Page 16 of Hybrid Heroics

We had no idea what our tasks were in the druids’ realm, other than protecting our mate.

And that was a daunting task on its own.

Sloane was the one who could do it all. Nothing stood in her way. She would stop time and warp gravity to make her will a reality.

I couldn’t do the things she could do. The guys and I had vastly different skill sets from each other, too. I couldn’t move as fast as Novak, or fly like Stone… Or manipulate the elements or use magic. But I could protect her with my life, over and over again.

That thought made my wolf happy. His attention became laser-focused on our surroundings, heightening my senses until I had to push him back or give up control. He would have to stay just below the surface, otherwise we’d have to hand Sloane over for someone else to carry.

Neither of us was willing to do that right now.

She was safe in my arms.

At least her body was.

Her mind, though? None of us knew what the outcome would be.

Alric could trap her consciousness, damage her in some irreparable way while we waited for her to return. But what if she didn’t? Was there a way to save her from that fate? Or would we be stuck on the outside while she needed us?

That train of thought led to a flair of anxiety. I shoved it down, acknowledging that I wasn’t alone in this uncertain fate. We were all feeling the same way, and that was how I knew she hadn’t severed the bonds. I could still feel the trickle of their emotions.

If I wasn’t with the guys… I didn’t know that I would want to do this alone.

Not that I wanted to do it at all, but having them here with me made it easier to withstand. I wasn’t the alpha of this pack; Sloane was. I felt a sense of pride knowing they would fight to the death for her, too. And that thought gave me a primal sort of comfort.

The scattered groves of trees began to thin ahead of us. Rays of sunshine illuminated the ground, showcasing the decomposing leaf litter beneath our feet. Gigantic ferns sprung from the mossy bases of the redwoods, their fronds spilling out like fountains of greenery.

I had been so focused on Sloane, I’d barely paid attention to the view of the mystical jungle. But as we reached the end of our path, I realized I had missed York’s favorite place in the entire realm. We had heard him talk about it so much; I felt like I’d already seen it. There was no justice in his descriptions, though I could tell this grove wasn’t what it once was.

The elements wrapped around us, from a set of snow-capped mountains to a calming river, algae-covered boulders protruding from its banks. Animals scattered away from our presence, sensing the predators inside a few of us. Probably the hellhounds, too. Their muscles had been twitching since we came through the portal, wanting to hunt, but they refused to leave Sloane’s side.

This realm really was an oasis.

Except today, it wasn’t.

The air was stagnant. The plant life beyond the jungle was wilting, and from what I could see of the river now, there was an oily layer of something floating on the surface. Bits of the algae looked unnaturally sludgy and brown, sliding off the boulders as if it were melting.

There was a cobblestone path a few hundred feet from our exit point, and a lone woman stood frozen in her tracks. I thought she was freaking out over the hellhounds, but when I glanced at them again, they were gone. Butterflies rested in Sloane’s hair, their wings bristling with agitation.

Had I really been so deep in my jumbled thoughts that I missed the mage performing this magical feat?

York bee-lined toward the woman, the rest of us following at a slightly slower pace. I could hear her heart beating in overdrive as we neared. She was prepared to fight or run.

Hopefully, she would choose the latter.

Because we were all on edge, and none of us wanted to hurt anyone who wasn’t actually a threat.

Her eyes grew comically wide as York motioned her closer. Then they narrowed into slits as she bared her teeth.

“Why are you here?” She hissed the words so quietly I wasn’t sure the druid heard them.

“Am I no longer welcome?” York teased, bowing his head to the stranger. “Tee-et tou?”

She clenched her fists at her side, emotion tinting her voice as she responded, “Nay. Slu-voc cheel.”

“What the fuck are they saying?” Novak whispered.

“I don’t fucking know.” Murphy panted, leaning over to put his hands on his knees. “I haven’t walked that much, ever. My chest is killing me right now.”