Page 26 of A Witch Out of Time
I narrowed my eyes at the goddess standing next to me. “I only recall the time my former mentor tried to send me here during my initiation. Not that I remember much about the experience. When else was I in the Nav?”
Veles snorted disapprovingly, but allowed the goddess to explain. “Well, the first time was when I snatched you from Koschei’s lair. The river I pulled you into was the Water of Life, and it’s not a swim a human can survive so, you died.” A mischievous smile played on her lips as she continued. “But I sensed your time on earth wasn’t done, so I may or may not have assisted you in a rebirth...without Veles’ permission.”
Grinning in return, I suddenly understood why Tan seemed to like the goddess so much. It was the same reason I’d always felt a kinship with Anthia. All three of us women practiced independent thought, despite how the men in charge would have preferred we behaved. The realization that my Riders actually treasured this aspect of my personality warmed something deep inside of me, and for once, I didn’t shy away from the emotion.
Perhaps I’m still more human than I realized.
A sharp tug on my bond had me clutching my heart, gasping in surprise. “Marena!” I cried, immediately knowing who the call was from. “Take us to this river. Asa has arrived in the Nav.”
Chapter 21
Asa
Iassumed I was being punished with another vision of my lost loved ones when I opened my eyes to find Vasi, Tan, and Nox staring down at me. Unable to muster the energy to engage with my ghosts again, I simply wordlessly shook my head and closed my eyes against the sight. My entire body ached; my skin felt as if it had been scraped raw and bloody down to my internal organs. In sharp contrast to the bone-chilling cold of Koschei’s cave, I was now sweating beneath the layer of pungent, filmy liquid I seemed to be covered in. If this was death, I was ready to welcome it.
“My Beautiful Sun!” Vasi’s arms were suddenly around me. Her earthy, fresh scent enveloping me like a cloud of comfort, instantly soothing the physical pain while simultaneously lighting my nerves on fire.
Realizing she was real—as solid as Tan had been in the cave—I abruptly sat up and hauled her into my lap, crushing her lips to mine. I briefly worried about how dirty I was, but she was too addictive for me to stop, that soft deadliness of hers my undoing as animal instinct took over.
Uncaring that Tan and Nox were standing over us, I fumbled with my belt buckle, my entire being now focused on how I could get inside her. Smiling against my mouth, she tried to gently push me away. I growled and flipped her onto her back, tearing at our clothes before claiming her lips again with a biting kiss that drew blood.
“Oh, for the love of...it’s like dealing with a bunch of horny teenagers!” A terrifying voice I’d last heard at the crater made me freeze, still crouched above my witch. Channeling all of my rage and despair, I sent it toward Veles in a blast of scalding power, instinctively knowing I wouldn’t hurt those I cared about.
An oddly familiar female laugh rang out alongside Veles’ curse of surprise. “Nicely done, Rider! I haven’t seen someone catch Mr. High-and-Mighty off guard in a long time.”
Once the smoke cleared, I saw the god of the underworld shaking out his smoking robes, glaring at me with enough heat to singe me in return. A pale woman with bright orange hair was standing next to him. My gaze caught on her face assomethingtried to tell me I knew her even though I was certain we’d never met.
In an unexpected turn of events, a smug smile was twitching underneath Nox’s thick beard while Tan judgmentally scowled at the compromising position I had Vasi pinned in.
A bold choice, considering I can smell him all over her.
Confused why neither seemed concerned by our enemy standing two feet away, I cautiously rose, pulling Vasi along and shifting her behind me. Ignoring her protests, I kept my gaze locked on Veles, awaiting his move. The charged silence stretched on, the only sound besides my agitated breathing being the waters of the nearby river lapping at its banks.
The river…
“It’s all right, Ace,” Tan’s smooth voice cut through my fight-or-flight instinct, bringing me back to reality. If you could even call it that. “Veles is on our side. Or, we’re on his, rather. Either way, you’re in the Nav and you’re safe.” I softened, if only because it killed me to think he would still take care of me, despite everything that had happened between us.
Vasi’s arms wrapped around me again from behind, further calming me. “No one will ever separate us again,” she fiercely whispered against my back. “And if they try to, I will kill them.”
While I knew Vasi was incredibly powerful, I still stifled a smile at how cute her little declaration of violence was. My adrenaline started to settle, and I finally took in my surroundings. Wherever we were resembled the surface of Mars mixed with Midwest America. Rolling farmland stretched as far as I could see, with cows and sheep dotting the landscape, and everything lit in an eerie orange glow.
This is the Nav?
A chilling thought crossed my mind. “Are we...are we alldead?”
The pale woman standing next to Veles smiled broadly, as if I’d inquired where I might find the best dinner in town. “Yes, I suppose you are, in a way—especially if you traveled here through the Water of Life.” She matter-of-factly pointed to the river. I realized that must be why my hair and clothes were wet, although I couldn't recall how I ended up in the river in the first place. My head felt like it was stuffed full of cotton, and all I kept seeing were flashes of glowing hands on a cavern wall.
“I’m having trouble remembering...” I began when a sharp pain suddenly ripped through me, causing me to clutch my chest, crying out in anguish.
“What is it?” The strange woman was suddenly in front of me, grabbing my hand to move it out of the way. Sharply inhaling as she noticed the object over my heart, she turned to face Veles. “We have a problem, Vel. It looks like Koschei hid a piece of his death in this one.”
The god dramatically sighed and stomped over to me for a closer look. “By the World Tree...could you four make this any more difficult? How do you expect to help us reverse time if you can’t return to the surface, hmm?”
So much nonsense had been uttered in such a brief span of time I feared my head would explode. Luckily, Nox stepped in so I didn’t have to speak. “Why would Ace not be able to leave?” he hissed, his fists clenched in an anger that seemed excessive, even for him. “You have no right to keep him here!”
Veles shot Nox a condescending look. “Is that what’s troubling you, Nox?” Calmly waiting until the other man backed down with a growl, the god turned to address Vasi, who had reappeared at my side. “In the interest of moving this plot along, Yaga, let me explain why you’re here and what we need from you. As you’re aware, there is something otherworldly ravaging the ancient forest you call home.Devouringit, as some have said. We haven’t been able to pinpoint the source yet, as something is blocking my usually impeccable sight. Well, Marena’s sight, rather…”
Ah, so this woman is a goddess with psychic abilities.
