Page 21 of A Mate for Haax

“All of our mom’s were best friends. We lived in the same neighborhood. Anniston, Jacee, and I actually all worked where I currently work for a while after we left school. We’d plan lessons, train, and Anniston even went so far as show jumping.”

His brows furrow. “What is this show jumping?”

My skin buzzes with the urge to word vomit. “It’s essentially an equestrian event in which a horse and rider have to clear a number of jumps in a certain amount of time. The person with the least amount of faults and time is the winner.”

Interest lights up his eyes. “And what does the winner of this event receive?”

I hitch my shoulders in a shrug. “Depends on the competition. If it's a big event, the prize is normally money. Sometimes, the smaller events are just for fun, so the most you’ll get is a ribbon.” We talk for a while as he packs up our pop up canopy, and it seems as though time flies by. Before I know it, we’re up and walking as the light starts to lower in the sky.

Chapter 11

Haax

I’m not entirely sure we’ll make it to the cave by sundown, and if I could throw Esme over my shoulder and take off, I would, but I’ve already read her thoughts on that possibility.

I don’t want to scare her off. So, I keep a slow pace so she doesn’t fall behind. I find a way to snag her bag and carry it myself, hoping that less weight will help. It’s not that she’s what humans call fat, but humans do not have the strength and endurance of a Grekarian.

I highly doubt they learn as small children to fend for themselves, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s never been anywhere outside of rural life. She doesn’t exactly seem like the hiking type, but I admire that she’s trying her hardest.

Dusk is now upon us as we head deeper into the forest. Animals are scurrying across the ground frantically, trying to make it home before all the predator creatures come out to hunt. Good thing my hearing and eyesight in the dark is perfect. Noises that Esme may not hear, I’ll be attuned to; listening for anything that goes bump in the night. I know we’ve run into multiple creatures that I am one hundred percent sure Esme would freak out over knowing they were so close to us.

Her breath comes out in forced pants as she pads slowly behind me. It is more rushed than before, which tells me she is tiring. We’re almost to the cave, according to my GPS tracker, and a few feet from the cave’s entrance. I’ve been carrying Esme’s bags for the last half quarran.

Esme drags her feet as she enters the cave, almost tripping when her foot doesn’t come completely off the ground. My heart deflates. She will be too tired for all the mating frenzy I had planned. Maybe it is for the best. I plan to stay awake and watch over her sleeping this evening. My arrynthia will not allow me to rest without knowing my mate is completely safe.

She leans against the wall of the cave before sliding down to the ground. A few beads of sweat litter her forehead. As quickly as I can, I set our sleeping mats together and get her bed ready. When I’ve finally finished getting everything together, I look to Esme. Her breath is even with each inhale, and I realize that she’s sleeping on the ground.

I don’t want to wake her up right now, but, at the same time, she will be sore if she stays in that position. So I risk the wrath of my mate. I’ve read about females who are not pleasant when woken from sleep and prepare myself in case Esme fits into that statistic.

Walking over to her, I allow my gaze to travel her body before I bend down, putting one arm behind her knees and the other supporting her back as I stand and turn towards the sleeping mat.

I dip my nose into her hair and get lost in her strawberry fields scent. One scent of her and my cocks rouse for duty.

She curls into me, her small hands turning in and grabbing hold of my chest.

Ever so slowly, I lean down and place her on the bedding, pulling the blanket up her body to make sure she’s warm, but she never lets me go. Esme wants me, even in her sleep. My chest puffs with just that little knowledge. So, instead of prying her perfect little fingers away from me, I slip into the bed beside her and pull her body into mine.

With a small kiss on her forehead, I say a prayer of thanks to the goddess for my mate and for not waking her. I lie awake, listening to her soft snores, and can’t help the nerves that fly up my spine at the thought of her being mine. My fated mate. Something I never thought I would see in all my time.

For hours, I listen to her sleeping peacefully before it combines with the melodic sounds of the forest around us. It’s a beautiful biphonic song. The song of owls swirls through the air like confetti and bounces off the walls of the cave around us. It’s probably searching for a midnight snack. Branches sway and creak with the small breeze that dangles in the air tonight, unwillingly held back by the mountain above us.

My eyes travel over every square inch of the cave. It reminds me of the ones back in Grekaria. The walls and plants are highlighted in neon beauty. It’s breathtaking. If only it had an elixir pond.

The night becomes silent. It’s a type of peaceful quietude that I’m not used to, being the Commander of the Flighten. The owls have ceased their calls, and I no longer hear the rustling of leaves outside the cave. I savor the sweetness of being somewhere so remote, surrounded by the colors of home.

It’s starting to become concerning; the sudden change. So quiet that I can hear my own heart beating. I look over at Esme and have to lean in close to make sure that she's still breathing as her small snores have also disappeared.

In the middle of the quiet, a sound of leaves crinkling meets my ears. It’s an unusual sound, not one of small animals running here and there. My pulse thumps and nerves start to escalate. A feeling of complete helplessness befalls me.

Shadows in the moonlight slip across the front of the cave. I would know the shape of those shadows anywhere. All day long they have tracked us, yet stayed far enough away to pretend I couldn’t hear them.

I’ve known all day they were there, but now they’re becoming bold; sneaking up to the cave, probably assuming that we’re asleep. Newsflash, assholes, I am ready for you. Esme whimpers and turns on her side. The sounds from outside go suddenly quiet again, but I follow the shadows that continue to line the outside of the cave.

Leaning down, I place my hand over Esme’s lips, and her eyes open widely in shock. Her breath comes out fast as she starts to panic. I light up the silver of my irises so she will know it is me and not the enemy. Once she’s awake, she realizes that it’s me and instantly calms down.

Do not move, mate. The Necorium has found us. I will handle this, but I need you to stay here and remain hidden. Say you understand me with a nod.

She dips her head. With instinctual stealth, I crawl from the sleeping mat and brace myself against the wall, employing my invisibility sheath. This will allow me to sneak up on them without any knowledge.

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