Peering shortsightedly into the woods (okay so there's more than one reason Sian’s a better archer than me) I spotted the light glinting of her eyes and would have stepped forward when Alek seized my arm.
'Cat, Audi’s over there.' He pointed down the track ahead of us. Sure enough, there she stood waiting for us.
I stared at her for a moment. 'But if Audi’s there, then what’s that?'
Alek looked where Cat pointed, not seeing anything at first. Then he spotted it, its dark brown fur and darker stripes nearly rendering it invisible in the undergrowth. 'Shit.'
Cat’s eyes widened in surprise. Alek backed slowly out, grabbed Cat’s arm and began to walk along the track at a brisk pace. 'What is it?' She hissed, her eyes wide with alarm.
'A tehnear. Can you get Audrey to walk behind us?'
I looked up at him, really worried now. 'But,' I began.
Alek interrupted me. 'She’ll be fine. Dogs are quicker than tehnears. She’ll distract it.'
I could feel the fear coil around my stomach, my knees suddenly felt wobbly. 'Is it going to attack us?'
He gave me a grim look. 'Almost certainly.'
Alek watched while Cat called Audrey and pointed out the tehnear.
'Will she understand?'
Cat glanced at him. 'Yes. Audrey’s very smart.'
They watched the dog stalk back down the track then stiffen when she sighted the tehnear. Audi lowered, belly almost to the ground, crouched and ready.
'Come on,' he snapped. 'Now we run. Fast.' Gripping Cat’s hand, he took off.
We sprinted flat out along the track, this time I had no problem keeping up with Alek. A roar of fury ripped through the trees followed by Audrey, snarling and barking.
Alek risked a glance back. 'She’s okay,' he gasped out. 'It’s working.'
‘LOUSHKA.’ Alek screamed in his mind. ‘HURRY! WE NEED YOU.’
Back at the lodge everyone relaxed and the griffons stretched out in the sun. Sian, Kassie, and Loi lounged around a large table with the men and Brece and his family. An enormous cry shook the lodge, everyone leaped to their feet. 'What was that?' yelled Loi, but the men ignored her, all focused on their griffons.
Kassie felt the ground shudder and looked out the window in time to see Loushka spring into the air. Her mouth dropped at the sight of the griffon in full battle mode. Mane standing stiff, eyes narrowed in fury, her tail lashing the air as the griffon took off at a phenomenal speed.
Sian realized that something must have gone wrong with Cat and Alek and lunged at Daron, gripping his shoulders. 'What’s happening?' she shrieked.
My feet pounded the dirt and my heart beat frantically as I heard the snarls and barks behind us. Audi’s snarls sounded further away than the vicious growls that drew closer. I pumped my arms hard, feeling the breath burn in my throat.
Alek knew the tehnear gained on them. It’d ignored Audrey but she’d distracted it enough for them to get a little head start. He could feel Loushka getting closer but she hadn’t called out yet. His heart raced, he kept a firm hold on Cat’s hand, willing her not to stumble. He knew Loushka would spot them easily enough. All he had to do was keep them out of reach until she arrived. Risking another glance back, Alek’s body went cold with horror; the tehnear was within pouncing distance. Shit, shit, shit!
‘ALEK.’ Loushka’s voice roared in his mind, ‘DUCK.’
I heard a rush of heavy wings and half turned to look when Alek tackled me. We tumbled off the track in a mass of flailing limbs. Something heavy with dense fur smacked across my side, winding me. I heard Alek snarl a curse under his breath and struggled to sit up but couldn’t; he had me pinned to the ground. 'Alek,' I wheezed, trying to get my breath back.
'Hush,' he growled looking frantically around. I closed my eyes for a moment, calming myself enough to get a breath. When I opened my eyes Alek still looked around and anxiety made my head throb as I tried not to panic. I could hear Loushka moving through the low undergrowth—branches groaning when she shoved past and twigs snapping. The griffon kept making a strange, angry growl that broke off on a high note, like a screeching eagle defending its nest. Please let Audi be okay!
Cat ceased to struggle and lay beneath him, eyes wide while he searched the area for it, twisting his head to look up and down the track. Where was the damn beast? Loushka had sent it flying, but now she couldn’t spot it and tehnears weren’t that easy to kill. Alek felt Cat shift and glanced at her; she stretched to look down the track. Following her line of sight, he saw Audrey there, unscathed on the path. The sense of relief released some tension; it would have devastated Cat if anything had happened to her dog. He looked down at Cat. 'She’s safe.'
About to answer I let out a shriek when Audrey crouched and snarled. 'Tehnear! I cried. Hidden in the shadows of the tree where it’d been flung, the tehnear growled and staggered to its feet. Audrey barked angrily, daring to draw closer and I felt my heart seize tight in fear. Alek jerked his head up and hollered for Loushka. The tehnear roared at Audrey who cowered but held her ground. The creature barreled over her, racing toward us. I dimly heard Loushka’s furious roar and Alek’s cry of shock before a strange sensation flooded my senses and everything went red.
Loushka swooped in as Alek lunged over Cat. The griffon snatched the creature just before it reached them and in the same instant an energy pulse burst out from Cat. The force of it flung Alek away, he slammed into the dirt, the breath snatched from his lungs. He lay there stunned, head ringing. Struggling to roll over, he crawled to where Cat lay unconscious, her eyes rolled back and face ashen. His head thumped with pain, but he sat up and gathered her in his arms, alarmed at the lack of response from the woman. 'Cat, Catherine, can you hear me?' his voice cracked while he stroked her hair back, willing her to respond. Audrey appeared at his side, crying, and gave Cat little licks then nudged Alek, who continued to shake the woman and call her name.
Hearing a tearing noise, he looked up to see Loushka determinedly shredding the remains of the tehnear, the griffon's angry thoughts loud through their link. ‘Horrible, cretanous, mangratl creature.’
Then Cat moaned and Alek cradled her close, calling to her again.
I could hear someone saying my name, but it sounded like it came from far away, a distant, tinny sound in my ringing ears. I tried to speak but wasn’t able to form the words so I lay still, allowing my senses to come back.
Catherine had seemed to register his voice then went limp again. Alek started to panic. ‘Loushka, we need to get back to the village. Now!’
‘Why?’ Loushka loped over, ‘What’s happened?’
‘She won’t wake up!’ Alek could hear the fear in his mind.
Then Cat opened those beautiful green eyes and looked up at him. The fear dissolved, he beamed down at her. 'Cat! You’re awake.' She groaned and tried to sit up. He quickly shifted her so she sat between his legs. She seemed very groggy and slumped against one of his knees, clutching it.
'What happened?' Cat asked in confusion.
'The tehnear lunged at us and you,' Alek’s mind warned him against mentioning the energy pulse. 'You clipped your head when I pushed you out the way, I’m sorry.'
I slowly turned to face him, my hands griping his knees to keep steady and looked into his eyes. His dark brows drew close and he studied me, eyes concerned, but curiously enough, almost speculative too. I pushed away the nausea I felt from the hammering in my head, determined not to be a girl about it all. 'Don’t apologize,' I said. 'You saved me.' The frown vanished and those blue eyes stared into mine with another expression, making my heart pound, distracting me from my aching head. Alek lifted a hand, gently cupping my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. Before I had a chance to react, he pulled me close and pressed his lips to mine.
He felt Cat jolt in shock then relax, sinking into his embrace. The warm sweet taste of her lips triggered a sudden rush of lust. Alek wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in and slid his other hand under her braid. He’d
never found himself so aroused from such a simple kiss. She sighed against his lips and he deepened the kiss, wanting more.
‘Errrr, do you think you could do that somewhere private?’ Loushka’s amused voice came into his mind.
Alek jerked back then flushed red, turning to stare at Loushka for a moment. I got the idea and bit my lip to keep from laughing. Actually my head now spun in a rather impressive manner. The awful thumping had vanished and my veins felt like they hummed with desire. I could feel a very silly look develop on my face and glanced down to hide it.
‘Sorry.’ Alek thought sheepishly.
‘Oh I don’t mind,’ Loushka thought, ‘And Cat certainly seems better for it. But next time shield your mind. I really don’t need all those unsolicited thoughts flooding in.’ Alek looked down at the woman snuggled in his arms. Appearing to sense his gaze, she looked up, green eyes slanted in pleasure looking very cat like.
‘Arrrgghh!’ Loushka shrieked verbally and mentally, startling Alek and Cat. ‘That’s it. I’m taking you back to the lodge and you are in separate rooms dammit! Keep your mind on something non-sexual or you are walking back to the village!’
Oops, Alek winced. Need to work on that mind shield technique.
Back at the village everyone anxiously waited for Loushka, Alek, Cat and Audrey to return. They knew a tehnear had attacked them and Loushka had killed it but they hadn’t had any news since then. Kassie stood outside when she heard the loud noise of Loushka’s wings. The griffon burst into view then dropped from the sky, landing amongst them. Everyone rushed forward.
Alek slid down Loushka’s forearm his face flushed from battle and turned, arms outstretched to catch Cat as she slid down. Gredel called Audrey to him and the dog made a confident leap to the burly man’s arms, almost knocking him over causing titters of laughter from those who stood close.
Alek set me to my feet, but didn’t let go straight away, his hands lingering on my waist. I tingled from his touch and looked knowingly at him from under my lashes. Before we could say anything Kassie and the others appeared, hugging us and exclaiming, demanding to know all the details.
When I tried to explain I realized how knackered I felt then noticed how covered in dirt and muck I was. Loi took a close look at me and turned, calling for Melanite, asking her to run a bath. They dragged me away to be cleaned and fed.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning I lay in bed thinking over the previous day’s events. Funnily enough I kept coming back to that kiss. It wasn't like I hadn’t kissed a guy before. I had, plenty of times, but it had never felt like that. It had been… I floundered for an adequate description, flushing at the memory of Alek’s arms cradling me, the scent of his breath and, oh God, that mouth. I fanned my face with a hand, the memory deliciously real in that moment.
Incredible? Stunning?
Well, let’s just say it didn’t seem so unbelievable that Alek might be…
I couldn’t finish that thought yet. No way, just too insane, my rational voice declared loudly while I resolutely ignored the silly voice that called quietly, this is what you asked for. Shaking off the crazy thoughts I climbed out of bed and focused on dressing then went down to breakfast.
Kassie watched Cat stride into the dining area. She seemed okay now, but last night she’d appeared very dazed. Kassie made a mental note to keep an eye on her. They tucked into a huge cooked breakfast. Kassie gathered a plate of yummy scraps for Lucky and a plate of cream too. At the end of breakfast the tortoiseshell cat, who normally looked very sleek, had a visible pot belly and nodded off to sleep when Kassie settled her into the pack for the day. Rumal watched over her shoulder and reached over to stroke Lucky’s head, eliciting a sleepy purr from her. 'She seems to be handling the flying better,' he observed to Kassie.
'Well all the special food and real cream seems to make her happy.' She laughed. 'It’s much fancier than what she got at home.'
Rumal felt another twinge of curiosity at the thought of Kassie’s home. 'You’ll have to tell me about your homeland.'
Kassie glanced at him, her eyes conveying warmth yet a hint of unease. 'I will, sometime.'
They turned their attention to getting the rest of the gear packed up. Melanite dashed around to everyone with parcels of food, tearfully hugging the men, demanding they visit more often.
Kassie chuckled softly to herself at the chaotic sight within the lodge. Because the griffons could fit in the lodge’s main room and were very welcome, they seemed to forget how much space they took up. Sian did an impressive leap over Kerak who lay sprawled out on the floor then lunged to avoid the load of long tent poles Loi carried. Finished with their packing, Kassie and Rumal decided to wait outside, it seemed the safest place.
'Do you have villages like this in your homeland?' Rumal asked.
She gave him a sideways look while she considered what was safe to tell him. 'Yes, well kind of. Our homeland is,' she paused to think. 'More crowded than here. With many ethnicities grouped together.'
Rumal looked confused. 'Ethnicities?'
Kassie mentally smacked herself; of course, everything would have a different name here. 'Different races?' she explained hesitantly.
He nodded in understanding then looked hard at her. 'What’s your race? You’re different to the others aren’t you?'
She smiled, pleased he had noticed, and explained that she had been born in a different country, Malaysia, with a different climate so had slightly different features and a different accent; her dad was European and her mum Malay—though she didn’t explain that to Rumal.
'And Laura is from somewhere else too?' he asked.
She nodded. 'Loi is from Scotland. They have rather heavy accents compared to Sian or Cat. They’re both from New Zealand so that’s why they sound so similar.' Everyone poured out of the lodge so they put the conversation on hold while they finished their goodbyes.
Sometime later, Kassie sat in front of Rumal with Lucky in her bag on her lap. The weather was stunning once again and the flight smooth. She remembered something she’d meant to ask Rumal and leaned back against his chest to look up at him. 'Why is Kerak so young? Are you new to the Griffon Guard?'
Rumal smiled down at Kassie. She is such an attractive little thing, he thought, with her crazy brown curls and hazel eyes. He stroked an errant curl from her forehead, causing her to flush, and thought about the question.
'I’ve been with the Griffon Guard since it was established. Originally I’d linked with a griffon named Ofelaan. She had the most beautiful golden wings,' he smiled, reminiscing. 'I think Kerak’s should achieve that color when he’s older.'
Rumal’s deep rich voice and unusual accent mesmerized Kassie. She focused on what he said then frowned. 'What happened to Ofelaan?'
Rumal sighed. She could feel his sorrow and turned to grasp his hand, looking up into his eyes. 'I’m sorry I didn’t mean to pry. Please don’t talk about it if it pains you.'
Her anxious face touched him. Ofelaan would have loved her, he thought. He fell silent while he gathered his thoughts. Kassie cuddled close to him though her head barely reached mid-chest. He chuckled then unable to resist teasing, 'Look at tiny Kassie; she’s barely bigger than a child.' He ran a finger down her cheekbone.
Kassie’s eyes went flat while she glared at him. What is it with tall idiotic males and my height, she thought. 'I am only three inches below the average height thank you very much. And I can whip your ass any day.' Fuming, she jerked forward to the front of the saddle.
Oops. Rumal froze unsure of how to respond. He hadn’t meant to insult her. It hadn’t occurred to him that she might be sensitive about it. ‘Maybe you should apologize,’ suggested Kerak. ‘What does she mean by "whip your ass"? I thought she only carried a sword.’
Rumal shrugged, ‘I’m not entirely sure.’ He could almost see the waves of annoyance pulsing off her. Thinking hard, he made an attempt to lighten the situation. 'Is whipping ass' something you do regularly?'
&n
bsp; Kassie bit her lip while she tried not to smile. Okay, maybe she’d overreacted a little, but she wasn’t letting up that easily. 'Only to idiotic males who suggest I’m vertically challenged. I can squeeze into places you’d never fit in.' Umm, actually that didn’t come out quite as I intended, well if I don’t point it out he might not notice, she thought.
Rumal roared with laughter. 'But would I want to?' He watched as Kassie’s back quivered. She still didn’t turn round though. Might have to try something else, he thought, reaching forward to tug on a curl. It broke her cover and she began to laugh, reaching out to ruff Kerak’s mane.
‘Good one.’ Kerak sounded relieved. ‘Now she looks happy.’
Rumal reached and snatched her up in his arms, causing her to shriek in surprise. When she’d settled in his lap he stroked a finger around her face again, tucking some stray bits of hair out of the way. 'Now where were we?' he asked.
'Ofelaan. You were telling me about Ofelaan and why Kerak’s so young compared to the other griffons.'
Rumal nodded, re-gathering his thoughts. 'You’ve heard of Elena the Sorceress?'
'Yes, Alek mentioned her.'
'There is another Sorceress in this realm. Jenviet DeNaga. She schemed along with her brother Diantew, to defeat the entire world and reign over it. Now the DeNagas, as a family, have a history of defeat against Elion so Jenviet and Diantew knew they couldn’t attack head on. Instead they waited for the right time. Elena had just established our Griffon Guard, we were at a training camp in the Merrej desert. In the middle of the night Jenviet and Diantew attacked us. Caught unawares, we scrambled to defend ourselves. The late King was killed trying to protect us. In fury we attacked as one, managing to snare Diantew and kill him. We nearly had Jenviet, but she slipped through our grasp. Ofelaan and I sped after her with the others close behind, but just as we went to attack she spun back on us. Jenviet released a massive energy wave and…' Rumal rubbed his forehead, the memory still painful for him. 'Ofelaan took the full blast. It killed her instantly.'
The Arrival: An Epic Fantasy Romance Page 15