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At Diego’s nod, Charlie let them go and watched as they were flung to a nearby branch, where the vampire latched on and pushed Riva up. The scaly hold loosened just as Charlie jumped, his eyes on Daria. She swayed, arms out, fingers fading. When the light faded, she swayed even more violently but battled her dazedness as she scrambled to hold on. He reached the branch just as she slipped and wrapped an arm around her.
“I got you. I have you.”
Daria’s hands clung to his shoulders. She rested her head on his chest and gathered her bearings with her face hidden, her trust unwavering. It felt nice. He peered at the crown of her head before he looked down. Glowing yellows orbs were still looking up and waiting, but everyone was now on a branch and in no danger of falling.
“That was intense,” Sona mused, eyes closed as she rested against the tree trunk. Her legs had returned and she opened her mouth to drink more rainwater and get rid of more scales.
Oscar nodded glumly. “The prison cell was better than this.”
Sona shook her head. “No. Anything’s better than prison.”
Diego remained quiet and didn’t contradict anyone. They shifted around, finding spots where the leaves blocked most of the rain. Eventually, Daria eased out of his chest and sighed, her cheeks pink and her expression guilty. He touched her chin.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t have that look. We knew what we were signing up for to a point. No one said it would be easy to get out of there.”
Sona, who had been listening in, pursed her lips. “We are all alive.”
The reminder had Daria frowning, but she lost the guilty expression and became more resolute. He wanted to probe but was distracted by his thumb on her chin—or, to be more specific, the softness there even when she still felt cold. As if just sensing his touch, her gaze flicked downwards.
“I’m fine.”
“I know you are,” he murmured.
As much as he wanted to keep his hand there, he took it away. A groan sounded in the distance.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Riva blurted out. A myriad of emotions danced on her face.
“You are most welcome,” Diego replied, inclining his head and staying on his side of the branch. Riva, who was pressed on the other end, was at a loss for words for once as she gaped at the vampire and started to understand why she was still alive. Before the two could argue again, Charlie cleared his throat.
“I don’t think they are leaving anytime soon.”
The yellow eyes below blinked as if in agreement. Riva growled, fur bristling, while Diego eyed her in bemusement.
“I don’t have the energy to swing you guys around anymore,” Sona admitted.
“And I will die if I keep using my Fae energy. I’m not like the others.”
The matter-of-fact tone had everyone staring and wondering except Charlie, who was used to Daria saying things like this. He didn’t agree with it but kept his tone light.
“Then are you guys up for swinging from branch to branch until we get to our destination?”
Some of them swung while the others meticulously climbed their way from one branch to the next, with Sona and Daria volunteering to take the tail. Charlie took the lead as usual but was astounded when another figure fell in step with him.
“I’m lighter on my feet than shifters and can scout higher,” Diego reasoned when Charlie kept observing him. Charlie shrugged.
“Be my guest. Just stay away from Oscar.”
The vampire’s body language grew indignant, not offended. His answer was relaxed.
“I don’t take the blood of unwilling victims. We have houses for blood exchange which keeps things civilized.”
There were no insults thrown Charlie’s way, solidifying the suspicion that the arguments with Riva were related to more personal clan issues. Diego did as he said, disappearing in and out of view and calling out corrections when they diverged slightly out of the path. Every time the vampire went back down, he checked on Sona to make sure she was all right, then flicked a gaze towards Riva. Curiosity had Charlie perusing the two, whose animosity towards each other seemed…lesser in the aftermath of the earlier event.
“Stop challenging me, dickhead.”
