Page 28 of Forging Bonds: Part Two

When we get off on the bank, Ransom positions himself next to me so that when the snake bows its head, it looks like it’s bowing to him and not just me. It then dives back under the lava and disappears.

Once it’s gone, I turn around to face the others, and we all share a look. I can see it in their expressions that they desperately want to ask me all sorts of questions, but we are all very aware that we’re being filmed, and so everyone wisely keeps their mouths shut.

“Good job, man,” Van says, clapping Ransom on the back.

“Thanks,” Ransom smiles, looking amused. “I am so ready to get out of here. Let’s find that portal and get back to the castle.”

“Agreed,” Reed says.

We all head into the trees that are lining the bank. From what we could see from our vantage point on the rock in the middle of the lake, the portal is somewhere in these trees. At least we are assuming that it’s a portal, for all we know it could be a trap or another fucking level to this trial or something. We saw Neith’s last trial, obviously, and she had multiple levels to pass in one trial, so it’s not entirely unheard of, and it could be what’s happening here.

I really fucking hope it’s not though.

I’m sore, I’m tired, and I know that I’m not the only one. I’m also really fucking hungry. I’m not used to using my alpha magic, which is completely separate from my usual magic. It has made me feel a lot more tired than Iusually would, but the effects of using it are already lessening, even though that was only the second time that I used it. So I am pretty sure that the next time that I use my alpha magic, it will be as easy and have as little effect on me and my energy levels as my usual magic does.

The problem with seeing that the portal was in the trees from the rock platform, is that it looked a lot closer than it actually is. We have to trek further than I thought we would have to.

“Are we sure it’s even in this direction?” I ask after we’ve been walking for a while.

Ransom shrugs, “Well, it looked like it was. It’s possible that it may have moved.”

Griff nods in agreement, “Give me a second, and I will fly up and see if I can see anything.”

“Be careful,” Van warns.

We stop moving as Griff takes off through the trees, and wait until he lands again before we start walking again, just because we don’t want to lose sight of him.

As soon as he lands, he smiles, “It’s literally just on the other side of those trees, and is definitely the portal.”

“Thank fuck,” Doc grins.

We all take off at a jog and don’t stop when we see the portal, heading straight through it.

Neith

“They’re coming back,” I say in relief, slumping back against the couch.

Ribit squeezes my hand, “See? I told you that they would be fine. They are crazy strong. I have never seen an alpha with the strength of yours, those lava snakes should not be able to be controlled by an alpha, that’s not how it usually works.”

“Ah shit, that’s going to cause issues isn’t it?” I ask her.

“It shouldn’t do. I mean, he’s already the alpha of his territory, so I shouldn’t imagine that it will change anything,” she replies, trying to reassure me.

I shake my head and grimace, “He’s not the alpha of his territory, and he has no desire to be.”

“Well shit,” she replies. “In that case, yeah. I would think that whoever is in charge of the territory that you guys live in is going to have something to say. But your warlock was working really hard at making sure that people thought that it was him who had gained control of the beasts. I would have thought that it was him if you hadn’t said River and looked at your alpha.”

“Really? Or are you just trying to reassure me?” I ask, raising my eyebrow and imploring her to give me an honest answer.

She chuckles, “I don’t do that. I tell it how it is. I’m not saying that someone might not have noticed, but I am saying that I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t had you next to me.”

I sigh, “Okay, thanks, Ribit. You won’t say anything?”

She shakes her head, “No, I wouldn’t anyway, but remember no one but you can actually make out what I’m saying.”

“Oh yeah,” I reply, frowning slightly. It must be really lonely not being able to talk to anyone. “I will come back and see you soon.”

She smiles, “You better. Now go and check on your men. They didn’t look like they were in the best of shape, and I’m sure that they will be worrying about you and how your trial went.”

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