Page 26 of Explorer's Revenge
“Rick!” I shout and tackle my brother to the ground just as the jaguar swipes and pounces with a hiss.
Bowing over his body to protect him, I grunt in agony as I feel claws swipe my side, but then a loud whistle cuts through the air. My head jerks up as the jaguar spins and steps away from us.
Something crashes through the jungle, heading our way, beams of light parting the foliage as the person continues to whistle loudly to draw the animal’s attention. I keep bowing over my brother, refusing to let him be hurt.
The whistle grows louder, and the jaguar snarls, its head down as it waits for whatever is moving through the forest. It’s a person; it has to be. Is it the same one who made the footprints? My eyes narrow on the approaching shape.
I realize it’s a woman as she bursts into our camp and waves the flaming flare in front of her, backing the animal toward the jungle.
My blood seeps into the dirt below us, but I ignore it.
My eyes stay on the woman racing through the forest who’s holding a fiery stick in her hand and calling loudly to the animal. It looks back at us and then at her again before leaping into the trees. She skids to a stop in front of us, waving the flare to keep anything else away.
She glances over her shoulder and meets my gaze.
“Carter?” I blurt in shock.
NINETEEN
MAEVE
“The one and only.” I grin as I look around their scattered camp, my flare still in hand. I didn’t want to hurt the animal, especially since I think it’s the one that kept me company and meant no harm, but I wanted to scare it off. Luckily, it worked, thank fuck. “Looks like you got lucky.”
Wilder groans, pushing off Rick, and sits back. His hand goes to his side, pressing against jagged claw marks that cut through his shirt to his skin below.
“Lucky? We almost died,” he grumbles.
“Almost being the word there.” I wink. “If it wanted to gut you, it would have. It didn’t want you dead.” I shrug as I drop the flare and prop my hands on my hips as they gape at me. “What? No thank you? Here I thought I’d get a hero’s welcome.”
Muttering, I head over to their fire and drop my bag there, then I pull out my rations and start to eat as the silence stretches on.
“Maeve Carter?” Wilder says again.
Lifting my head, I meet his incredulous gaze. “I know you’ve probably dreamed about me enough that it’s hard to imagine I’m real, but I am,” I quip.
His cheeks flame red, but his eyes narrow in irritation. It’s always like this between us, and it’s fun to tease him. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Rick and Logan are at his side now, trying to check his wound.
Way stands in front of Aiyaret, his arm out as if to protect him from me, and that saddens me a little.
“Oh, you know, felt like taking a walk.” I nod at his side. “Better dress that before the smell attracts any other predators. Oh, I don’t suppose you have any ketchup? I ran out two days ago and it’s killing me.”
They share a silent look, which I ignore as I take another bite.
“Maeve fucking Carter,” Logan scoffs as he grins at me. “Our hero.”
I wink. “Don’t forget it, pretty boy.”
“Let me,” I say, pushing Rick aside. Wilder is lying back on the ground, his bare chest showing three wicked claw marks on his side. They aren’t deep, but they are bleeding. Rick was dabbing at the wound, but I swiftly open the medical kit and, despite Wilder’s glare, I clean the wound and bandage it.
“You’ll need a shot when you get back. Keep it dry and clean.” I shut the kit and take my seat at the fire.
I make sure to keep distance between Aiyaret and me and to not speak to him directly. Instead, I stay near Wilder and Rick, who is unnaturally quiet for a loudmouth. Logan hands me warm water, and I nod my thanks.
“Seriously, Carter, what the fuck are you doing here?” Wilder snaps as he tugs his shirt on with a wince, uncaring that I just saved his life. That’s Wilder for you, a total asshole even in this situation.
“Taking a vacation?” I joke as I sip, and when his eyes narrow, I roll mine.
“You didn’t think Ajax only sent you, did you? The more people, the more likely we are to find the lost city.”
