Page 52 of A Hunt Bound in Blood

“Keep going,” he ordered through clenched teeth, and I upped my pace as we rounded the curve. The exit was in sight. Sweet sunlight filtered in from beyond, and I dashed towards it, eager to trade one ball of fire for another.

Then Cammon let out a sharp cry, and the weight of his heavy body slammed against my back and forced me to the ground moments before the fire swept over us.

Cammon

XXIV

The flames soared over my back, scorching my wings and pushing sweat from my pores. Not nearly hot enough to ruin my feathers or make my skin blister, but more than enough to turn Glory into a charred mess if they’d reached her.

Which they almost had, hells take her. Instead of listening to me, she’d nearly been incinerated for her stubbornness. If I hadn’t thrown myself over her as soon as we’d hit the ground, wrapping us in my wings to protect her from the flames, she would have been ash.

I hadn’t thought about doing it. Instinct had taken over as soon as the temperature had risen high enough, and only now that we were here could I process my decision. I could have kept running and ensured my safety. Instead, I’d known we would never make it out before the fire swept around us, and I’d put the mage first.

When was the last time I’d put anyone else first? Syrus, maybe, but that was out of a sense of loyalty. He’d saved my life, so I was ready to return the favour.

This bond was proving to be more of a liability than I’d thought. Carrying an extra load to make camp comfortable was one thing, but putting someone else’s life before mine? That was against my nature. I felt unfamiliar in my own skin. How many days were left until the effects of the bite faded? They couldn’t pass quickly enough.

I had no more time to dwell on my anger before the fire tapered off, and goosebumps pebbled my skin in the absence of the heat.

Only then did I appreciate how tightly my body had spread itself over Glory’s. Every curve and bump of her form pressed against mine, and at the realization, despite my resentment, most of my blood scurried south.

I pulled my head back and propped myself up on my arms, hoping she hadn’t noticed the extra lump now prodding her hip.

“Are you all right?” I asked as I climbed off her and helped her to her feet.

I expected horror. I expected belated fear at what had almost happened or embarrassment about what was currently happening. I also expected to get a chance to express my frustration that she’d ignored my order, an outlet for my raging feelings at being tied to this woman against my will.

What I did not expect was the wide smile that greeted me or the sparkle in her eyes. She tipped her head back to take in the sunny day beyond the mouth of the cave, and a laugh of unadulterated joy escaped her.

“That was—” She shook her head and laughed again.

Her reaction was contagious, and I found myself smiling in response. She tore out of the cave into the open space and threw her arms open.

“That was wild! I can’t believe we did that! What were we thinking?”

She spun in a circle, her head still tilted back, and as she did, her hair broke free of the bun she’d pinned up that morning. The dark locks, kissed by red-gold highlights, tumbled between her shoulder blades in thick waves, and in that moment, there was nothing I wanted more than to wind my fingers through it, tug back her head, and claim her mouth. I wanted to bask in her happiness, an emotion that had been elusive from her since we’d met, and I couldn’t get enough of it. The taste was so rich, so complex, it put the finest brandies to shame.

Glory caught my eye and stopped mid-spin. She must have sensed my rising need through the bond because her pupils dilated. My hulking shape cast a shadow over her as I stalked forward. My breaths were heavy, each one stretching the singed flesh of my back.

The pain jerked me out of my lust, and my anger returned. I kept getting swept away by the bond, and the rapid current distracted me from all the reasons I had to be furious. I was done with being jerked around.

“Maybe next time you’ll listen when I tell you to run. What did you think? That I was going to leave the clue behind? Come on, Glory, put that big brain of yours to work.”

Her lips parted, and a faint flush spread over her cheeks. I tasted her guilt, her embarrassment, but I wasn’t finished yet. “I’m putting myself on the line out here. You cutting in to call the shots tells me it counts for nothing. Do you still not trust me?”

Her eyelashes fluttered in a series of rapid blinks, and I gritted my teeth, expecting tears.

Instead, in a rough voice, she said, “You’re right.”

My thoughts stuttered. “Excuse me?”

She raised her arms and let them fall to her sides. “You’re right. I didn’t trust you to grab the clue, and I’m sorry.” A rush of horror, the flavour heavy and sharp, filled the air between us as her eyes flew wide. “I’m so sorry. I held you back from running, didn’t I? You stayed there for me and almost—I could have gotten us killed.”

Regret, fear, sadness, more guilt. The flurry of her emotions spun too quickly. She was spiralling, and pushing the issue would only send her more off balance.

I exhaled sharply and ran my hand through my hair, wincing when the skin around the base of my wings pulled. “Next time listen and we’re good, all right? Remember that I want to find this amulet as much as you do.”

She scanned me over, shame and concern still drifting off her but the whirlwind of her feelings settling into a more stable flow. “Were you badly hurt?”