Page 10

Chapter 10

Evie

I woke up embarrassingly strung across Ward’s lap, my face practically on his dick. Which only would have been mildly embarrassing if I hadn't been having the naughtiest dream. I jerked fully awake and shifted, my magical kaftan settling over me as he scrambled to keep me from falling off the horse. Our mouths drew breathlessly close. All my brain supplied was: no one had ever asked me to marry them. It stole my sense right out from under me.

“Don’t let go of me,” I said and realized it came out more sleep-roughened and sexy than a plea for balance.

“I wouldn’t dream of it until we’re in that bed together.” His own voice dropped.

The kisses in the bath and after the ruined druid ceremony replayed in my head until I gently closed the inch between us. I could say it was a side effect of my dreams, but as soon as his mead and honey taste hit my tongue, I couldn’t suppress a full body shudder. All his charming effort to keep me alive on this quest, his absolute belief in us, found me lost in the mountain of his body. I never considered myself adept at kissing, but tangling tongues with Ward was effortless.

Heart galloping in my chest, I thought my blood was pumping to all my lady bits, but the booming through my veins sounded like more. He groaned as I pulled back, chasing me.

“Can you feel that?” I asked.

“That’s all I can feel, viper.” He squeezed my ass right off the saddle as he said it.

Ward aligned our hips, and the horse did the rest to rub us together. Sweet mother of mercy, that cock I saw in the temple stood locked and loaded. The desire to come warred with the yanking on my mental insides. I pushed him away to gain a precious inch of space and a mile of sanity between us.

“What happened when Veretis’ relic called you?”

His gaze sharpened, most of the lust banked. “Are you angry? On edge?” he asked.

I sorted my feelings, willing some common sense into my ovaries. “Just jangly, like at the druid ceremony—something I can’t ignore. Are you okay? Am I going to have to be wrapped around you the whole time?”

“I wouldn’t object,” he said with a sly smile. I pushed his shoulder playfully.

“The wolf wasn’t wrong, the bond was still weak, but it seems your jealousy was good for it,” he teased me.

A blush stole over my cheeks. The way he looked at me was lovely and overwhelming at the same time. I really wished I had never brought up the sex and we could live in this bubble for a while.

Ward brushed a thumb over my bottom lip. “The bond is a more effective tether between us than you wrapped around me. We will need to follow your call to the next relic. Vinguard has many hidden places and will be difficult to search.”

“Hidden places where a toad shifter lives?” I said hopefully.

Ward scoffed and faced me the correct way on the horse. I found out why as we crested the hill and the bustling city sprawled out before us. Built with pointed rooftops on every building, the metropolis looked like a deranged collection of tents. Red was the predominant color with golds winking in the sunlight. We approached from a little used road. The contrast when we hit the city’s cobbles was intimidating. It was like being swallowed by a giant organism. More people stopped on the street than lived in my entire village. I thought Harrowood was big.

Ward leaned over to murmur in my ear. “Tell me when you notice it more strongly.”

His words scrambled the call more than helped, because I certainly noticed his cock rubbing on my ass, but I didn't think that’s what he meant. I needed to get the blood flow back to my brain and focus.

“Left,” I called out, and the hammering in my chest grew stronger.

Come to me, child. The Goddess’ voice could have come with helpful instructions instead of that shit. I was moving as fast as I could without expiring from claustrophobia.

Winding through the streets, I did my best not to gape at the sheer variety of monsters living their everyday lives. It was the furthest thing possible from my safe little village. There I trusted I would wake up to the same faces every day. I didn’t know if I should screw my eyes shut or carefully watch the nightmare with more eyes and teeth than anything else I could identify. All of them looked like they might kill me, even the cute and fluffy puffball on tall, spindly legs carrying a basket in its beak. None of the many eyes on the street lingered on us. Everyone took one glance at Ward and made way for him, even on the narrow streets. We wound through a few more turns at my direction.

“Stop,” I said with an echo of the Goddess in my voice. I hated when she did that.

Ward’s horse shied at the sound. The townspeople in the square flinched, and a child started crying. Greg stood rooted to the spot, flicking his tail, unbothered. We looked up and up an impressive set of stairs to a large porch of an even larger temple.

The Godds might have been dead, but the Kings and Queens who took their place made one hells of a show about their power. The temple’s stones were too big for human hands to move, let alone place. A red shimmer of magic put out a constant, low-grade song of lust, flesh and earthy desires. A line of supplicants slouched as they waited on the steps to the temple. The Queen didn’t seem particularly fast at taking callers.

“What are they waiting for?” I asked Ward.

“They have a problem of the flesh. The Queen built Vinguard on her potions. They can drive lovers into a frenzy as great as the mate bond.”

I swiveled around to fully face him. “Are you saying we’re in a city made of sex magic?”

Ward nodded. “Among other afflictions of the flesh, yes.”

“Well, we’ll say we have a flesh problem. Let’s just walk in with the rest of these guys and get this relic.”

Ward latched on to my arm before I slid down. “Watch.”

A tiny woman appeared at the top of the stairs, clutching a sharp-edged weapon as tall as she was. Her long, flowing hair hid more than her tight top, that molded to her killer shoulders and arms. Black tresses cascaded down her hips and over her… tail? Her lower half was all cat balancing on two legs. With little other clothing, she sported a silver collar; the chain attached to the column behind her.

“The Brides of the Beast of Bodmin would collectively tear me apart, even in my bear form, if we tried to cut the line or take anything. They train to fight, counterbalanced on those chains.”

So force wouldn’t get us anywhere. That left us nowhere. My stomach chose that exact moment to make itself known, and Ward tightened an arm around me.

“We will figure this out when we have food and a bed,” he said, nudging his horse forward. I had to agree. The lack of guards at the first temple was a trick. I had thought this would be easier.

We stopped in front of the Whistling Pickle - its cheery exterior bright with mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen. I got down to give Greg some love and berries I foraged along the way when Ward appeared again too quickly.

“No room. We’ll try the next one.”

I scrambled onto Greg and followed him to the next inn with no room. And the next.

When Ward came out again, his brow drew down, his eyes sparking. “We’re reaching the limit of even Vinguard’s hospitality.”

I hadn’t bothered to get off the horse this time. “We can just sleep in the open again. I don’t mind.”

Ward mounted his horse with more energy than I had left, looking back at me with an intensity that warmed my insides. “If you’ll let me into a bed with you, I’m going to find us one.” He moved through the crowds with less care, more intensity. They scrambled out of his way.

My cheeks pinked, and I resigned myself to more searching as we tried three more inns before we reached the outskirts of town. The houses grew further apart, and the buildings shone with fresh paint and new trimming like they just went up yesterday to contain Vinguard’s overflowing populace.

“If the inns are full, we can always ask the Brothers of Zophiel for shelter. They were here before the Queen was a twinkle in her mother’s eye.” Ward pointed to a dizzying edifice that soared to the sky. Its encrusted buttresses and stained glass windows dazzled in the afternoon light, a sprawling complex behind it. Its charcoal-grey color made it a rain cloud trying to suppress a rainbow.

In a quiet voice, I said, “It’s not too friendly-looking.”

Ward chuckled. “The cult of Zophiel inspired much fear in the past, but no one much listens to them with the Queen in place. They have terrible bake sales. They do, however, take in travelers to repair their baking reputation.”

I looked around for any sort of alternative to the gloom castle. “They take travelers in for culting? Casual sacrifice? I’m not sure we should trust them. Crimes against cake can’t be so easily erased. What about their competition over there?”

I pointed at the sprawling brick-red building next to it. Luxurious, silk couches in every color imaginable sat on open, wood decks jutting from uncovered, full-length windows. Cheery pink flowers hung from crawling vines along the roofline. The freshly painted sign before it read THE CLAMOURING CLAM. That looked much more welcoming, down to the trimmed hedges and warm, flickering lanterns.

“You want to stay in a brothel?” Ward asked as he pressed a hand to his chest in mock dismay. “Who would protect my virtue?”

I laughed at him and jumped down from Greg. Is that what that thing was? “Seems like a better deal than buying books no one ever reads, paying dues until we’re broke, and ending up in a cult. But it looks closed,” I said, disappointed.

Ward dismounted with more grace than I managed. The easy flex of his muscles made my mouth run dry. “The brothers will make a place for us. It will be fine.”

I was still voting for the brothel. It was possibly the best idea I’d had yet. That wonderful kiss confirmed I liked Ward—his gentle confidence and effortless praise didn’t hurt, either. I wanted to know if all the terrible sex I had in the past would hold true. If it was a deal breaker, I needed to know while I could still walk away from him.

He rang the gigantic bell outside the church's compound. There was no way I was joining any cult colony. The person who opened the small door in the building's side inspired little confidence with their shuffle and thick, black, hooded robe. Way too hot for this weather.

“Your tithe?” The person looked Ward up and down like a piece of meat and I bristled. Only I was allowed to do that—for daydream purposes.

“We were hoping for a hot meal. We can help prepare it,” Ward said. Well, he could. I would try not to stab myself with a knife.

“Additional tithe,” the robed person said in a bored tone, holding his hand out. I thought Ward said they did this out of the goodness of their failed baker hearts?

Send this to the seven hells. I was definitely trying the brothel—closed or not.

“Wait… are you a…” The conversation drifted off as I slipped away and stepped up to the large red door of The Clamouring Clam. Not giving myself enough time to talk myself out of it, I knocked. A bare-faced woman all but ripped the door open, clutching her colorful silk robe closed. Rings and clanking bracelets covered her hands, but I looked like I caught her getting ready.

“We’re not open for the evening.” She tried to close the door in my face.

“I’m looking for a room for the night, please. Every other place seems full.”

She opened the door again, sighing. “You’re dressed like a bumpkin, but even you can see this isn’t an inn.”

Her frown lines and tense shoulders didn't scream a woman who parted with anything for free, but the bangles on her arm were cheap costume jewelry. “It doesn’t look like a place that passes up easy money.”

The woman eyed me more carefully. Then she looked closer at our horses and gear, and finally at Ward next door. I couldn’t argue he looked like a King at any distance. “True. I’ll take a gold talon for each and you get what you get for a room.”

I had no idea how much that was since our village mainly traded goods, but I couldn’t imagine Ward balking at the price of anything. “And a meal.”

She pressed her mouth into a thin line. “I’m not throwing in any services, just food.”

I gritted my teeth. Ward better not look at any services after he just proposed marriage. The surge of jealousy was worse than in the wolf woods. His promises opened up something that felt suspiciously like hope. I didn’t want it crushed. My self-confidence was low, but not that low. “Just food,” I agreed.

I thrust out my hand in agreement—a move I had never attempted in my life. The woman took it with a firm grip and shook like the businesswoman she was.

“Just ask for Noora when you’re ready. You can waste her time instead of mine. I will tell the house brownie to clean out… up your room.”

That didn't sound like we were getting the honeymoon suite, but as I glanced over at Ward, still speaking to the hunched robed figure, it was still better than the alternative. I was so proud of myself for doing anything useful. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I walked back to Ward. He slung his arm around me and I grabbed a stray leather strap hanging off him.

The Brother turned to me and eyed me up and down like he was about to ask me about my engrams level. He opened his mouth to reveal a Frightmare of pointed teeth. They made my snake fangs look cute. “I’ll take him off your hands for only twenty-five silver. He’ll make a hefty sacrifice.”

I looked around the empty road, right, then left. Was he talking about Greg?

“Thirty silver talons, then,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes. “Thirty silver talons for what?”

The Brother gestured to Ward, who immediately swelled even bigger, his eyes glowing. Was this asshat trying to buy my bear? Violence sparked in the air from nowhere, and scales stirred in the back of my mind.

I patted Ward’s chest. “I think I’ll keep him, um, for my own sacrifice.”

The Brother scoffed. “Your tithe has gone up to three gold talons, lickpenny.” He stepped back into the church.

I had no idea what that was, but Ward vibrated under my hand with a barely leashed fury. He eased forward, and I stopped him. The Brother didn’t even check to see if we were following.

“Teddy bear.” His head swiveled around at the nickname, capturing his full attention. “I’ve been wrong about a lot of stuff on this trip. I get it. My magic meter isn’t the most sound. But we are not going in there. Not for all the gold talons in the world. I found us a place to stay and you’re going to love it.”

I dragged him and our horses over to The Clamouring Clam and asked the servant at the door for Noora. She arrived with haste. Or at least I hoped it was Noora because the woman who came to take us to our room was stunning and also had a full inch on Ward’s height. That was before adding the spiraling ceiling-brushing horns on her head. Her deep-purple skin showed off a silver pattern of spots down her neck, side and legs. I could see every one of them because she wasn’t shy or very dressed. I should have worried about her turning Ward’s head with her miles of legs, but Noora was also crying and trying very much not to. Her red-rimmed eyes didn’t seem like a natural feature.

“This way.” She waved us forward, and I quickly got lost in the maze of halls. Dark polished wood and white lime-washed walls made everything look the same. The half-clad men, women and monsters didn't make it less confusing. At least it was clean.

Ward didn’t seem inclined to chat, or glance at anything on display, still tense from the Brother attempting to buy him. I took his hand and squeezed it. I could be nice to our temporary landlady.

“Thanks for putting us up. Seems like it’s busy around here,” I said.

“Always a pleasure to have more business,” she replied in a monotone. Her smile came easily, showing her perfect teeth, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She led us around another lemon-scented corner and I slid on floor wax.

“Looks like it’s been a long week.” I let go of Ward’s hand to draw even with her as we went through the gigantic house.

She sniffled and turned her head to hide it. “The house brownie will leave your dinner outside your door.”

Ah, so she was just like Fallon, more interested in working than showing emotions. That only made me want to help her more. “I get it. I’m pretty sure some cult guy tried to buy my mate, and that’s only the end of the week for us.”

Ward screeched to a halt behind us, skidding on the polished floor. A stunned look came over his face. I swiveled around, searching for danger.

“What!?” I screeched, fists up like they would do something heroic.

“What did you call me?” The grin spreading over his lips was ten percent joy and ninety percent hot-smug.

‘Mate’ popped out without me thinking about it, and I was immediately nervous again. It was one thing to say it. It was another thing to do it—with him. What if I didn’t live up to the shifter sex he was expecting?

I waved him off to deal with later, turning back to Noora. He followed in a daze.

Noora stopped outside a small door sandwiched between the back wall and what I had to assume was one of the entertaining rooms.

“I’m right there if you need anything…” She smiled a bright, completely false stretch of her lips, pointing to the room next to the small door. “Probably have time…” Noora trailed off. “I haven’t been able to take any…” Noora abruptly crumpled to the ground and took my shoulders in her long, giant hands. “It’s true, you’re mates?”

I looked at Ward and found no help there. He was going to make me say it out loud again. “Ye-yes?”

Ward’s grumble behind us sounded like pure satisfaction and it arrowed right between my legs, the center of which seemed thrilled to please him.

“Are you able to find him anywhere? Can you find other shifters? Are you all able to speak to each other with your animal minds?” Every question grew more desperate and her hold grew tighter and tighter until my bones were rubbing together.

“Be gentle with my mate if you want to keep those hands,” Ward rumbled.

That only made Noora burst into tears, clutching me to her and picking me up to swing me like a rag doll, rocking in her anguish. My hair became a tissue for her copious tears. Thankfully, they smelled like roses, so I couldn’t say I minded. The swinging as she wailed out her grief wasn’t as fun. I didn’t dare put my legs around her to hold on or risk getting taken away by Ward, so I hung limply from Noora’s grip under my arms, patting her back the best I could.

“It’s okay. Let it all out,” I said.

Ward struggled to remain still, but I shook my head sharply. I was helping someone and being useful for twice. This was a new record for me. He didn’t need to rip me off the poor girl… demon. As her tears became sniffles again, she only clutched me tighter to her like some stuffed animal.

“What happened? We’ll try to help if we can.” I stared daggers at Ward.

“If she puts you down,” Ward said.

The demon complied, and Ward quickly snatched me up for himself. It was a more comfortable squishing. I had to be honest with myself that my body really enjoyed being up against Ward’s. Noora slumped to the floor again, her head in her hands. Even grieving, she was graceful enough for a swooning portrait. I would be a red lady, too, if I looked that graceful crying.

“Brightpaw disappeared a week ago. He was getting irritable, quick to anger. He scuffled with a client. His house said he was dangerous. He told me he was dealing with it. I couldn’t do much else but trust him when we’re in rival houses. Could he have left? Brightpaw would never leave me behind.” She started sniffling again, and Ward let me reach out to pat her shoulder. “He said we were mates.”

I had a feeling I knew where he disappeared to.

“It’s not just here in Vinguard.” Ward told Noora. “Our Goddess, Veretis, her call has been affecting shifters in other parts of the Harrowlands. It would have been impossible for him to resist unless you were already mate bonded.”

“We’ll help find him. We just have to figure out how to get in the temple without waiting in line for the next century and find what’s causing this.” I patted Ward’s chest even as he looked at me like I was crazy.

Noora’s eyes welled up again. “You’ll help?”

“Mates gotta stick together. Right?” I said.

That brought a smile to her face. “You could make a sacrifice. The temple is open to those who tithe but the Queen personally reviews sacrifices as quickly as possible. Whatever you’re looking for would have to be in her throne room.”

“Who’s going to be the sacrifice?” We all looked at each other, assessing. I pointed at Ward.

“What? I’m not anyone’s sacrifice.” Ward grumbled, vibrating again.

“Robe guy thought you looked like a great sacrifice,” I told him.

“I’m not a sacrifice,” Ward said. “It’s barbaric—something the ancestors in the Shadow Veil had to deal with.” He stepped back from both of us.

“You would make a pretty good sacrifice,” Noora encouraged. “You’ll need a Flesh Chain, though. I have a client who can get one.”

“I’m not sacrificing myself to the Queen of Flesh, and I'm definitely not wearing one of those.” Ward's grumble turned into a snarl.

“That sounds… gross.” I leaned over to Noora. “But we would appreciate any help. We will try to find Brightpaw.” Turning back to Ward, I said, “No one’s going to donate you to any temple for real.”

He fisted his hands, clearly agitated. “No one has ever threatened you with being staked and chained, your bear baited until you die.”

My eyes widened. Nope. No one ever threatened me with that before.

“Give us a moment.” I whispered to Noora, “I will convince him.”

“I bet you will.” Noora stood and opened the door to our room. “Thank you for caring. I would do anything for him.”

I wish I had that amount of confidence in whatever this thing was with Ward. Maggie definitely wasn’t right about my love life, but maybe she wasn’t totally wrong, either. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to try getting physical.

Ward refused to set me down. I peered into our room, which was the size of a broom closet. Or maybe it was actually a broom closet. The single cot with a flat pillow hid a collection of jars, extra linen and literal brooms. As Ward closed the door, his eyes glowed. Luckily, being stuck in the smallest room in all of Vinguard with an agitated shifter wasn’t awkward at all.