Page 69 of These Eternal Bones
My own widen, the note of authority seems odd coming from him. Somehow, I flush deeper. “He won’t enact the bond.” I say the words so quietly that if it were another human before me, they wouldn’t hear them.
“You mean to force his hand, even knowing what it means?”
“I will die.”
“Something you excel at.”
I glare.
He takes a deep breath, and I can tell he wants to say no. I can also tell that he won’t. That anticipation buds in my stomach again. I’m smiling before he agrees. “It will cost you.”
Names have power to the fae.
“You want my name?”
He doesn’t answer, doesn’t need to, but I watch as his attention shifts for a moment, as if he’s listening to something behind us. My heart spikes in my chest. “Molly.” I rush out, wondering if he already knew, judging by his fond smile. Perhaps he just wantedmeto tell him.
He nods. “It’s nice to meet you, Molly. My name is Rummes. Do keep that to yourself, yes?”
I can’t hide my gasp at the crackle of energy that lights the surrounding air. Suddenly fighting the urge to cry, he asked for something, but gave far more. Holding the name of any fae is a serious honor. But holding the name of a fae God? I cannot fathom what I’ve been given or why. My nod is dazed and numb, so much so that I barely react when he shifts to his fox form, the action seamless. It’s not a ghastly shift like I was told of werewolves in stories, but a blurring of forms, really.
He's huge. So much so, I stumble back to get a better look at the colossal creature that now stands proud before me. “You’re bigger than I remember.”
He laughs at that, but not out loud…in my mind. It knocks me off kilter, jarring and uncomfortable.
“Your mate is awake and very displeased.”
“The border, is it close?”
“No, get on.”
I hesitate, shaking because riding a horse-sized Fox God through the dark woods while running from my Vampire God mate seems a little far-fetched even for me. It’s the world I stepped into when I got off thatboat. It seems like a lifetime ago as Rummes lowers himself. My hands tremble as I knot them in his fur, hoisting myself up, making sure my slip is a good barrier between my bare, shamefully slick core and his back. I’m rattled, my heart pounding as a deafening roar sounds from beyond the woods.
“This is about to be very unpleasant for me. Hold on.”
Then he bolts. A scream clamps up my throat, but the force of the wind keeps it locked inside. My fingers dig into his soft, warm fur. He smells good, like the woods, like dirt and pine. I inhale him for a moment. It feels like returning to someone I hadn’t realized I missed. That is until his snarky laughter sounds in my mind and ruins it.
All too soon, the sound of crashing, felled trees jars the peaceful forest. My entire body trembles as I press it flush to the Rummes' back as he darts, weaves, and leaps. I gasp, tucking myself deeper into Rummes as the trees fly past us, blurring from his speed until I cannot make one from another.
Another deafening roar sounds far closer than I was ready for, but this one takes the shape of my name. The rage there should horrify me, but I’m not scared. I’m…exhilarated. A nervous giggle slips from my throat, and the crashing in the forest cuts off abruptly.
I realize too late what I’ve just done.
I just told himexactlywhere I was.
I can feel him inside me before I see him, pressing into my blood, checking, tasting, and lord help me, my core tightens. The heady rocking of the Foxes' back is no help at all. If he can smell my arousal, he thankfully stays quiet about it, though I swear I canfeelhis approval. Elric tugs at my blood, and a strangled yelp leaves my throat. He didn’t hurt me; it was a warning. An omen, a way to force me to make another sound. Despite the wind rushing past us, the woods are deathly silent. Not even Rummes' paws dares a single snap of a twig.
“I will rid your flesh from your bones.” Elric’s voice isn’t raised, it's simply…everywhere. The eerie notes and deep baritone floating between the trees, and for the first time, I have the logic of mind to be sacred.
“Let go!”Rummes orders.
“What?” I squeak, “You’re insane!”
“I need you to trust me. We aren’t going to make it. Let go!”
I puff out two, maybe three, calming breaths. Honestly, I’ve likely already pushed him far enough to complete the bond, but we’re already here, may as well commit fully, I suppose.
“Yes, sweet Molly,let go.” The eerie command from Eric settles in my core. It’s visceral, deeper than a growl, but certainly not words.
