“Thank fuck!” Carnas stops in the light and lifts his hands toward us. “Who’s that?”
Ruby waves and fades.
Spike leans around the corner and punches him in the shoulder. “You’re seeing shit. Too much candy powder.”
Zorin collects the egg, draws me under an arm and guides me out of the shadows to the light again, while Carnas and Spike join us.
“What happened to Geist?” I finally ask.
“I sent him through his portal without his throat.”
I gape at him.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t bite it out.” Zorin hands me the egg. “Get your prize. I’m going to go wash off in the river.”
“You found her!” Davarok and Kren are with me in a flash of blue fur. We’ve surfaced just outside of the maze.
Zorin drops to all fours. His teammates shift too, and by the way they move their heads, I can tell they’re conversing. Theystare at the blood, looking about as distraught as I feel when I see just how much there is. I’m not used to someone killing for me. But Zorin seems to be making a habit of it.
Geist deserved what he got. The Myndrous too.
Zorin lumbers off toward the rocky riverbank, his muscled shoulders and hips swaying like he’s stalking prey behind every boulder. His pack watches him, shaking their heads like something isn’t right.
Davarok shifts upright. “Ohni is off handing out the golden egg awards. She’ll be by in a few minutes I’m sure.”
Esrynne, their only female, joins us. “You cannot let him keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Walking away from you.” Kren straightens. “He’s got orders, sure. But we’ve been talking. Zorin wants you, but he’s afraid of taking what he wants, and not just because of possible jail time. He’s not just washing off in the creek. He’s beating himself up for almost losing control around you.”
I chew a nail.If they only knew.
“He never does anything for himself,” Esrynne adds. “He’s always helping us.”
Spike watches Zorin sulk into the water. Carnas, who’s still at my side, is locked onto Esrynne. She gives him a mildly disgusted glance.
“I’m all for fun and games,” Davarok remarks, resting his hands on his hips, chewing on something. “But this is how Zorin is. He puts everyone else before himself. Sooner or later it’s going to be the death of him. We do what we can to mitigate it. But you might be able to save him from himself.”
Me?
“Give me a piece of that,” Esrynne says, snatching a strip of jerky out of Davarok’s hand.
“Finally! It’s good, I promise.”
She bites off a piece and throws the rest of the stick at Carnas. “The fuck’s your problem? Do I have something on my face?”
Carnas fumbles but catches the dried meat.
Davarok glances between them, crosses his arms, and chuckles. “Try it.”
After biting off a piece, Carnas nods. “That is good.”
Davarok pumps a fist. “Told you, cousin.”
“What do you want? A fucking cake? Congrats. It’s good. Now shut up about it.” Esrynne gives Carnas a look up and down then turns to watch Zorin in the river.
“How am I supposed to help him?” I ask her.
