Predictably she squared her shoulders and clenched her jaw.
“I’m not afraid of flying.”
“You’re lying to both yourself and me.”
“Since when is reading minds one of your gifts?”
She was coming a little too close to the truth there. He shrugged noncommittally to throw her off. “I’ve known you all my life, and my father taught me to read every nuance of a person’s body language. The body always tells the truth even when the owner’s mouth lies.”
Enkara sucked in a deep breath and then expelled it on a long sigh. “I don’t like flying, but I’m not afraid of heights. It’s the element of absolute trust required.”
Oh, his poor Enkara. Even after being free from a dungeon cell for sixteen years, she still couldn’t trust anyone, not even him, not wholly. That had to change.
She needed to trust, to learn that not everyone would betray her or die and leave her all alone like her parents had. It might take time, but flights like this one were a good exercise in mutual trust.
“I trust you with my life. Will you not offer me the same?” He held out his hand and waited. After a few uncomfortable moments, where he thought she was going to reject him, she finally rolled her eyes at him, snorted, and then placed her hand in his.
With a surge of joy, relief, and mild humor at her abrasiveness, he tugged her closer and pulled her inside the tent with him. “I’ll never betray you, my Blade.”
“I know.” She stared at his hand where it cradled hers. “You’re the only one who has never tried to lie to me, not even in the everyday way people tell small falsehoods to keep the peace or protect another person’s feelings.”
“And I never will. Although you might not always like what I say.”
“Fair enough.” Enkara sobered a moment later and looked around the small tent and then back at him. “Would you prefer I leave while you shift?”
“No,” he said as he began to work loose the knot tying his impromptu blanket-robe in place. “You’ve seen me shift before and didn’t I just say I trust you with my life?”
She nodded sharply, held his gaze for a moment, and then hastily glanced at the floor.
Hmm. Enkara never broke eye contact first. If there were more time, he’d have liked to explore this new shy and uncertain Enkara. He hoped it had something to do with her starting to see him as a man and potential mate.
If not, he’d just continue as he always had. Eventually, he’d win her as his future queen, even if it took him years.
After all, he was gryphon. His species knew how to stalk prey. He’d also been born with a natural patience most people lacked. His father said it was a good trait to have when one was playing long game politics.
However, outside he heard Burrukan stomping towards the tent. That male’s patience was growing shorter by the season. A grin flashed across Kuwari’s lips as he realized he was the cause of the older male’s pique.
He glanced at Enkara. “Your grumpy mentor is heading this way. We’re almost out of time. Will you trust me to carry you back to Nineveh? No one else need know the depth of fear surrendering control causes you. Especially not Burrukan.”
Enkara swallowed and then nodded sharply. “Thank you.”
Joy flicked through him as he tossed the blanket aside. Squatting, he called his power. Heat raced through his body, stretching out to his extremities until it pumped through his blood in time to the thunder of the pulse pounding in his ears. In a fierce, wild joy, the magic took him between one heartbeat and the next.
Wings erupted from his back even as his body shifted into a lion’s. His vision sharpened. His sense of smell increased tenfold. With a roar, he shed the last of his human nature, rejoicing in the strength and power of his gryphon form.
He gapped his beak and dragged in a taste of Enkara’s scent. Her pleasant aroma always calmed him after the rush of adrenaline caused by the shift. After he’d mastered his newly emerged predatory nature, Kuwari gathered his feet under him and stood, folding his wings tight to his back. While he was still flicking tawny feathers into perfect alignment, skilled fingers buried themselves in the thick mane running along his neck where fur and feathers merged.
As Enkara gave him a good scratch, Kuwari purred and leaned into her touch. Even his tail twitched, betraying his delight. He often wondered why Enkara would share her loving touch with him so easily while he was in gryphon form, but rarely did so when he was a man.
It must have something to do with human modesty and morals. Or cowardice. Not that he was about to ask and ruin this delightful moment of mutual love.
He was still purring when Burrukan thrust back the tent flap and stuck his head inside.
“You’ve shifted, so what’s the holdup?”
Kuwari snapped his beak at Burrukan and then gently bumped Enkara until she moved towards the tent flap. She gave him one more scratch before exiting.
Happy to follow her scent, he ducked under the hanging flap of fabric and squeezed from the tent. He nearly didn’t fit, his broad shoulders and bulky wings stressing the tent’s fabric until it tore.
“You owe me a new tent,” Enkara called back to him.
He’d be happy to replace it, but then again, he didn’t plan for her to need a tent anytime soon. His chambers were more than large enough for them both. And better yet, perhaps it wouldn’t be long before she was sharing his bed.
But first, they needed to return to Nineveh.
Chapter 4
As Kuwari kept pace beside her, dwarfing her with his much larger bulk, she eyed his back and wished someone had thought to bring an extra saddle harness. Bareback just made everything about flight all the more harrowing.
Though, when Burrukan gave the order for the unit to mount up, Enkara didn’t hesitate, only bracing one hand on Kuwari’s shoulders and the other on his powerful hindquarters. Then using her calf muscles, she leaped and swung a leg over his back.
Once she was astride, he barely gave her time to find her seat or register the heat radiating from his lion’s body and the powerful bunch and flex of muscles under his fur before he moved off to join the others. Enkara leaned forward, locking her fingers in his thick mane.
“A saddle would have been nice.” At her words, the big gryphon shook with deep huffing growls of laughter.
Burrukan barked out an order, and the three forward-most gryphons in line took off at a run, racing down the beach as they unfurled their broad wings and leaped towards the sky in a series of thunderous wing beats. Even before they were airborne, Kuwari and the rest of the gryphons surged forward and followed the first three into the air.
Once they were out over the water and the beach was left far behind, Enkara leaned forward, her fingers stroking the feathers and thick fur of Kuwari’s mane even as her mind reached out for his. His gift flared at her touch, and suddenly his voice was in her mind, surprising her.
“You’re safe with me, my Kara.”
Uncomfortable with his use of the too-intimate nickname, she scrounged for something else to say. “Your gift has grown stronger.”
“It has.” He tilted his head and gave her a gryphon smirk. “I’ve matured in other ways, too.”
Enkara laughed at his blatant flirting. “I’ve noticed.”
But all humor aside, their special bond had grown stronger over the years, and she knew it had the potential to become so much more. But for now, his friendship was enough for her.
The flight to Nineveh was uneventful for which Enkara was heartily thankful. While she trusted Kuwari and enjoyed their closeness, she wasn’t ready for stormy winds or aerial battles. Especially not without a saddle.
Luckily, they had nothing more than a gentle ocean breeze to contend with. Still, she was relieved when the great island city-state of Nineveh emerged out of the dark seas, silhouetted against the horizon.
While most of the city-state slept, torches still burned, dispelling some of the darkness and acting as a beacon against the night. As th
ey drew nearer, she picked out guards walking on the stout walls and positioned along the wheelhouse on either side of Ishtar’s Gate, the eastern entrance to the city.
Behind the massive gate, the processional way snaked through the city and led up to the multi-leveled terraced gardens surrounding Ishtar’s temple and the majestic gleaming white walls of the palace. Both structures glowed in the moonlight.
Over the distance she felt the power emanating from the tall stone figures of the eternally watchful Lamassu, their massive bull’s bodies, tightly folded wings and regally carved human heads topped with horned crowns cut an imposing figure against the night and inspired fear in the hearts of New Sumer’s enemies.
Lamasi and goddess-chosen Blades both took their duties of protecting New Sumer and its gryphon monarchs very seriously. Closer now, she could sense something she’d never been able to before: the simmering power of the other stone guardians watching over the island of Nineveh. The Anunnaki, with their human bodies, double sets of wings and eagle heads, might share a similar function as a Lamassu, but their power felt different…colder… when compared to a Lamassu’s protective magic.
That she could now sense the Anunnaki was an exciting development. Did it mean Ishtar would call her to serve soon? She hoped so.
Prince Kuwari dipped lower and the view of the city was obscured by Ishtar’s Gate. The sentries standing guard had already taken note of Burrukan and Kuwari’s return and had the portcullis lifted and the gate open wide in welcome.
As the gryphons flew through the open gate, Kuwari followed. The moment they passed through, Enkara felt the tingle of the great dome of power that protected the city.
Once inside the city, they winged their way higher and approached the palace from the north. Soon they were circling to land in one of the many courtyards. This one was guarded by a solitary Lamassu.
As soon as the group touched down the Lamassu’s attention skittered over the new arrivals and then briefly settled upon her. She mentally acknowledged the ancient spirit residing in the stone statue with a small flare of her own unseen magic like she had since a child. It returned the gesture with one of its own.
Around her, the other gryphon guards halted and allowed their riders to dismount. Kuwari apparently had other ideas and prowled deeper into the palace.
“I can walk.”
He flicked one feather-covered ear at her. “And I can walk faster.”
Enkara bit her cheek and held her silence.
Before Kuwari made it five steps, Burrukan called to them. “Prince Kuwari. Throne room. First meal. Be there, or I’ll hunt you down and spank you like a naughty child. Don’t think I won’t. Enkara that goes for you too.”
Kuwari paused and flicked his tufted tail disdainfully at Burrukan. Then with a huff, he continued his slow, unhurried pace.
Once they were around the corner and out of earshot, she smacked Kuwari in the shoulder. “You run away, and I get in trouble. How’s that fair?”
Her mount didn’t answer, which only annoyed her more since he’d been ‘talkative’ on the flight home.
“Fine, you’re not going to talk so I will. You can’t keep rebelling against your parents. The edicts are there to protect you. Burrukan has reason to be grumpy. You’ll be lucky if your father ever lets you out of his sight again.”
Enkara paused in her dressing down and glanced at the tiled mosaics on the floor and the blue and golden dragon motifs on the walls.
They were approaching the royal wing where she and Kuwari had shared a suite off the nursery since they were children. Not long after she’d gone off to Susa for her training, Kuwari had been relocated to the rooms at the end of the wing next to the nursery and all her things had been packed away into storage.
That event had led to Kuwari’s first escape and night flight to Susa. She could still see the sixteen-year-old boy yelling that they were trying to erase her from his life.
Her younger self hadn’t known how to soothe the young prince, so she’d sat him down, swung an arm around his shoulders and hugged him as fiercely as she’d been able. He’d eventually calmed. King Ditanu and Queen Iltani had arrived and found them like that.
Father and son had talked and Kuwari had learned it was his biological mother, Ahassunu, who had ordered the move, saying it was time for him to become a man and leave childhood things behind. It was the first time Enkara had been certain Regent Ahassunu wanted to put some distance between her son and a girl born of a traitorous line.
Regent Ahassunu didn’t hate her—Enkara would’ve sensed that, but Kuwari’s mother didn’t fully trust her either. Now that she was older, she understood the regent’s thinking. Didn’t mean she liked it. Back then, she hadn’t liked anything or anyone who sought to separate her and Kuwari.
She still didn’t like when a life situation interfered with her duties, but for now, she had other more immediate concerns. Like where Kuwari was taking her? She’d thought he was bringing her to the Shadow barracks, but they’d traveled too far into the royal wing for that. On the left of the hall were doors leading to Ahassunu and Burrukan’s chambers. On the right, ones leading to King Ditanu and Queen Iltani’s suite.
“Kuwari, where are you taking me? You know that side corridor six doors back? That was the way to the Shadow barracks, as well you know.” She half turned, hoping to change his course. It was futile as expected.
She no longer belonged in the royal suite—not that she ever really did, but years ago, when Kuwari had still been a cub, she’d been his play companion and then loyal friend.
It seemed he still wasn’t willing to be parted from her as he stomped resolutely towards his own rooms.
This wouldn’t end well.
Enkara might not be able to dismount to either side with his wings folded over her legs, but there was another way off his back. It just wouldn’t be fun for either of them. She braced her upper body and used her arms to shimmy backward. Every ridge of his spine abused her backside, but she slid back further until gravity took hold and pulled her weight down the slope of his heavily muscled rump. Her abdomen slammed into the protrusions of his hipbones on the way down. Wincing, she thumped heavily to the ground.
Kuwari grunted, his tail flicking in annoyance. Rubbing at her abused midsection, she glowered at him. “Next time just let me dismount and neither of us will get bruises.”
Kuwari’s fluffy tail tuft was suddenly in her face. She snatched it and held it in a tight grip so he couldn’t get away easily. “Watch where you wave that thing, or it might get lopped off.”
Kuwari attempted to twitch his tail out of her grasp as he looked over his shoulder at her disdainfully.
“Hey, if you’d just do as you’re told, I wouldn’t have to take liberties.”
The door nearest them opened and King Ditanu’s broad-shouldered profile appeared. When he spotted them, he crossed his arms and glowered at his son. Then he sighed deeply and glanced at her. “I see my son’s hunt was successful. Welcome home, Enkara.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said with all the dignity she could muster while tugging on his son’s tail.
Ditanu grinned at them both and then stepped back inside and closed the door. From behind the stout wood, Enkara heard a sleepy female voice ask some question followed by King Ditanu’s laughter and the mention of Kuwari’s name.
“You,” Enkara said as she glowered at the retreating shape of Kuwari’s muscular lion’s ass, “are in so much trouble.”
He merely flicked an ear in her direction and continued to his suite where two guards hurried to open the dark wood doors.
There he waited for her to proceed him. Enkara squared her shoulders and entered first, pretending she was searching the room for unseen dangers. There weren’t any, of course. But it gave her a reason to ignore Kuwari since she was supposed to be annoyed with him for embarrassing her in front of his father.
A servant had left a fire in the outer chamber. She could see light flickering in the room
beyond this one as well. Candles to judge by the scent of beeswax.
Glancing around, she took in the sight of two chairs by the fire and the rows of shelves lining the west wall. A table and bench sat in the middle of the room, its polished wood surface heaped with scrolls, clay tablets, and styluses as well as an assortment of other writing instruments.
Against the north wall, a large raised sleeping platform was piled high with pillows and the most exquisite woven blankets. Multilayered fringed veils swept down from a central knot of fabric attached to the ceiling, obscuring portions of the bed. All in all, the two rooms she could see from her present location had a homey, lived-in feeling unlike the more formal parts of the Palace.
This was Kuwari’s retreat from political intrigues and harassing counselors. It was his private domain. She had no right to be here, especially in the middle of the night and knowing what he wanted for their future.
“Kuwari,” Enkara said as she infused steel into her tone. “I shouldn’t be here.”
“Why ever not?”
The sound of his voice surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to vocalize an answer out loud since he’d still been in gryphon form moments ago. Her gaze traveled in the direction of the voice.
A very human and very naked Kuwari was kneeling before the fire. Her breath froze in her lungs, and her feet might as well have fused to the floor for all she could move as she drank in his masculine beauty.
Her gaze settled on the arch of his neck and followed that to the slope of his broad shoulders. Next, she studied the flex and shift of his toned biceps. One hand rested on his knee while he used the other to grab a poker and stir the dying fire.
That wasn’t the only fire he stirred. He was breathtaking, but he could never be hers.
Oh, by the goddess, stop drooling over him! He’s a person, not an object. Even as she berated herself, her gaze stole lower and took in the sculpted abdomen and well-muscled flank. The knee closest to the fire rested against the stone. The other was raised, preserving a bit of modesty and preventing her from seeing everything.
Blade's Honor (Ishtar's Legacy Book 2) Page 4