Page 72 of A Hunt Bound in Blood
She dipped her chin. “I have. Only a fool would be this far from home without some grand purpose driving them. Only a greater fool would lie to me about that purpose.” The corner of her lip quirked. “Also, we found this, which confirms your story.”
I frowned and accepted a scrap of parchment. It was scorched around the edges, most of the text illegible, but I recognized the clue we’d snatched from the cave. “Where did you find this?”
“We raided what was left of your camp. Which wasn’t much, I’m sorry to say.”
Excitement flared through me as she nodded to Cliff on her left, who reached behind her chair for a bag. My bag. Not even close to everything, but at least—dare I hope—a change of undergarments. He also hauled out my bedroll and blanket. When the tent didn’t follow, I was more than a little disappointed, but so be it. Cammon and I could use the blanket to put something over our heads if we needed it, which was better than the nothing I’d feared we’d find after our encounter with the mutts.
“It does seem you’ve worked hard to interpret Tersey’s puzzles,” Thorn continued. “The first in a century to have done so. I’m not sure if I should be impressed by your genius or worried that you’re as mad as he is.”
I said nothing, unsure myself.
“Either way, since I can’t convince you to stay with us, despite our hot springs and our… influential company, then at least I can do whatever possible to raise your low odds of survival.”
Her twinkling gaze darted from me to Cammon over my shoulder, and when my cheeks warmed, Kalla’s smugness grew that much more potent.
Thorn waved to Kalla, who reached into her back pocket and pulled out a rolled slip of parchment. My eyes lit upon it, and a burning curiosity woke within me.
“A map,” Thorn explained as Kalla handed it over. “Better than the burned fragments we found scattered across your camp. This one is marked with some tricks to get you through dragon territory and whatever details Tersey noted down.” At my surprised look, she shrugged. “We may have stolen this from him before he left. The map shows you all of Golthwaine, but I’m afraid his notes will only take you to the next signpost.”
I unfolded the parchment, and a weight fell from my shoulders. I’d feared that the delay with the vampires would put us too far behind schedule to meet with the ship in Blue Harbour. Princess Brynna would die, Evaniel would revoke his promises, and Cammon and I would both be in the same positions we were in before we’d left—or worse. But Tersey’s route would shave nearly a week off our trip by sending us under the mountain. When we left, we would have time to figure out the remaining puzzles. Whatever we’d endured with the shifters and the mutts, our losses hadn’t cost us everything.
“Thank you.” I hated how thick my voice sounded. I was not about to cry in front of this fury leader. Thorn didn’t strike me as the type of vampire to tolerate such weakness. Summoning my strength, I drew back my shoulders, swallowed around the lump in my throat, and met her eye. “I appreciate the gift you’ve given us. If ever the opportunity arises to return the favour, you need only ask.”
Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed me, then her gaze flicked once more to Cammon, which piqued my curiosity further.
“Consider this offering payment for a favour already sworn. Or perhaps we’ll owe you the favour. The Gloaming Fury has our own reasons for preferring the princess stay alive.”
I didn’t have time to question her before Kalla and Cliff pulled more goods from behind the chair. Soon, Cammon and I were loaded up with new packs filled with food, water, extra blankets, and our own enchanted lantern.
“We’ve restocked you to our limited ability,” Thorn said, “but that’s as much as we can do. Some of my people”—she shot a look at Cliff—“expressed an interest in accompanying you, and as much as I’m curious to learn what you find at the end of your journey, I can’t allow them to put themselves or this fury at risk. The safety and secrecy of our home remains my priority.”
I nodded. “Of course. You’ve already done so much. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Thorn eyed me, then beckoned me closer. When I approached, she dropped her leg from the arm of the chair and leaned forward. I dropped to my knees to sit at eye-level with her, and she brushed her lips over my ear. “Keep the demon close, child. Whatever comes, you keep him close.”
She patted my shoulder and was up and gone from her chair before I saw her move. I looked around to try to find her, but there was no sign of her in the busy cavern.
Kalla curled her arm under mine and pulled me to my feet. “Don’t bother. When she’s done with you, she’s done with you. You kept her entertained for the night, which makes you one of her favourite people, but she’s moved on to the next drama.” She looked me over. “Something you two have in common, I think.”
“I hate drama,” I said. “Books are far more to my taste.”
Kalla arched an eyebrow, that superior smile still tickling her lips. “Mmhmm. That’s why you look like you’re made of rubber today? And why you reek of sex?”
She closed her eyes and inhaled, and I curled my nose. “Gross.”
She laughed. “You can’t deny it’s an intense aroma. Lust and pleasure and distraction. The best kind of drug, and I’m glad you sampled it. Come on, I’ll walk you to the exit. I can’t go with you all the way under the mountain because rules, but I can at least see you out of the party room.”
I looked over my shoulder to where Cliff walked with Cammon. The demon prince winked at me, and my cheeks flushed warmer. Before I turned back, I watched him stop, his attention caught by someone to his left. He waved for me to keep going, and Kalla’s tug on my arm gave me no option to do otherwise.
“So?” she asked. “Was it as good as I predicted? Lie to me if it wasn’t. I can’t look at that man and not imagine perfection.”
“It was… yes.” It wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t want to get into much more detail when Cammon might be within earshot. He didn’t need to know how wound up my thoughts were after our night together. How much I desired more and how much I feared taking it, suspecting my feelings were creeping closer to something deeper with every interaction. I’d sworn to myself at the beginning of our journey that I would keep my guard up and protect myself. I hadn’t anticipated how challenging that would be—or that the real threat wouldn’t be Cammon’s demonic charms but his mind and his willingness to accept me for who I was.
Curse my luck.
“I knew it!” Kalla exclaimed, oblivious to my mental crisis. “I demand at least partial credit for you two finally cutting through that sexual tension. The drakes outside this mountain wouldn’t be the only creatures burning up if you hadn’t. So what now?”
I blinked. “I have no idea. We haven’t—we can’t—I don’t think there is a now. I think it might have been a was.”