Page 51 of Magic Hunted
That’s exactly what I needed. They knew it was. They’d listened to me. Not used me. Not taken advantage of me. I didn’t know what to think. My world tilted on its axis, flaring in bright multicolor.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ahmen snapped to attention when we exited the bathing hut. I wasn’t sure how long we’d been in there. There was no sun to show the passing of time and I wondered how they’d lived like this for so long. A few days and it set my teeth on edge not seeing day pass into night. Not hearing the animals scuttle through the humid, leafy jungle. Titan’s stronghold was in the center of the jungle, and even though it washis, it still was my home.
“Would you like some food?” Ahmen asked.
The thought of food made my stomach rumble. Ashir chuckled, the sound sinking right through to my soft core I’d thought long ago hardened into stone. “I think that would be a good idea.”
The alphas surrounded me in the usual formation as Ahmen led us to the eating hall. I understood the layout of the huts now that we’d trekked through the village a few times. My spy half awakened, taking in details, looking for entrances and exits.
“Where is the access here?” I asked. The cavern was large, rising well above our heads, but I still saw the walls sinking to the ground with my panther’s sight, even if it was miles away.
“There are many points. Every tunnel we have is made from the bugs,” Ahmen said. He indicated rows of dark hollows close to the ground. “These go all around the cavern.”
There was no such thing as a secret entrance. Not like my hidden little hole in my room back at the stronghold, but then again, maybe they didn’t need one. Behind the cavern walls was a warren begging for someone to lose themselves in.
“Do you know where they lead?” I asked.
Ahmen peered over his shoulder at me, his disturbing blue eyes glowing slightly. “Yes, but only those who have lived here for as long as we have can know the tunnels.”
We passed several huts. Quiet voices came from behind the walls. The faint smells of cooking were evident in the crisp air. Sounds of village life, voices, bangs and objects being opened or closed were a constant hum in the background.
I noticed several elves working in the fields beyond the huts and hustling along the pathways with their arms filled with items. Some walked alone, some in couples. Young children trailed after them. We received glances but they were more out of curiosity than hostility, thank the gods.
If they’d lived here since the Bloodthirsty wars, it would mean that the children would never have seen their true home. Not this prison deep under the ground, because when it came down to it, that’s exactly what this was.
“What is Faerie like?” I asked.
Ahmen’s eyes took on a faraway look. Wistful, if there was a word to name it. “It’s beautiful. Nothing like any land here in your world. There are two realms, the summer and winter. The sun in the summer realm shines in a cloudless sky and at night the air is sweet and warm. The winter realm is filled with snow-capped mountains and the villages make snow wine from the icicles that grow off their eaves.” I felt the air of sadness that came off him, the dejected dip of his shoulders and the tilt of his head.
“It sounds lovely,” I murmured. I understood what it was like to lose a home; how hard it was, and these elves had lived here for millennia.
“If I could taste the Wandera flower liqueur one more time, I’d die a happy male,” Ahmen said, a slight curve to his lips. These elves weren’t like that first elf who’d bailed us up outside the eating hall. At least, Ahmen wasn’t, and the rest of the village had regarded us the same. They wouldn’t have had many visitors over their time here. Especially not one who could potentially save them from their prison and return them to their home.
These were a people whose lives had been interrupted through circumstances out of their hands, like ours had. In fact, if there was anyone to blame, it would be the human scientists who lived on Earth over a thousand years ago who tore a portal between our worlds.
“I’ll tell the General you’re here. Feel free to ask for whatever you want.” Ahmen offered us a curt nod and stalked away, leaving us at the steps of the hall.
“I guess we go in,” Dias said, taking my hand and leading us up the stairs. Several tables were filled with elves when we entered. The dip in conversation was only momentary and soon it restarted, alongside the sounds of eating. The scent of something meaty and savory made my stomach twist.
Ashir’s brows rose as he led us along the outside wall to a spare table. There was no hint that my magic had lashed at Taredd anywhere, which helped to settle my nerves.
“Sit here and I’ll ask for some food,” Ashir said.
I stepped over the bench, happy to be out of the thigh-high sheath and sat, with Dias and Savvas on either side of me. Ashir went to the closest elf stirring a stew of some sort in a large cauldron—a rotund female with frizzy white hair and pink cheeks filled four bowls. Ashir picked up two of them, turning toward us when a child bolted in front of him. The young boy tripped over Ashir’s foot, the boy’s full bowl flying from his hands as he went down onto his hands and knees.
Ashir quickly put the bowls on to the closest table and picked up the boy, sitting on the end of the bench seat and placing the boy in his lap. “There. Don’t cry. There’s enough food to go around. Let’s look at your palms and see if you didn’t hurt yourself too badly.”
He opened the sniffling child’s hand and smoothed his fingers across it. I knew how gentle those hands could be. The boy looked up at Ashir, more in shock than anything else, his tears disappearing in awe.
“Are you a panther shifter like Mama said?” His little eyes were wide.
Ashir nodded. “I am. I’m here with my mate and my bond brothers.”
The boy simply nodded as a female elf tore through the tables toward Ashir. “I’m so sorry! Benji, come here.”
Ashir stood and handed the child to his mother, towering over the both of them with his powerful build. “No harm done.” He handed one of the bowls he’d set aside and gave it to the boy. “Here you go, Benji.”
