Page 34 of Winds of Destiny

“That might come from the fact that our mountain used to be a volcano,” Kai says unexpectedly.

NowthatI haven’t heard before. “Really? How do you know?”

“Mostly from visiting other volcanoes and comparing the rocks and ash that can be found on their slopes.”

“Where are there other volcanoes?” Turo asks. I smile to myself. Of course that’s his question; he needs to know where everything is.

“Islands off the northern end of the continent,” Kai says. “No one has ventured into the seas there for over a hundred years, but those who did confirmed the similarities. We have legends, too, that tell of when our mountain was twice as tall as it is now. Apparently, it was leveled by a tremendous explosion after our people were especially disrespectful to Carnuatu.” He shrugs. “I’m not sure how much of it is real and how much is fantasy, but it might help explain the link between our god and fire.”

“What about the other big cities?” Jeric asks. “Kamor and Antasa? What magic could they do?”

“Kamor’s powerful were able to poison their enemies with a single touch,” Turo says. “And in Antasa, the most faithful could partially transform their bodies to look more like their god.”

Jeric looks fascinated. I am, too, honestly. I know this, but it’s been years since I’ve thought of it. “They became lions?”

“Partially.”

“Which parts? The fangs? The claws?”

“The dicks?” Rusen suggests with a leer. “I hear lions have prongs on the end of their dicks. Wouldn’t be a nice surprise for a lady if you’re going at it and all of a sudden—”

“Mm. Nope. Don’t need to hear it.”

“I’m just saying, it’s possible.”

“Let’s move out,” Kai says, putting an end to the uncomfortable conversation. “We can make a few more miles today.” He checks on me one more time, makes sure Ferow and Morfan are through separating his weapons, then gets the rams going along the trough again.

Huridell is getting closer by the day. Even from down here, I can clearly see the mountains in the distance now, including the tallest one in the very center. That’s where the city lies. That’s where my destiny awaits me. That’s where everything changes.

I’m quiet that night, more so than usual. I know it makes KaiandTuro wonder about me, but neither of them call me out on it. At least, not until it’s time to bed down for the night. As people leave their spots by the fire for their bedrolls, I get up to follow Kai but am stopped by a touch on the arm from Turo.

It’s the first time he’s touched me in… I don’t even know. It sears through me, and I sort of hate that just his fingertips pressed to the back of my hand are enough to make me go weak at the knees. Why can’t I be over him? Why won’t my heart do what my mind tells it to?

“What?” I demand, more harshly than I should. He hasn’t even asked me anything yet, and I’m already snapping at him.

“Are you all right?” he asks, soft and intimate. As though he has the right to be intimate with me. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want that, but my blood surges at the very thought of it.

Stupid body!

“That’s none of your business,” I say, cold and to the point. I expect that to be an end to it.

It isn’t. Something changes in Turo’s face, his simple concern shifting into an intensity that makes my heart beat faster. This is more than his serious face—he looks like he’s seconds away from grabbing me and shaking some sense into me—or kissing me senseless, I’m not sure which.

“Wrong,” he growls. “Until you’re through the Gate and over the border, everything about you is my business. Absolutely everything. Your thoughts, your feelings, what you ate for breakfast, the number of times you stopped to piss—everything.”

Oh, really?“Then maybe we can start with me telling you all about how it feels when I’m on my back getting—”

“Camrael.” Kai’s touch on my back calms me down enough to make me realize that I’m not just on the verge of blurting out the details of my sex life, but his as well. He doesn’t deserve that, and I’m about to take the high road and keep my pretty mouth shut when Kai’s hand on my back becomes an arm around my shoulders, pulling me in close. He’s not leaving, though. And he’s not looking at me; he’s looking straight at Turo.

Is he…are we…teasinghim? If so, I’m absolutely game. Even if we’re not, I’d never say no to the chance to get my hands all over Kai’s chest. I soften into his hold, drape myself against him, rub my hand from the base of his throat down his broad chest, and slowly, slowly, trail it down his torso until it rests just above the waist of his pants.

“If you really want to know everything he gets up to,” Kai says, somehow managing to keep his voice level despite the attention I’m paying to him, “you should join us tonight and see for yourself.”

Oh,yes!A wave of heat spreads out from my chest, making my fingers tingle and undoubtedly darkening my cheeks. That’s what I want. I didn’t even know how badly I wanted it until Kai mentioned it, and now it’s completely overtaken my mind. Turo watching…Turodirectingme, telling me what to do, how to move, when I can come… I have to press my palm hard to my own crotch to keep my dick from getting ahead of itself.

Kai looks at me fondly. “I think it’s clear that Camrael likes the idea,” he says. “What do you say, Lord Turo?”

Turo rolls his eyes, but I can see that it’s costing him to look so unaffected. His entire body has gone taut, and the heat in his eyes smolders as bright as the coals we’re sitting beside. “Get him to bed already,” he says, then turns away to fuss with the fire.

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