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Chapter 18
Flare switched into his human form, picked up a rock, and smashed it on the spine of an approaching hunter. It screamed and limped away, obviously having sustained some kind of major injury. Flare grabbed the beast by the tail, hauling him toward the edge, the poor thing scratching its claws for grip.
“Flare, no,” I said, grabbing him by his bloodied arms, knowing that in killing the hunters, he’d destroy a piece of himself, too. Eyes wild like those of an animal, he pushed me aside.
My heart seized with pain at the hunter’s plummeting screams that only ended with his death.
“Where’s your mercy?” I asked.
“Have they shown you any?” Darkness lingered beneath Flare’s voice.
Our exchange was all the distraction the group needed to attack. One of the remaining hunters scratched Flare’s leg, sinking its claws in deep, bringing him to his knees on the ledge. One more attack and he was a dead man.
Shadow intercepted another hunter before it could reach Flare, slamming the creature into the nearby rocks.
Phantom seized the other hunter by the throat, holding on tight, refusing to let go even though the creature raked his side with its claws.
“Fuck!” Flare shouted, holding on to his wound, the wind whipping his hair over his eyes and almost pushing him over the edge, too.
“Sea God,” I stuttered, my gut churning at all the blood. “I’m sorry.” His weight was heavy against my petite frame as I dragged him from the brink.
“Stay out of my way next time,” Flare said, wrenching free and bracing himself against the rockface.
I didn’t know what to say. How to thank him. How to reconcile the fact that I no longer wished him dead. Even though back at the resistance, I’d sure cursed him more than once.
There I stood, shivering, unable to move, until every last hunter was dead. In that moment I wanted nothing more than to be held. To be told everything was going to be fine. Hell, I was so desperate, I wouldn’t have turned awayFlare’sembrace if he’d offered to hold me. We’d just killed four panthers. Four children. Four siblings. Maybe someone’s parents. Tracking me down and attacking me hadn’t been their choice. The ultimatum of their deaths had been a powerful motivator to obey my wicked stepmother. Weeks ago, I’d vowed that nobody else should have to perish because of me. My chest stung with the cost of their lives.
But my perspective shifted as Phantom’s naked form, covered in blood, came into my view.
“Snow,” he said, clasping my face in his hands.
“Sea God.” My hands shook as they glided across his wounded arm and chest, our blood and sweat mixing.
Behind him, I caught sight of Shadow, and I covered my mouth as I took in his deep cuts and scratched neck. There was no way we were continuing to the dragons’ kingdom like this. We had to find somewhere to camp overnight, had to locate fresh water so we could clean the panthers’ wounds. We’d need to start a fire to cauterize the skin and stop the bleeding. Then we’d have to bandage the wounds, rest for the night, and heal.
Sea God, I could do with a strong drink right now. All the blood reminded me of the torturer’s visits. After all this time, I still couldn’t stomach the sight of it, and I retched.
“I have to get water.” I stumbled away, searching for my bag. Upon finding it, I stormed down the hill, not sure of where to go or how far water might be.
“You’re not going anywhere alone.”
Steadfast as ever, Phantom was by my side, linking my hand in his. His touch felt as natural to me as breathing. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t mind the contact and actually welcomed it. For my sanity. To soothe my frayed nerves. To fill me with comfort.
A strange sensation engulfed me—trepidation blended with excitement. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the impulse to kiss him. The longer we walked, the more it turned into a desperate, suffocating urge, and my fingers itched to weave through his curls.
“Thank you for saving us,” I said, my throat choking up.
“I’d kill anyone who laid a finger on you.”
He growled so fiercely that for a moment, I fooled myself into thinking he’d always be watching out for me.
More words lingered on my tongue, but I didn’t get to voice them.
“Over there,” he said, lifting my hand, pointing ahead of us.
Water flowed from a spring in the rock.
Thank the sea god!
