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That’s when I hear them.
I hear Finnen’s voice, calling out my name, I hear Taj yelling for me and warmth spills inside my chest.
What about Kiaran? Has something happened to him? Why is he silent?
I draw a shaky breath, hardly able to believe it, a startled laugh escaping me. “I’m here! I’m here, please…”
And I start to run, stumbling over roots and brambles, down the slight slope, prepared to come face-to-face with an enraged jaguar at every turn, the symbols flashing on my hands seeming to dance around me, glancing off the tree boles and the grass.
“Ari!” It’s Taj who appears first, racing toward me, dark hair flying, a grin on his face, and this time I laugh out long and loud, because Finnen is following more slowly, a hand clamped on Kiaran’s arm, the two of them like twins with their pale long hair and pale faces.
I fall to my knees and bow over, still laughing, tears slipping down my cheeks.
‘Drakai inassa. Drakai inonen.’
Thank you, God of the dragons.
Taj has lifted me in his arms and I’m shamelessly clinging to his strong neck and shoulders, my face buried against the scratchy fabric of his shirt. Finnen and Kiaran are following us and I want to touch them, but I’m wrung out like a wet rag, relief mingling with exhaustion to sap all strength from my limbs.
“Are you all right?” Taj asks me, and I feel his voice rumble through him as much as hear it, a touch as much as it is a sound.
“I’m okay.” And then I remember something. “You should put me down. You’re hurt.”
“You mean, he hurt me. Your Wildman.”
“To be fair,” Finnen says, and the sound of his deep voice makes me shiver pleasantly, “you attacked him first.”
“I thought he was going to hurt you both.”
“No hurt,” Kiaran says, and his voice is a caress over my skin.
“See?” I murmur.
“I’ll be damned. He can string words together.” Taj huffs.
“And he has a name,” I say. “Kiaran.”
“Well, how was I supposed to know, huh?” Taj’s strides slow. “It’s starting to get dark. We should find a spot for the night.”
I lift my head, searching for my other two mates. “Maybe Kiaran knows a safe place for the night?” And I almost fall out of Taj’s arms. “Finn! What’s the matter with him? Kiaran?”
Kiaran has one arm around my priest and Finn is leaning heavily against him. “Hit his head. Dizzy.”
And Finnen’s silence is all the confirmation I need.
“Put me down,” I tell Taj and this time he obeys, probably hearing in my voice that I really mean it. The moment my feet hit the ground, I all but run to Finnen, touch his face. He has a crust of blood coating one side of his face. “What happened?”
“He hit the jaguar and the jaguar didn’t appreciate it,” Taj mutters by way of explanation, “so it threw him down, kinda hard. Your Wildman and I finished the beast off before it decided to have him for dinner.”
“It’s not funny,” I whisper, worry turning my stomach into a rock. “How bad is it, Finn?”
“I’ll live,” he says and places his hand over mine on his cheek. “Are you going to ask me if I see double?”
“Now this is funny,” Taj says.
I roll my eyes. “Are you nauseous? And I’m asking Finn, not you, Taj.”
“Ouch,” Taj mutters.
