Page 20

Chapter

Sixteen

D elilah groaned and stretched, careful of her daughter’s head pillowed on her lap.

Three days of traveling and she was already stiff as hell when she woke, even with walking most of the day.

Although Gehj and Agrel were doing their utmost to keep the bouncing in the wagon to a minimum, it was still a bit hard on her back to be seated on the mattress for any kind of extended amount of time as she discovered over the last few days of traveling.

She fell asleep in the wagon as the males didn’t stop moving until long after she was asleep and began again early in the morning.

Blessed Mother, didn’t they need rest?

She shook her head in exasperation. They were truly nothing close to being human.

She didn’t know anyone who could go on so relentlessly day after day without seeming to tire.

She understood that they were trying to make up lost time.

They had made it clear from the beginning that they had urgent matters to attend to—a new homeland to locate for their people—and Goddess knew that having humans slowing them down wasn’t helping matters any, but she didn’t understand this.

Nor did she didn’t understand why morning after morning they refused to wake her when they rose.

Instead, every morning they started out early without a word to her.

She didn’t believe that they were already getting tired of her company.

Perhaps it was out of courtesy to her. It just seemed strange that they would make a point to let her sleep late unless her chatter and presence were too distracting when they were already delayed for her sake.

She didn’t know, and it put her on uncertain footing that made her second guess herself.

She didn’t want to just ride in the wagon for an extended period, but perhaps Agrel’s commentary on the first day had in fact shown her exactly what they wanted: both her and Lily tucked safely out of the way.

And she supposed that she couldn’t complain too much about that when they were moderating their pace for their comfort.

That alone was incredibly kind and considerate of them.

Of course, Agrel had received firsthand experience of what riding in the wagon at a quick pace was like.

Her lips twitched at the memory of three long feathers of his crest that had become twisted so that they stood up above his other feather like a headdress that would be favored by one of the citadel matriarchs.

She bit her bottom lip to restrain her laughter.

She really did appreciate his efforts after all of that, but she really preferred to walk.

If that was going to cause a problem—well, then it was better to just have that conversation out so that she knew exactly what was going on because waking up to the wagon moving relentlessly before she even had a moment to collect herself was starting to get to her.

Not the least of which was the fact that she woke rocking and swaying with a full bladder and a desperate need to pee.

As if to remind her of the fact, the wagon lurched unexpectedly, and she winced, her legs tightening even as she clutched her Lily to her to steady her.

She debated thumping on the back wall like Agrel had done previously but she didn’t know if she could strike it hard enough to be heard, not to mention that the idea of them standing and waiting around from her to finish peeing was disconcerting… and as usual there was no waiting.

Whispering a soft curse to herself, Delilah carefully shifted her daughter so that she lay fully on the mattress again, allowing Delilah the space to slide off without waking her.

Of course, then she had to evade all of their belongings that were stacked neatly around the thick mattress, which, though they were lashed securely into place, proved far too easy to bump into or fall against while walking in a moving wagon.

At least the speed was kept at a slow, steady pace so that she could jump easily from the back and land without incident on her feet.

She turned with a smile and jogged out a few steps.

The wagon continued to roll slowly but steadily ahead, but she only gave it the briefest of glances.

She never had any problem catching up, and neither male was ever the wiser as to her absence when she suddenly popped up beside.

Hurrying into the bushes, she made a quick check for anything immediately dangerous in the immediate area where she planned to squat and quickly did her business.

As she cleaned herself up, it occurred to her that her menses would come soon within the next week and half.

She hoped that she was no longer traveling when that happened.

For now, her brief trips to the bushes were a quick and uncomplicated matter, but she wasn’t looking forward to dealing with body aches and bloody rags while traveling.

Unfortunately, the duration of the trip wasn’t something she had any control over.

Smoothing her clothing to the best of her ability, Delilah jogged from the bushes, eager to catch up with the males and chat with them as they walked.

The wagon wasn’t far and so she picked up her pace, closing the distance until a low growl rumbled from some place behind her, sending a chill up her spine.

What was that? Delilah’s pace fell to a nervous, wary walk still some distance behind the wagon.

She glanced uneasily behind her, her skin prickling.

She heard it again, a low rumbling growl as four glowing, golden eyes cut through the darkness, staring directly at her.

Delilah’s breath caught in her chest as the muscles clenched tightly in fear.

She felt as if she were strangling on her horror as those eyes began to move closer and closer to her. Stalking her.

Four eyes… four eyes, where did she know that from? What had four eyes?

“Gehj? Agrel?” She called out to her mates, praying that they heard her plea despite being nothing more than a thread of sound squeezed from her throat.

When there was no immediate response, she directed her plea to the creature stalking patiently toward her as she continued to back away from it.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please, don’t. ”

It studied her, its heading cock for a moment as it briefly fell silent.

She stumbled and fell to the ground. As if seeing a moment of weakness to attack, it emerged from the brush, the morning light making its fur look even darker, like a stain of a shadow against the world with four bright, piercing eyes burning at her.

But instead of attacking, it stood, its body a dark shadow and yet distinct in the early morning light as it rose to stand like a man.

Fear constricted her throat, and her eyes grew wide as clarity slammed through her.

She knew exactly what it was—the one thing she had feared.

Ragoru.

A scream ripped painfully from her throat, and she whirled away, sprinting toward the wagon, which swayed as it moved farther and farther away from her.

All at once, it stopped, and a bright light rose over its top as the Atlavans ascended over the top of the wagon, fire burning from their wings.

Their wings beat the air, propelling them forward.

Her eyes followed them as she ran frantically forward.

They cut through the air at a shocking speed but then did not drop to her side, instead they soared over her head, their bodies angling at the last minute to dive toward the Ragoru that was rapidly gaining on her.

Delilah spun around, her steps wobbling as she broke from her sprint, and watched wide-eyed as the outright attacked the massive male nearly twice their size.

She waited for him to swipe and to attempt to knock one of them out of the air.

Her throat constricted with worry but, to her surprise, the Ragoru dropped low, scrambling out of the way of their assault as he withdrew to a safe distance.

“Wait… wait!” the male roared, his clear, precise words ringing out with such surprise that she frowned with confusion.

“What?” The word fell from her lips in shock and was echoed by her mates as they dropped to the ground a short distance in front of her, forming a very confused barrier of flames, wings, and merciless claws.

That… that didn’t sound like a murderous beast attempting to kidnap her or tear her apart.

Her brows drew together as she studied the panting male and slowly walked forward to join her mates.

Their heads turned toward her and she wondered if they would resist her stepping between them as she approached the flaming wall of their wings.

To her surprise, they drew back their wings, opening the way for her as their gazes returned to the Ragoru warily watching them.

Something about the whole thing was off.

Even the panicked shout sounded off—like from a frightened child.

“What do you mean ‘wait?’” she called out to him. “It didn’t look like you were waiting to attack me.”

“Attack you? I didn’t attack you.” The male’s ears flattened, and he shook his head, shrinking into himself.

“There was a large spotted predator creeping toward you. I… I meant to save you,” he added weakly, his eyes turning to the bushes helplessly.

“It… it is gone, but I did not know you had males with you.” He shifted in place, suddenly looking every inch as young and uncertain as he sounded despite his size.

She squinted at him but set a hand on Agrel’s arm, feeling the tension that was wound tightly through his body, easing slightly beneath her palm.

She glanced over at Gehj and the male nodded, his flames dying as his wings snapped behind him.

Walking out the direction that the Ragoru indicated, he peered down at the ground for a long moment, his crests rising.

Nodding to himself, he returned to her side and peered down at her.

“He is speaking the truth. There was something there that appears as if it were following you.” His mouth downturned, his brows dipping. “What were you doing out here alone, anyway?”

“Can we not get distracted here,” she muttered at him from between her teeth. “If you must know, I had to pee.” Her gaze shifted back to the Ragoru eyeing them nervously. “What is your name?”

“Zemb,” the male replied, his voice shaking.

She smiled reassuring. “How old are you, Zemb?”

“Fi… fifteen summers,” he replied.

Blessed Mother, he was practically a baby.

He glanced around helplessly, and she wondered if he was looking for an escape route.

Poor kid. This… this was the monster that Zack had been so insistent needed to be destroyed.

He was very much like any teen boy she’d known, just with a bit extra added to his appearance.

Gehj sighed, his wings relaxing, and he exchanged a look with Agrel, whose flames went out as he curled one wing possessively around her.

“Sure, why not?” Agrel huffed, but there was no malice in it, and Gehj smiled as his head turned back to the Ragoru.

“We are very thankful that you saved our mate,” he said, his voice pitched in a low, kindly note. “If you had declined to help, there is little doubt a clever predator would have brought her down before we noticed that she was in need of help. You did very well and have our thanks.”

The male’s ears tipped toward him, his expression brightening. “I do?”

Agrel trilled in amusement at her side and waved a wing toward him as he gently turned her back toward the wagon. “Come. We were just about to stop for morning meal, are you hungry?”

Zemb nodded eagerly, forgetting his reluctance as he bounded toward them with juvenile enthusiasm.

It was only once he was up close that Delilah saw how thin and lanky he was, despite the fur.

He was definitely at that awkward developmental stage—it seemed that even aliens experienced it.

His bright eyes turned to her as if sensing her regard and his ears twisted to the side in obvious embarrassment, his eyes dropping.

“I apologize that I frightened you, female.”

“Delilah,” she replied, and promptly nodded to her males. “These are my mates, Agrel and Gehj.”

“Just two?” he asked with open curiosity, and Agrel frowned at him.

“An ahaku pair is all an Atlavan’s mate needs,” he replied.

“Oh, of course,” Zemb replied cheerfully, not even noticing the chilling in Agrel’s demeanor. “Ragoru females normally mate with a triad of males, but I have heard that it is done, though my family does not agree with it. They said two mates is an insult to the female.”

“And where is your family?” Gehj gently inquired before Agrel could implode into a blazing ball of fury, and Zemb’s expression fell.

“They are with the dark father now. A hunter killed them. He has been pursuing me for many nights, but I keep getting away.” He sniffed the air curiously. “What are we going to eat?”

“All stomach—he is definitely a juvenile,” Agrel commented wryly, and Gehj chuckled.

Delilah’s lips twisted in a faint smile, but news of the hunter just days south of their village sent an uncomfortable feeling creeping over her.

It had to be a coincidence, but the quicker they were out of the area, the more comfortable she would feel.

Despite all her questions, the last thing she wanted to do was run into the male who abandoned her and would likely try to kill the only people who gave a damn about her.

And she wasn’t about to let that happen.