Page 26 of The Stones for It
“Yourmatedidn’t feed you?” I snorted, easing back to save myself from her sweet warrior scent.
Baser needs clouded my thoughts, when I should be focused on finding my idiotic friend before the latest trouble he’d stirred up bit him on the tail. Not what his pretty little mate smelt like, and all the different ways I could make that sweet scent bloom for me again, too.
Kelsea graced me with a sour pout that heated my blood. “We didn’t exactly have time for a romantic dinner date.”
I sneered. “And yet he had time to knot you?”
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink that drew me in. Her mouth formed a tight line, like she refused to bite back.
“Well, you’re about to keel over, so I’d better find you something to eat,” I huffed, but a shameful part of me preened at the idea of providing for her.
I’d long ago been forged into a protector. My role had demanded it countless times. Those instincts must be so ingrained now that even a human’s vulnerable, patheticappearance triggered them. Despite the barbed tongue and stubborn nature that lurked beneath.
Her stomach rumbled, a loud gurgle that drowned out the quiet chirping of insects.
My lips twitched, but I levelled her with a flat stare.
“Ok, fine, but on the way to finding Neiron,” she said, before biting her plush lower lip. “And… thank you.”
I dipped my chin in the barest nod, before taking her warm hand in mine.
“I don’t need you fainting on me and slowing us down,” I muttered.
She tightened her grip like she had any chance of hurting me, but didn’t pull away as I led her between a pair of wide tree trunks with scorched bark. Her tiny hand fit surprisingly well in mine.
It was a tactical disadvantage to slow the draw of our weapons, but if she did pass out, she might hit her head on a rock or a gnarled root if I didn’t catch her in time.
Neiron would never forgive me if I let his mate die, especially from something so incredibly mundane and human.
I was half-tempted to just carry her again, but I’d already had one human stab me tonight.
The ferns and flowers had wilted; their luminescence dimmed, but not destroyed. Magic would replenish the forest quicker than any in the human realm could.
As we walked, I scanned the jungle for anything I could gather for the little human. I’d have preferred to hunt a proper meal for her, something substantial with nutrition and flavour, but that sharp tongue of hers would probably slice me to ribbons if we had to wait for something to roast over an open fire.
Neiron was probably talking himself into more danger with every passing minute.
A rich, nutty scent laced the air, and I paused, releasing my hold on the human to eye the rosy branches overhead.
“What is it?” Kelsea whispered. “Another lamia?”
“Your snack.”
I leapt at the nearest tree, slamming my claws into the soft bark and began my climb. Reaching the nearest branch, I swung up to land neatly before striding along to grab a large cluster of nuts at the end.
I stepped off the side and flared my wings just enough to slow my fall, hitting the floor beside Kelsea.
The human eyed my offered handful warily. “What are those?”
I snorted an amused huff. “You think I’d try to poison you? After all the times I’ve saved your feeble life already?”
Surely she knew I could have killed her countless ways, countless times, since she’d fallen into my lap.
“Maybe.” She pursed her lips into a bratty pout. “You do seem to hate my kind, even though you’re clearly obsessed with us.” She flipped her stunning amethyst hair over her shoulder and I had to grind my fangs to keep from grabbing it into my fist and forcing her to her knees.
I’d be pushing more than just mara nuts into her sassy mouth.
I shrugged my wings as if I weren’t seconds away from launching myself at her like some feral beast. “Humans can make adequate playthings, I suppose.”
