Page 57 of A Bond in Flames

“No,” I said, “you will not.”

He shrugged. “Fine, if you’re so against it.”

“I am.”

He inclined his head.

“So how about dessert?”

His gaze darkened. “I know what I’d like for dessert.”

My body heated instantly. “Well, you can hold that thought, because first we’re having chocolate mousse.”

“Sounds almost as delicious as what I had in mind—”

The door from the kitchens opened, and Egon rushed out. “Excuse me, my lord, but I must speak with you.”

Death stood. “What is it?”

“Something that requires your immediate attention,” Egon said, giving him a look.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay here,” Death said to me and rushed from the room.

* * *

He’d been gone for hours.

Egon said he had something important to deal with but wasn’t saying what. He’d also looked kind of freaked out.

They may want to hide whatever this was from me, but I could still feel Death. His concern, his frustration, his pain and anger were being broadcast to me like I was tuned into his frequency. It was as if he was calling to me or reaching for me, and I couldn’t just wait there for him when I was positive he needed me somehow.

Quickly dressing in my leathers, I strapped my knife to my thigh and ordered Hemy to stay in the room, then rushed downstairs. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I slipped out of the castle. Egon would try to stop me, but I would not be stopped.

Pressing my fingers to my lips, I called for Zuri. She trotted out of the forest a few minutes later on her own. I expected to see Raze right behind her, but he wasn’t there. When she stopped in front of me, I ran my hand down her long nose. “Is Death with Raze?”

She jerked her head.

And they’d made her stay behind as well. “Can you take me to him, sweet girl?” I didn’t have a bridle, but I didn’t think I’d need one; she’d be able to track her mate without my guidance.

She bent her front leg, lifting it, and jerked her head again, offering me a boost up. I quickly hoisted myself up, then held on tight, wrapping my arms around her neck. “Take me to them, Zuri.”

She took off at speed, the cool wind stinging my face and whipping through my hair. Nerves filled me; something wasn’t right. No, something was terribly wrong. Zuri burst through the tree line and into the forest, and darkness closed in instantly. We rode at breakneck speed, dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs. My fight-or-flight instincts grew more desperate the deeper we went and as we got closer to wherever it was Zuri was taking me.

A drawn-out cry echoed through the forest, eerie and mournful, like a banshee’s wail. It was the sound of someone lost, hopelessly searching for something. Zuri slowed to a trot, tilting her head to the side, listening. I searched the shadowed forest around us—

Something rushed at us, and Zuri reared, throwing me from her back. I hit the ground hard and, gasping, quickly rolled to my feet. I pulled my knife from its sheath and frantically searched the area around us.

Another cry filled the night, louder, closer. I stood beside Zuri. “It’s all right,” I said, and she snorted and stomped restlessly. I turned to hoist myself back up when something flew toward me, digging long nails or claws into my side, cutting into my flesh as they passed. Then they were gone, too fast for me to see what or who it was.

I hissed, covering the wound. I pressed my back to Zuri and held my knife out in front of me.

They flew at me once more with another swipe of their claws, tearing into my thigh this time, and then they were gone again. “Show yourself,” I called. I tapped Zuri’s front leg. “Let me back up, Zuri.”

A strange, repetitive, high-pitched sound came from the shadows to my right, and I spun back.

“Come out and let me talk to you. I won’t hurt you,” I said, which was laughable. The only one getting hurt right now was me.

The sound came again, lifting the hair on the back of my neck.

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