It clogs my nostrils and coats my throat, filling me with an almost overwhelming urge to hurl.

Beside me, Zayne gags. “That is just so not right,” he says.

The sun is up now, and ahead, I can make out the camp. Just an indistinct mass of people. We keep going, and slowly individuals take form, moving in the haze. I can’t help but think they’ll see us. Finally, the others come to a halt behind some small scrubby trees. I’m guessing this is where they are leaving us. There’s no other cover to be seen. This area is like a desert.

We stop beside them. Thanouq and Khaosti tie their horses to the trees. Therion mounts his—he’ll be riding into the fight.

Thanouq turns to us. “You know what to do?”

“Don’t worry,” Zayne replies. “We’ll be fine. I’ll look after her.”

That’s sort of sweet and irritating as hell. But I don’t say anything because I feel like crap, and Zayne is being all mature and protective, and I don’t want to put him off doing it in the future. Just not with me.

Thanouq walks away, and a moment later, he’s gone, his griffin standing in his place. Which just leaves Khaosti. He steps up to me, and the rage is gone from his face. He reaches out and touches my cheek. Beside me, Zayne gags. I ignore him and lean into the touch.

“Don’t die,” I say.

He looks like he might say something but then steps back, his arm falling to his side, and he gives a brief nod. A moment later, the man is gone, and a huge black wolf pads away. He doesn’t look back, and my heart hurts. What if he does die?

Thanouq beats his great wings, sending a wave of warm, foul-smelling air over us, then launches himself into the air, heading toward the camp. Therion’s horse gallops after him, Khaosti’s black wolf at his side.

I stare after them, wondering if I’ll ever see any of them again.

Zayne takes the reins from my hand and ties Stella to the tree beside his own horse.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Well, I’m not waiting here where I can’t see what the fuck is happening.”

Good point.

We head across the sand on foot, side by side. He glances at me. “Are you okay? I never asked. Can you walk?”