Page 44 of Ira

Meera made a noise of discontent, her scent souring slightly, and I picked up the pace despite how difficult it was to move quickly while hunched over to protect my horns.

Eventually, I found the spot we wanted and released Meera’s hand so I could slip open the cover above us. This one was harder to move, and I suspected the overgrowth had matted over it. There was a glimmer of fear in Meera’s scent—perhaps at how long it was taking to get us out of here—and that was the boost of energy I needed to rip through the tight vines overhead and push the heavy stone slab out of the way.

Unfortunately, my claws caught on the foliage almost instantly as I tried to clear it enough for Meera to get through without getting stuck in it. I pulled my hands back down with a grunt of frustration, annoyed at myself that I wasn’t carrying a knife to slice through it.

“If I’m not too heavy, maybe you could boost me up?” Meera suggested, rising up on her tiptoes and still coming up short. “I think that’s a job for clawless hands.”

I gripped her around the waist, holding her up in the air so she could efficiently push the vines out of the way with dexterous fingers.

“You’re so strong,” Meera breathed once we were both above ground, crouching next to the hole while I shifted the heavy cover.

“Yes,” I agreed because that was true. I’d been a small child—the healers suspected it was because my mother had been so old when she’d had me—and I’d trained hard to grow in strength and ability as I’d moved toward adulthood. “Though that was hardly a demonstration of it,” I added, slightly concerned she would think that the heaviest thing I could lift was her. That was outrageous. I could comfortably carrytwoof her if I wished.

We both fell still and silent as the stone scraped loudly, settling back into place. This exit had taken us out near the barracks, which shouldn’t be busy at this time of day. Shift changeover wasn’t for several more hours.

“Wait here,” I instructed, leaving Meera obscured by the overgrowth while I circled around the building, checking that we were alone. The captain never came this far—he usually went directly to the training grounds. Selene was the greater concern. This entry room was her preferred route to return to her home in Cartava.

Fortunately for us, Selene was working less now that she was expecting her first child and our way was clear. I quickly collected Meera, ushering her into the entry room and shutting the door behind us, ensconcing us in darkness. While I could still see her perfectly, Meera fumbled slightly as she reached for my arm, and I swallowed thickly at the faint brush of her hand just south of my hips.

“Where exactly am I taking you?” I asked quietly, tucking her hand securely into the crook of my arm and away from my cock as we set off into the in-between.

“You’ve accompanied Astrid to Harlow Miles’s apartment before, right?”

I frowned, remembering the odd Hunter with the black and green hair and the room full of square orbs. “Yes. That’s where you want to go? I thought you didn’t want Astrid to know your whereabouts.”

Meera winced, and I wondered if perhaps I shouldn’t have stated it so plainly. Shedidn’twant Astrid to know where she was, but she also didn’t want to feel like she was deceiving her friend.

“I don’t. But Harlow’s apartment is a safe harbor for us, isn’t it? She’s set it up as a permanent entry point. And she won’t be surprised by your presence. It’s safer for you.”

“It’s your safety I’m worried about, Meera.”

“Well, I’m worried aboutyoursafety,” she shot back stubbornly. “The human realm is far more dangerous for you than it is for me—even if you’re only going to be there for a few seconds.”

Should I mention that I had absolutely no intention of leaving her alone there? Probably best not to. I would simply beg for her forgiveness after the fact.

I could hear movement not far from us, and my jaw ached with how hard I was clenching it.

“Can I carry you, Meera? We need to move faster. Climb on my back.”

“Oh. Um, if you’re sure—”

I didn’t give her a moment to hesitate, crouching in front of her and gently guiding her wrists to my shoulders so she could jump on. She clung on tightly and I expended power that I didn’t really have to spare to cover her in shadows. Anyone who got close enough would still pick up her scent, but they at least might not notice her vibrant, colorful presence from a distance.

It wasn’t a comfortable journey for her—I suspected I was jostling her terribly—but I moved as quickly as I could through the in-between without attracting attention to myself. The moment we moved through the veil to the human realm, Meera landed on her feet with a surprised gasp in Harlow’s closet while my body turned ephemeral beneath her.

And then Meera was effectively on her own. I was here, but I was useless.

Helpless.

And incredibly fucking restless, hoping that Meera knew what she was doing.

Chapter 15

The reality of what I’d done only really set in once my feet hit the ground in Harlow Miles’s closet.

It smelled like popcorn.

Buttery, microwaveable popcorn.

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