Page 87 of Spirit Rites
“We need to get Kaldar healed up, so we can all get back there,” Taren says quietly.
Rysden comes back into the room with Hector right behind him. Hector stops at the table. “There’s no time table on your king’s healing.” I watch Jorren and Taren, but they don’t really seem surprised. “Before he can even heal, we have to get all the poison out of his body. It’s a slow process.” Jorren and Taren exchange a glance, and then both of them look over at me. I’m not exactly sure what it is I’m missing.
There’s a sudden pounding on the front door that startles me. “You expecting someone?” Jorren asks gruffly.
“No, but it’s not exactly uncommon,” Rysden says as he turns and strides towards the door. I notice that he puts his hand on his sword. Jorren and Taren both push their chairs back and pull their weapons. Taren walks over and plants himself in front of me.
I’m stiff, wondering what’s about to heppen. And then I hear a voice that brings a grin to my face. “Seriously, you all got together and didn’t invite me?”
I push around Taren and head towards the entrance at the same time Farrah calls out, “Harper!”
“Don’t Harper me. You didn’t invite me.”
I step into the foyer and stop in my tracks, taking in the two jaguars standing next to Harper. “Veyra!” Jespar lifts his head and then moves to the stairs. He’s so stealthy. If I hadn’t been watching, I would have missed it. He disappears up the stairs.
She lifts her head and assesses me, and I can’t help but feel her displeasure.You left.
I switch to our bond to talk.I’m sorry. In my defense, I didn’t know we would be coming here. I just thought Rysden wanted to talk at the border.
Your mate is here.
I try to keep up with her.He is. He was carried off by a guivre and dropped not far from here. Some of Rysden’s soldiers found him and brought him. How did you get here?
“Hey. Hellooooo.” I blink at the sight of Harper right in front of me. “It’s so nice to see you, Harper. Thanks so much for bringing the jags,” she says in a voice that sounds...
“Is that supposed to sound like me?” I can’t help but ask.
“You’re welcome, Kinsley,” Harper continues on as if I hadn’t stopped her.
I can’t help my smile, even though I try to hide it. “Thank you, Harper. Thank you for bringing Jespar and Veyra. Seriously.”The smile fades. “How did you know to come here? And how did you even get here?”
“Those two were pawing at my door at the crack of dawn this morning,” she starts.
“You close your door?” I can’t help but ask. Nobody does in the Jaguar Kingdom.
She gives me a look like I’m crazy. “Yes. I do. Anyway, they were going to destroy my door. So, I let them in, or I tried. They wouldn’t leave me alone until I followed them. I stopped at your house and didn’t find you. I figured something was amiss. I followed the jags, and they led me to a horse. Then they took off. I followed them to the border, joined up with the mean shaved head girl and came here.”
I blink at her. “Reika came with you?”
“Yeah. She wouldn’t let me come by myself. I told her I’d been living here for a time, but she still didn’t listen.”
“Where is she now?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I guess outside.”
“You left her outside? Harper!”
I move towards the door, but Rysden beats me to it. He opens the door, and there she is. She’s leaning against the doorway cleaning her nails with her knife. “Reika!” I move towards her and then stop when I’m just a foot from her.
She gives me a look. “Were you going to hug me?” There is such derision in her voice that I don’t tell her the truth.
“No, of course not.”
I’m pretty sure she knows I’m lying, but she doesn’t call me on it. “Thank you for bringing Harper and Veyra and Jespar.”
“Pretty sure they were going to come whether I came or not.”
“Either way, thank you.” I hope she hears the earnestness in my voice. “Come in.” I step back and close the door behind her. When I turn around and see Rysden and Farrah, I give them a sheepish look.” Sorry. I should have asked first.”
