A Ride of Peril(6)

I sighed and shook my head. Why punish him for my insecurities? It wasn't fair.

"I've just …  It's hard to explain," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

He bent forward, leaving just a couple of inches between our faces. He kept watching me, his eyes looking for something in mine. His gaze shifted to my lips.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

"Try me." He smiled gently.

I stilled as he drew his face even closer, our lips nearly touching. I wanted to feel him again. I needed the courage he unknowingly gave me. I needed the hope he instilled in me. I needed him to kiss me and hold me again, enough to smother that stupid doubtful voice in my head that had ruined my morning.

"They're back!" Vita's voice made both of us jump. She popped her head into the attic, enough to notice how close Field and I were to each other and to realize that she'd interrupted an intimate moment. "Sorry, just wanted to tell you that Serena and Draven are back."

"It's okay," I mumbled and stood up.

It clearly wasn't the right time for me and Field. It would have to wait until later, until I'd gathered the courage to ask him how he really felt about me. As I walked over to Vita, I heard Field's footsteps behind me. I wasn't even brave enough to face him.

Damn my insecurities.





Jovi





We all gathered downstairs as the sun moved closer to noon above us. Field, Aida, and Vita descended from the attic, while Phoenix and the Daughter came from the banquet hall. Anjani was already standing outside by the porch steps. I joined her quietly as we watched Serena, Draven, Bijarki, and Hansa come in through the protective shield from the northern jungle path.

Their expressions were dark and solemn, and a bunch of swords, shields, crossbows, and various other weapons clanged from the horses' saddles-far too many items for a group of four people. Something was wrong.

Draven was the first to get off his horse.

"What happened?" I asked, not just for myself but for Anjani as well.

Her frown said more than she ever would in words and, judging by the way she looked at her sister, she seemed to understand more than I did.


      ///
       
         
       
        

"They're dead," Hansa replied in a low, husky voice.

"What … what do you mean?" Anjani took a step forward.

"The Sluaghs betrayed us," Draven answered when Hansa wavered. "They brought Destroyers with them and raided the Red Tribe. None of the succubi there survived. They didn't stand a chance."

"I am so sorry, Anjani," Serena added as she got off her horse.

It took a few moments for the information to sink in. I heard Vita and Aida gasp somewhere behind me, but my attention was focused on Anjani. I couldn't see her face from that angle, but I could tell from the way her shoulders dropped that she was about to react to the news of her sisters' deaths.

"Twelve of our sisters might still be out there," Hansa said, avoiding Anjani's gaze. "The rest are dead."

A long moment passed before Anjani collapsed. She fell to her knees, bending forward in a heart-wrenching wail that pierced through the silence and echoed all around us. My stomach burned at the sight of her crying. I couldn't stand it.

I dropped next to her and pulled her into my arms. To my relief, she didn't object. She just cried as I held her tight, her face nestled in my chest. Her sobs were a muffled wave of hot tears. I brushed my fingers through her rich black hair, and looked up at Hansa.

She wore a look of silent approval. She seemed thankful to see me there comforting her sister. Hansa was a fierce warrior. I figured that their customs didn't leave room for much compassion and grieving-at least not where she was concerned, as the tribe chief. Someone had to hold onto the reigns, despite the grief and devastation, and Anjani was too young and probably not seasoned enough to process everything the way Hansa did.

Nevertheless, I saw tears welling up in Hansa's eyes, and I knew it was harder for her than she'd ever let on. I could only imagine what losing dozens of sisters felt like. My heart broke for Anjani. I did my best to keep her close to me while she cried uncontrollably in my arms.

"What do we do now?" Field asked.

Draven took a deep breath and looked at the mansion. Behind him, Serena and Bijarki started unloading the saddles. Aida and Vita joined them, taking some of the weapons and placing them on the front porch. I could see the blades smeared with silver blood. The sight of it made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

"Hansa left a cryptic message for any survivors. They'll know where to find us," he said. "We burned the bodies, as we didn't want any rogue Sluaghs taking over a Red Tribe body."