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The other males hovered or circled nearby, observing. No one moved in to support him.
Sten looked up as several of the deputies that had been searching on foot also appeared overhead.
Goliath circled around, then landed next to Sten, snarling at the offenders, forcing them to back off.
Sten slammed the end of his barbed tail into the mountain beside him, causing the rock to crumble down into the river.
The two offenders took off.
No one stopped them, but no one followed them either.
Beneath him, Marli sagged, trembling against the ground, her claws still gripping the rock face.
She’s exhausted.
Then he smelled blood. It was smeared along the cliff face where she’d been scraped along its face. Chunks of scale and flesh clung to the rock. Her wings were shredded in sections, which inhibited her ability to fly.
He lowered his body against hers so that his chest and throat rumbled along her shoulder and the back of her neck.
With a great sigh, she released her magic, transforming back into her human self, allowing Sten to support her in his fore claw. Cradling her close to his chest, he used his powerful hind legs to launch himself into the sky.
The others moved out of his way.
Goliath followed him back to the mountain.
Chapter 19
Confined to her quarters, Marli drifted in and out of sleep for several days while she recovered.
The investigation into Clive and Merwin’s disappearance went on without her.
She ached from shoulder to knee on one side and she prayed she wouldn’t scar from all the gashes and scrapes.
The mountain tribe didn’t have an infirmary like the Aeleftherian citadel did, and she was going stir crazy, spending most of the time alone as her mind replayed the events in the valley.
Exhausted from so much flying, her energy lagged and she’d allowed her attention to drift.
Nearly back to the mountain range, she’d dropped her guard, letting her thoughts drift to Stenlen.
He’d offered her his precious self.
She couldn’t take it.
Marli needed time to examine what was in her own heart. And when she’d awakened that morning to look up into his face, everything clicked into place in that moment.
And then another revelation.
He has a youngling that he knows nothing about.
Her heart twisted. She wanted to know about him. About his past. They really weren’t enemies anymore. He’d been courteous and attentive. His love making… she blew out a breath.
Otherworldly.
She smiled, until her mind returned to the valley.
Out of nowhere, a male body-slammed her into the mountain above the waterfall, dragging her along its rock face, shredding her wing and scales so that she couldn’t fly.
The other moved in.
