Page 16 of A Bond in Flames

Zuri took off instantly without me having to tell her to, and I held on for dear life as we bounded through the forest at full speed.

Toward what? I had no idea, but I got the feeling wherever we were going—whatever came next—would change me in ways I couldn’t even imagine.

CHAPTER5

Zinnia

We stopped for a quick lunch,but other than that, we’d ridden hard all day. Night was falling, and the air had chilled. I rubbed my arms as Zuri slowed, following her mate’s cues, then stopped in a clearing in the middle of nowhere. Howls and cries echoed in the distance, lifting the hair on the back of my neck. I slid down off Zuri, managing to stay upright all on my own this time, and pulled my knife free as I scanned our surroundings.

“We’re getting close to the gateway,” Death said.

“Are those sounds coming from the Outer Realm?”

He shook his head. “Occasionally, creatures—demons—get through.”

“Is that how Egon came to be here?”

“Yes. There’s no real way to stop them. Egon regularly takes out a hunting party and culls the more dangerous breeds.”

“Do I need to be worried? Will they hunt us?” Our little cave last night had been like a five-star accommodation, because, looking around now, there was nothing here, no cave, no cabin, no place to hide.

“It depends on the creature. While some will sense me and stay away, others will see me being here as a challenge.”

“Why the hell would they think that?”

“They are Nox’s followers. She won’t want me in her realm, and she’ll try and prevent it.”

I turned fully to face him. “Your mother doesn’t like you?”

“Nox hates me and my brother,” he said and pressed his hand to one of the largest trees near us, looking up.

“Why?”

He tilted his head back, and his eyes rolled back as he muttered under his breath. A ladder rolled down from nowhere. “Up you go. I’ll take care of Zuri and Raze,” he said and waited for me to jump to it.

“I don’t need you to protect me, you know? I’m not the kind of witch to hide while danger lurks beneath me—” He hooked a strong arm around my waist and all but tossed me halfway up the rope ladder. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Saving time,” he said and turned away to take care of our mounts.

So goddamn arrogant. I spun away and climbed up the rest of the way. It was a tree house, kind of like the one Magnolia lived in with her crow-shifter mate, Bram, but not as big. The room was a large circle, with soft clay-colored walls and an open fire in the middle, already going, the flue disappearing up through the peaked roof. A bed was to one side, shaped to fit the wall, and there was a low table on the other side with cushions around it and more along the wall to sit on. Everything was bright jewel colors, and the place had a warm and cozy feel.

I found it hard to believe Death just came up with this out of thin air.

He popped up through the floor, pulled the ladder up after him, and the hole in the floor vanished, sealing us in. “No escape, huh?”

“No way for a demon to get in while we sleep,” he said.

“And what if I need to pee?”

He motioned to a doorway with a colorful piece of fabric hanging over it.

Awesome, he’d be able to hear me. “The demons can’t actually hurt you, though, right?”

“The closer we get to the gateway, the more I can feel my powers weakening.” He turned to the low table, and this time, he needed more than a look to make food appear; he closed his eyes and held his hand above it.

His mother wanted him powerless when he was in her realm or close to it. Didn’t she sound just lovely.

We sat on the ground on cushions, and I loaded up my plate with rice and beans and lamb. I took a sip of my wine. “This looks amazing. If you can do this, why have Egon cook?”

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