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Each Guardian in the Cadre of Twelve had different magical advantages. The crows and vampires could fly. The wolves had preternatural hearing and smell. But Leaf’s value came solely from his deep inner well and ability to cast spells. He’d drawn on more mana than he’d known possible at the war camp. Now, he could barely muster a portal. The uneasy feeling that Clarke was right about finding his mate kept circling, along with the notion that perhaps he’d missed his chance.
Feeling impotent while his cock throbbed from arousal was infuriating. It was more infuriating than finally finding these ruins, searching beneath every rock, and coming up short of Crimson’s journal. He’d spent the morning scouring every cave and hidden alcove. Nothing.
Another failure.
These past few days felt like he was running headlong into a nest of vipers while doing nothing but watching his ruin from afar. To be honest, he hadn’t felt like himself for years. All this wandering around Elphyne, hunting for something that probably never existed, seemed like his wits had been enchanted. It wasn’t him. He’d wasted time, and it was unforgivable.
For fuck’s sake.Now, he was being as dramatic as the other Guardians. No, his recent failure wasn’t unforgivable. He still believed the solution for the taint was not with the humans who destroyed everything to begin with. He should continue to understand the first fae. Somehow.Clenching his jaw, he ignored the mist itching his face, shook his limbs, and drew mana from his personal well. Energy zipped into his arm, flowed through his veins, and spilled from his fingertips. He weaved the invisible force into a portal.
He envisioned the snowy landscape before Frostwing Village and the boughs of the great icy tree of wisdom peeking over its boundary walls. Ozone and crackling energy filled the air, and a portal opened to a place filled with lush green trees dripping with rain. Shutting his fist, he pinched off his flow of mana. The air turned bitter and then sweet with moss and mist.
Each failure was worse than the last.
The taint was a constant heckler. It slugged around his veins, spitting out wrongness with every drop of mana spilled.
Snarling, he flung his hand and released one last blast, but the energy fizzled and crackled, not even forming the portal despite having plentiful mana to throw at it. An uncouth curse slipped past his lips.
“Can’t get it up?”
He jolted at Nova’s voice. Turning, he found her standing on the rocks a few feet below him. Her pale, sullied dress hung from her form, a shameful reminder that he’d also failed to procure her better clothes.
He scowled. “If that was your attempt at humor, it failed.”
No hate or ill intentions existed in her large, expressive eyes. He exhaled. He shouldn’t take out his frustration on her.
“Can I help?” she offered hopefully.
“No.”
“You seem tense.” She flicked her long hair over her shoulder. “Why don’t you join me in the lagoon? It’s perfect for bathing. Lord knows you need a break before we head out again.”
Soon, they would be on their way. They would stop to hunt or forage in the afternoon, then ride again before finding a camp for the night and eating leftovers. He reluctantly admitted Nova had a knack for making a bland meal delicious. Usually, by now, he’d be itching to visit a local tavern for a good hearty stew. But they saved time with her culinary skills, keeping them on track.
“Perhaps,” he admitted.
“Now, who’s the sullen one?”
Still grumbling, he stalked back through the woods to their camp and collected their belongings. He checked to see if his satchel had been touched, but it was intact—as were her hands, which meant she continued to heed his warning about the protection spell.
Leading the horse, he returned to collect Nova. A flash of skin in his periphery stopped him dead in his tracks. The horse bumped into him with a snort of annoyance. But Leaf was rooted to the spot, watching Nova’s naked, curved bottom flex as she walked toward the water. How was it possible something so natural could be so enthralling?
Logically, two muscles were pulling to move legs, but his eyes weren’t just seeing muscle. He saw the dimples winking, the softness of shape, the way her flesh bounced as though each step was a dance.
It wasn’t until she was half submerged and wading toward the waterfall that he caught himself ogling.
Slamming his brows down, he turned his back and faced the forest. He couldn’t afford thisthinghappening to his body. That kiss a few days ago was bad enough. This should be a partnership of convenience. Feelings made things messy. They caused duty to take a back seat. Look what happened with the mated guardians!
Not that he had feelings.
He had a cock. That’s all. He wasn’t immune to a beautiful, naked woman walking before him. That was the only reason he’d forgotten what he was doing. What was he doing?
Tying the horse. Collecting her for the journey.
Fuck.
Grumbling to himself, Leaf traveled farther down the riverbank, away from the waterfall, and looped the reins around a tree. But not too far. He needed to hear if anything went wrong. Or if prying eyes stumbled across them. The intrusive thought prompted him to scour their surroundings for intruders.
“Are you not coming in,Hoja de los Guardianes?” Her voice held a hint of tease, as though she knew she affected him.
