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“It’s horribly trusting, then,” he said.
Isla simply kept staring. “I didn’t know bak even had pups.”
“Neither did I.”
His mate glanced down at the small beast in her arms, then ran a finger over the back of its head, behind its ears. It seemed to lean into her touch. She let out a small, incredulous sound but said nothing. Until—“We left all the food outside the cave mouth?”
“Yes, why?”
“It’s so thin,” Isla said, still petting. “And its heartbeat is weak. It probably hasn’t eaten in days.”
As it nudged into the cup of her hand, and she let out a small laugh, one of the most joyous sounds he’d heard from her in days, Kai sighed. “Isla.” He fought to keep off a smile that mirrored her own as she met his eyes. “What are you thinking?”
The grin that slid across her mouth, though innocent, was far from it. “I want to feed it.”
“Justfeed it,” Kai affirmed.
“Yes.”
She was so far from being honest. His mate, a lover and giver of the benefit of the doubt to all, including little monsters.
“Isla.”
“Kai,” she mocked his tone. “I just want to get it some food, and then we'll…bring it back to the Wilds.”
“We haven’t fully traced a safe path directly into the Wilds yet.”
“Well, now we have more incentive to.”
As if it could sense his opposition, the pup directed its eyes to Kai. He narrowed his, and the creature flinched, recoiling into Isla.
She gave Kai a deadpan look, petting the creature between the ears. "Don't let the brood fool you,” she whispered to it. “He’s a softie. He won't hurt you.” Kai kept his features unwavering, and Isla sighed. “I just want to get it some food, and then we’ll keep going. Maybe we’ll find the direct path tonight.”
“We’re in Ifera.”
It wasn’t possible to entirely reach the Wilds from here unless they intended to be out all night and felt like risking getting lost in this unknown maze forever.
Isla shrugged. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
When she began heading back the way they’d come, following her pebbles and his river of dried blood, Kai waited a few moments. Not to watch her walk away, but to glance back at the three dead bak—at that one with the uncut throat and the maw of the tunnel beyond. Quiet. So quiet.
What had called him here?
Kai shook his head, knowing he wouldn’t find the answer in this barrenness. Three more hard knocks to the marker, and it popped off into his hand.
Then he followed after her.
CHAPTER25
ISLA
The next morning, Isla awoke to a nudge against her face and a kiss of sunlight across her brow. Slowly, she cracked open her eyes, lifting her cheek from Kai’s chest. She’d been using him as a mattress after they’d spent the night in a heap of blankets before their fireplace.
Once they’d returned from their night in the tunnels—which yielded two more markers before they headed back—Isla hadn’t wanted to sleep right away. But downing wine had led to soft kisses and caresses, which then became the stripping of clothes, then finally, her legs wrapped around Kai as he blew the world away. Considering they were heading into their first time apart since they’d mated, considering how…unexpected last night had been, the momentary bliss, forgetfulness, and release of frustration were welcomed.
Isla’s vision cleared to reveal beady red eyes atop a short, gray muzzle. Partially drooping ears flopped sideways as the bak pup tilted its head to her innocently.
Innocent.
