Page 15

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

I can’t look away. Solan’s pearlescent horns in my grasp while I fuck his throat is quite possibly the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, let alone experienced. His large fingers clutch my arse, spreading me open and holding on. But it’s the third tendril slipping inside my channel that finally has me looking away from his sexy-as-fuck horns.

“Fuuuckkkkk.” I drag the word out, arching my back and looking at the rough-cut ceiling of our cave room, eyes catching on the blue veins pulsing with light. “There.” My grunt follows as my hips stutter.

My cock is wedged in his throat. I try to pull away, but he holds tight, swallowing around me while brushing one of his tendrils over my prostate.

“Holy fucking shitting hell… fuuuckkkkk!” I love everything about his hair, his tendrils: how much control he has over them, when he chooses, how they react almost instinctively to me and my needs. Everything.

He pulls away with a pleased grunt, loosening my cock from the tight squeeze of his throat and then lapping at me.

“Solan.” I snap my eyes to his, then down to his forked tongue, which he strokes over my dick. “So fucking good.” I shudder, and his eyes move to mine, heat and lust swirling in their depths.

Last night, Solan took great delight in finding my prostate and discovering what exactly it does to me. Right now, what we should be doing is cleaning the group of cave rooms we’ve been assigned while Calythra entertains Jamie, but it’s taken us less than seventy-two hours of completing our bond to work out that once we’re alone, it’s damn near impossible to keep our hands—or our mouths—off each other.

“You taste like molten fire,” Solan murmurs against my skin, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver through me. “Like sunsets over burning fields, all heat and sweetness.” He presses a hot kiss to my thigh, then another, trailing up until his mouth closes around my cock again.

I groan, tightening my grip on his horns, the smooth surface warm under my fingers. There’s a faint texture to them, like glass kissed by the sea, polished but alive, radiating his energy. When my thumbs trace the ridges near their base, his entire body jolts, his throat tightening around me.

“Fuck, Solan,” I gasp, sliding my hands along the length of his horns, savouring the way his breath hitches. I wonder, wild and half-drunk on lust, if I could actually ride one of them. Am I dexterous enough to pull it off? I almost laugh at the absurdity of the thought, but the idea clings, sparking heat in my veins. Even if I can’t, his tongue is plenty long enough to hit my deepest spot—and those damn tendrils?—

One snakes deeper, teasing my prostate again, and I lose all coherent thought. My hips jerk forwards, forcing him to take me further into his throat, and he growls, the vibration echoing through my core.

I tighten my fingers instinctively on his horns, and he moans, the sound almost a plea. His arousal spikes, a physical wave that crashes into me through our bond. I feel him grow harder and hotter against my thigh, his need feeding mine in an endless loop.

“Shit—Solan—I’m—” The words barely escape before pleasure explodes, ripping through me like wildfire. His tendrils tighten their hold, his mouth working me through it, and I swear I see a whole sparkling galaxy.

He groans around me, and I feel his release follow, the pulse of his orgasm hitting me as if it were my own. Our bond flares, emotions tangling together—desire, love, satisfaction—until I can’t tell where I end and he begins.

He pulls away slowly, pressing one last kiss to my oversensitive cock, then drags himself up to hover over me. His tendrils curl possessively around my thighs, and his lips brush my ear as his voice slips into my mind, molten and sweet. “You’re mine, Jack. Always.”

I shudder, pulling him down into a fierce kiss. We stay tangled together for a moment, catching our breaths, his weight grounding me even as the lust between us still simmers.

But reality isn’t far behind. I sigh, breaking the silence. “We should probably get to work before Jamie starts asking too many questions.”

Solan grins, a devilish glint in his eyes. “Agreed. But you’re not leaving this bed until I’ve kissed every inch of you.”

I laugh, swatting his chest, though I don’t entirely disagree. “You’ve got five minutes. Then we clean.”

“Deal.” He nips at my neck, his fangs scraping my skin, before finally pulling away, his expression shifting to something more serious. “After we clean, we have to meet Varek. Strategy talk.”

I groan, half hoping he’d forgotten. “Not sure how much help I’ll be there. Running a cattle farm and fighting fires isn’t exactly rebellion training.”

Solan brushes his hand over my cheek, his confidence steadying me. “You bring more than you realise. You’ve already brought me back to life.”

I flush at his words but don’t argue, letting him pull me into another kiss before we untangle ourselves to face the tasks ahead.

Once we’ve organised our new—temporary?—home a little better, we seek out Jamie and Calythra. They’re with the horses, and Jamie’s apparently been giving a young Glowranth riding lessons.

There are several Glowranth here in the rebellion settlement. From what Shanae has mentioned over the past couple of days, more than thirty Glowranth, some with families and from all walks of life here on Terrafeara, have joined the Riftborn cause. Though, as Calythra mentioned, not all are necessarily here with the freedom of the Riftborn as their reasoning. They’re focussed on their freedom too.

Go figure that it’s not only humans who struggle to live in a society oppressed by dictatorship.

“How many Glowranth are there in this world?” I ask Solan, my gaze remaining fixed on Jamie and the way he’s using a mix of hand gestures, facial expressions, and Calythra’s translations to explain to a Glowranth, who I can’t even begin to guess the age of, how to hold the reins correctly. He’s smiling and encouraging, and fuck if his enthusiasm and kindness don’t make my heart ache.

Solan’s warm palm presses against my spine, comfort pulsing through our bond. I swallow hard but don’t mention how grateful I am for his silent support. I don’t need to. Not when he feels everything so acutely.

“The queen likes to keep an accurate record,” he says.

“I bet she does,” I respond, deadpan. All the better to control if she knows who her citizens are.

He grunts in the affirmative. “Each town and district has a record keeper who works with the Harethrin .”

I nod, recalling the mention of the Harethrin before and it being the mayor of sorts.

“Myra’s Crossing is the largest merchant town in Terrafeara outside of the city’s merchant quarter. Each district, and there are seven in total outside of the main city where the queen’s stone castle is, has a merchant town for exchanging and purchasing goods.” He turns his large eyes on me. “They are surrounded by settlements, usually within a few hours’ travel, some much closer depending on if the Glowranth have access to transportation.”

There’s still so much to learn about this world. It’s going to take me years to discover and process everything.

“Myra’s Crossing has a population of 7,315. That was the last count.”

My brows spring high at the number. So much bigger than I expected but still a small town compared to Earth’s standards—or at least Australia’s. But back home, we have a huge expanse of land and a tiny population. I’m sure it’s something like 40 percent of Australia is uninhabitable while 90 percent of Aussies live within fifty kilometres of the coast.

If Terrafeara, this… dimension… is the same size as Earth, that means the population is tiny. But then again, I have no idea how big this land mass is. Do I even need to know? Maybe I’m getting caught up in the wrong details.

“So that means what…?” I fall quiet, trying to figure out the maths, albeit only loosely with no idea of the population of the city. “The whole population of Terrafeara is close to… say, a hundred thousand, max?” That’s a super loose guestimate.

“That sounds accurate. Remember, lots of creatures enjoy the taste of Glowranth and any other species that have found themselves here.”

I scrunch my nose just thinking of our first encounter with the six-legged monster the size of a Jeep. While Glowranth are the dominant species, there appear to be more than enough dangerous other varieties around to cull the population.

“And procreation for Glowranth is not easy.”

Curiosity about why that is threatens to get me off track. There was a reason I was asking about the population in the first place, and that was because of the number of rebels in the Riftborn rebellion. Maybe 527 isn’t as terrifyingly low as I first thought. But that absolutely doesn’t mean I want to be fighting in a war.

There has to be another way.

The ground shifts violently beneath my feet with a tremor so strong, it feels as though the entire world is threatening to split open. I steady myself, my pulse thundering in my ears as I look up.

A jagged crack slices across the sky, luminous white and impossibly bright, like lightning frozen in place. The air vibrates with an otherworldly hum, a deep resonance that sinks into my bones and makes every hair on my body stand on end. My stomach lurches, my instincts screaming at me that this is wrong—fundamentally wrong.

The sound comes next, a deafening roar like a thousand mirrors shattering at once. It’s everywhere, all-consuming. Around me, there’s yelling, a scramble for balance, but it’s Jamie’s voice that cuts through the chaos.

“Uncle Jack, loo?—”

My gaze snaps to him just in time to see Ridge, his horse, rear back in panic. Jamie’s small form teeters precariously in the saddle, his eyes wide with fear as he struggles to hold on.

Shit. He’s going to fall.

My legs move instinctively, but it feels like I’m running underwater, every step heavier than the last. The pressure in the air is oppressive, thick, and suffocating.

“Solan!” I shout, but he’s already moving.

Solan’s form blurs as he surges forwards with inhuman speed, his golden eyes locked on Jamie. I don’t even have time to process what’s happening before Solan reaches the horse, his strong arms catching Jamie mid-fall with a precision that makes my chest tighten with relief.

The blinding light in the sky pulses again, brighter this time, and the rumbling intensifies. Ridge bolts, his hooves pounding against the ground as he vanishes into the chaos. I don’t blame him.

By the time I reach them, Jamie is clutching Solan tightly, face buried against his shoulder. His small frame trembles, but he’s safe, and that’s all I care about.

“Got him,” Solan says, his voice calm despite the commotion. His emotions, though—relief and worry tangled together—flood through our bond.

“Thanks,” I manage to say through our telepathic link, my gratitude almost overwhelming. “I don’t know what I’d do if ? —”

“He’s fine, Jack. Focus,” Solan cuts in, his tone firm but gentle.

He’s right. The ground has stopped shaking, but the sky is still wrong, the crack bleeding white light through the green sky that seems to ripple outwards. The air feels charged, almost electric, and there’s a low, persistent hum like the world itself is holding its breath.

Around us, the settlement is bedlam. Rebels and residents alike are either frozen—their faces etched with fear and uncertainty—or racing around in panic. Some are shouting orders, others are checking on loved ones, but one thing is clear: Everyone knows what this is.

Another rift.

“What the hell just happened?” I mutter, fixing my eyes on the sky despite being pretty bloody confident I know what this is.

Shanae appears beside me, her expression grim. “Another rift. A big one, by the looks of it.”

“It didn’t look like this when I came through,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. My memory flashes back to that day: the disorienting pull, the blinding light, and then waking up in this strange, terrifying world. This is not the same.

“Each one’s different,” Shanae says, her voice tight. “Depends on the worlds being torn apart.”

A chill runs down my spine. Worlds. Plural. Somewhere, right now, entire pieces of another dimension are being dragged into this one. And something from Terrafeara is gone, replaced in the blink of an eye.

Jamie lifts his head from Solan’s shoulder, his face pale but determined. “Is it over?”

“For now,” Solan says, rubbing Jamie’s back soothingly. But his golden eyes are fixed on the crack in the sky that’s slowly fading, his jaw tight.

“Solan, Jack.” Varek’s voice snaps my attention back to the here and now. The rebel leader is striding towards us, his silver eyes sharp and his expression unreadable. Behind him, several figures I recognise as part of the rebellion’s inner circle are gathering.

“You felt it,” Varek says, though it’s not a question.

“Hard to miss,” I reply, my tone dry despite the tension.

“Then you know what this means.” His gaze shifts to Solan. “We need you and Calythra on this. Shanae will lead the team, but you’re the best hunter we have, and Calythra is apparently trained.”

Solan’s emotions flicker through our bond—duty, resolve, and a flash of something I can’t quite name. But there’s hesitation, too, and I know why.

“We can’t be apart,” I say quickly, stepping forwards. “Not yet.”

Varek’s eyes narrow slightly. “You’d be going, too, then?”

“Not without Jamie,” I add, my tone firm. “He’s coming with me. I’m not leaving him behind.”

“You want us bring weakling child into field?” one of the rebels asks in broken English, her tone incredulous.

“He’s safer with us than without.” Solan’s voice is calm but laced with steel. And he doesn’t give a shit that he’s making it clear that we don’t fully trust the Riftborn.

Shanae steps in, her expression unreadable but her voice steady. “They’re right. If they can’t be apart, it’s better they stay together. And the kid’s no liability. He’s smart and tougher than he looks.”

I glance at her, surprised by her support, but she doesn’t look at me. Instead, she crosses her arms, her attention fixed on Varek.

After a long moment, Varek nods. “Fine. But if you’re going, you follow Shanae’s lead.”

“You’re sure about this?” Solan looks at me, his gaze steady. “I can refuse. We can all stay here,” he says just for me.

“Do I have a choice?” I ask, trying for levity but falling short. “Besides, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

His lips twitch into the faintest smile, but his worry bleeds through our bond. “Stay close to me. No risks.”

“Same goes for you,” I reply, my hand brushing his.

Jamie shifts in Solan’s arms, his eyes wide but unafraid. “Are we going now?”

“Soon, mate,” I say, ruffling his hair. “But first, we gear up. We’ve no idea what we’re walking into.”

The crack in the sky finally fades. Whatever’s been pulled into this world is out there, alone and terrified. Hell, unless it’s from a dimension filled with dinosaurs or some shit and gobbles us all up, it’s better to convince myself that it’s a person or a species who isn’t going to try to eat our faces off.

And if they are defenceless—or even worse, human—then the crown will be hunting them before they can even catch their breaths.

We have to find them first.

The next hour is a blur of activity.

Jamie and I prepare our kit for travel while Solan and Calythra join the others to make a plan. The whole time, Solan keeps me in the loop with a constant flow of updates. It means that by the time the group of fourteen is gathered, I’m prepared to leave without any big surprises.

Well, almost no surprises.

One of our companions steps forwards, and I can’t help but stare. The creature, called a Sornath , looks like it crawled out of a fever dream. It has a sinuous, serpentine body covered in iridescent scales that shimmer between green and gold. Its head is vaguely dragonlike with six gleaming eyes that seem to take in everything at once. When it moves, it doesn’t walk so much as glide, its body undulating with an eerie grace.

“That’s Nera,” Solan says, sensing my curiosity. Yeah, we’ll go with “curiosity” rather than the need to check my undies. “They’re one of the few species with the ability to track rifts.”

“No shit?”

“Exactly,” he replies, his tone calm. “Nera can sense the energy left behind and follow it like a trail.”

I watch as Nera turns their head towards the horizon, their forked tongue flickering out as though tasting the air. They make a low, guttural sound—completely incomprehensible to me—but one of the other rebels, a humanoid creature with bark-like skin, nods.

“Nera says the trail is faint but clear,” the bark-man translates, his voice a low rumble.

“Of course they do,” I mutter under my breath, earning a glance from Solan.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I say, shrugging. “Just trying to figure out how we’re the ones who ended up ordinary. Humans, I mean. No super-senses, no dragon eyes, no tongue-tasting-energy tricks.”

Solan’s lips twitch into a small smile. “You can create fire.”

“Yeah, because of you,” I counter. “Before that, my greatest skill was being able to quote Terminator 2 on command. Not exactly world-saving material, mate.” I’m talking shit, nowhere near as big of an Arnie fan as Solan.

That gets a chuckle out of him, the sound warm and easy. “Your skills are more impressive than you give yourself credit for.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re stuck with me,” I reply through the bond, grinning when I feel his amusement ripple in return.

“Ready to move,” Shanae says, cutting into our private moment. She’s dressed in leather armour that looks well worn but sturdy, her black hair tied back into a loose braid. She catches my eye and smirks. “You coming, or are you too busy making googly eyes at your mate?”

Jamie snickers, and I glare at her. “We’re coming.”

We set out, the group moving in a loose formation with Nera leading the way. The scenery is unlike anything I’ve ever seen back on Earth. The ground beneath us is a deep slate grey, cracked and uneven like the surface of an ancient lava flow. Strange spindly trees twist skywards, their branches tipped with glowing orbs of light that pulse faintly, as if in time with the heartbeat of the world.

“Stay close,” Solan murmurs, his hand brushing briefly against mine.

I nod, my grip tightening on Jamie’s shoulder as he walks beside me. This is not the direction we came from a few days ago.

As we move, I fall into step with Shanae, who seems perfectly at ease despite the tense atmosphere.

She catches me glancing at her and raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly. Then, unable to resist, I ask, “So… you have a mate?”

She grins, her teeth Colgate white. Fuck, I really need to figure out what to use to brush my teeth with when my toothpaste runs out. “I do. Their name’s Ril.”

“Ril?” Jamie pipes up, clearly curious.

“Yep,” Shanae says, her tone fond. “They’re a Gildryn —a kind of species that looks like a cross between a giant praying mantis and a jellyfish. Beautiful, really, if you’re into the whole bioluminescent, translucent vibe.”

“Sounds… unique,” I say, unsure how else to respond.

“Oh, they are,” Shanae says, laughing. “I met them when they saved my ass from a pack of klaustras . I was pinned under one of those six-legged bastards, and Ril swooped in like some kind of glowing avenger. Scared the hell out of me at first. I thought they were going to eat me.”

“Romantic,” I say dryly, which earns me another laugh.

“Hey, it worked,” Shanae says, shrugging. “Turns out Gildryns are big on loyalty. They’ve been by my side ever since—well, except for scouting missions. And let me tell you, having a mate who can paralyse enemies with a single touch is a real game-changer.”

I glance at Solan, who’s walking a few paces ahead. “Paralysing enemies. Sounds useful.” And holy shit, that must mean she can do the same, right?

He doesn’t turn around, but I feel his amusement through our bond. “Don’t get any ideas.”

The banter helps ease some of the tension, but the farther we travel, the more the unease of the group grows. The landscape becomes more rugged, the terrain littered with jagged rocks and deep crevices that force us to pick our way carefully.

Everything we pass looks part of this land. It doesn’t seem like we’ve stumbled—or are even close to crossing—into a sliver of another world.

Nera suddenly halts, its head snapping to the side. It makes another guttural sound, this one sharper and more urgent.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice low.

The bark-man translates. “Something’s ahead. Faint, but… there.” He shakes his head. “But not the rift.”

Shanae raises a hand, signalling for silence. The group falls still, every sense on high alert.

Then we hear it.

A distant scream, sharp and human, cuts through the air, followed by a deep, guttural roar that makes my blood run cold. The sound is close enough to send a flock of birdlike creatures erupting from a nearby tree in a flurry of iridescent wings.

Jamie presses closer to me, his eyes wide with fear.

“Stay with me,” I whisper, my hand tightening on his shoulder.

Before we can react, another sound splits the air—a piercing, otherworldly shriek that vibrates through my skull. The pain is immediate and overwhelming, forcing me to my knees as I clutch at my head.

All around me, the others are dropping to the ground, covering their ears and eyes as the sound intensifies. Even Solan, usually so composed, so fucking strong, is grimacing in pain.

Through the haze of noise and agony, one thought pushes through: We’re too late.

The scream cuts off as abruptly as it began, leaving a deafening silence in its wake. My ears ring, and I stagger to my feet, my vision swimming. Around me, others are slowly recovering, groaning and shaking their heads as they regain their bearings.

Solan is beside me in an instant, gripping my arm like a lifeline. Through our bond, I feel his fear and fury, a tempest barely held in check.

“I’m fine,” I rasp.

“Stay close,” he murmurs, his tone sharper than usual. His eyes flicker with golden light, his power stirring beneath the surface.

Ahead, Nera hisses low and urgent, its serpentine body coiling tightly. The bark-skinned rebel translates. “They’ve found something.”

We move cautiously towards the source of Nera’s focus, the tension palpable. The group fans out slightly, weapons drawn, every step deliberate. Then we see it.

The body lies sprawled across the cracked ground, unmistakably lifeless. It’s not human—its skin is mottled grey, its limbs elongated, and its face bears no nose, just slitted nostrils and a wide, lipless mouth. A creature I’ve never seen before.

Before anyone can say anything, Jamie calls out, “There’s someone else!”

We all turn to see him standing over another figure—a man, human, unconscious, dressed in snow-boots, a thin undershirt, and boxers.

“Jesus,” I mutter, rushing to his side. “Snow-boots? Where the hell did he come from?”

The man’s skin is pale, his lips chapped, and he’s shivering despite the heat of the air around us. I press two fingers to his neck and feel a faint pulse. Relief floods through me.

“He’s alive,” I say, looking up at the others.

Blood smears across my fingers as I check his head for injuries. “Shit.” I wipe my hands on my shirt, removing the stain.

One of the stronger rebels, a hulking creature with leathery skin and thick, hornlike protrusions, steps forwards. “I’ll carry him,” it rumbles, its voice deep and gravelly.

The man is hoisted onto the creature’s back as Shanae instructs the leathery-skinned creature and one other to turn back, return to Dathanor, and let Varek know we’re going to press on. We’ve still yet to find the rift, and we don’t even know if the dead creature was killed by the human or something else.

As they head away, my gaze remains on the limp form. The guy looks young, maybe early twenties. He’s slim, fit… and those damn snow-boots just leave me scratching my head as I finally look away to follow the big centipede.

The next hour is tense, the group moving cautiously as we search for any other signs of the merge. The heat is oppressive, but there’s no sign of snow—just more of Terrafeara’s rugged, alien terrain. We stop for a break near a cluster of strange bulbous plants that hum faintly, their tendrils pulsing with colour.

I sit beside Jamie, who looks exhausted but determined. Solan stands nearby, his gaze sweeping the horizon, ever vigilant.

The attack comes without warning.

A hand clamps over my mouth, and I feel the cold press of a blade against my throat.

“Don’t move,” a voice hisses in my ear, thick with a heavy accent.

My heart races as I’m yanked backwards onto my feet, my captor dragging me away from the group. Out of the corner of my eye, I see another figure emerge—a Glowranth, its bioluminescent markings glowing fiercely. This one is larger, its movements precise and deliberate.

“Jack!” Solan’s voice is a roar, and I feel his rage ignite through our bond.

The first Glowranth—the one holding me—steps slightly to my side so I’m able to take them in. He… definitely male… is different from the others I’ve encountered, his features more refined, his presence commanding. A distinctive mark glows on his chest, a sigil etched into his skin like a birthmark.

“Prince Aelith,” Solan spits, his tone dripping with venom.

The fuck?

This dick is the missing prince?

The Glowranth prince narrows his luminous eyes at Solan. “Hunter,” he says in English, his voice cold. “Interesting company you’re keeping, and days away from Myra’s Crossing.”

Solan steps forwards, his fists clenched, literal steam rising from his body as his anger reaches a boiling point. “I don’t answer to you,” he growls.

He says something sharp that pisses Solan off in Glowranthian. “Enough!” the prince then snaps, his gaze shifting to me. His nostrils flare as he sniffs the air, his expression darkening. “The human. Where are they?”

I manage a strangled, “What?”

The blade at my throat presses against my skin, and I feel a sharp sting as it nicks me.

“The human who arrived with the last rift,” Aelith says, his tone icy. “I can smell them. We’ve been tracking the human for days. Tell me where they are, or?—”

“Back off,” Solan growls, his voice like thunder. His body is a furnace of heat, and I feel his power building, a storm waiting to be unleashed.

“Solan,” I say through our bond, trying to calm him. “Don’t lose control.”

The tension is unbearable, and I see Jamie struggling against the bark-skinned rebel holding him back.

“Let him go!” Jamie shouts, his voice breaking.

“Stay back!” someone orders, but Jamie doesn’t listen. He breaks free, charging towards me, and for a terrifying moment, I think the prince’s bodyguard—a massive Glowranth in heavy battle armour—is going to strike him down.

Panic surges through me, and I react instinctively. Fire erupts from my hands, wild and untamed, forcing the bodyguard to back off. The flames don’t touch anyone, but the heat is intense enough to make everyone hesitate.

I seize the opportunity to shove the prince’s blade away and dive for Jamie, pulling him to safety the moment I douse my flames.

The prince’s expression darkens, but there’s something else there—shock. His gaze locks onto me, and for a moment, the world seems to hold its breath.

“You,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. He sniffs again and seems to scent the air. “You’re mine.”

“Wh-What?” I manage, my chest heaving, the word somewhat strangled.

“I felt it the moment you arrived in this world,” he says, his tone laced with grim certainty. “You’re my fated mate. My bonded.”

The words hit like a thunderclap, leaving me reeling. Solan’s fury flares hotter than ever, his body trembling with rage.

Shanae steps forwards, her expression grim. “This just got a hell of a lot more complicated.”