Page 83 of Shrine of Fire

“Will it be safe?” Lord Baylin arched an eyebrow. “I am, as ever, your humble servant. But what if something happens while you are alone?”

I wanted something to happen, just not with the Duke. “Nothing that couldn’t happen here. And I have several mighty warriors with me.”

I didn’t remind Lord Baylin I could light anyone who tried to hurt me on fire. Let him think I was weak and helpless.

“True, true.” Baylin stood up. “I am honored that you have trusted me with such a task.”

He left the room, and I kept stuffing my face with food.

“About your heat…” Hashir refilled my plate with more of the rice and cheese balls. “What do you want to do?”

I looked up from my food. “What do you mean? I don’t have a lot of control. Ridiculous amounts of hormones will course through my body for the insatiable need for sex.”

Cuan cleared his throat, and then swallowed hard, while Hashir just laughed. “Exactly, pet. Shall we try to make a nest here?”

I wrinkled my face. It would have been more convenient to have nested in Cuan’s homeland. Of course, I wasn’t close enough then to delay leaving for Tolaga.

“We needed to get to the Library of Souls. We have a nasty spirit to stop.”

Kalahar touched my arm. “It’s alright. You need to take care of yourself.”

“I’ll be okay.” I looked around the room. They were all concerned for my safety. “Let’s get to the Library of Souls.”

“The Spirit Oasis might have a calming effect,” Kalahar said. “Your heat cycle has been disrupted by the loss of your pack and the changes in the world.”

“Will we be able to go into the Oasis with you?” I looked into the phoenix’s eyes. The thought of him going into the world alone made me cold with fear. “Mortals can enter the Spirit Oasis, right?”

Kalahar gave me a small smile. “Yes. If you feel up to it, it would do you some good.”

I relaxed, some of my worry releasing. We were almost there.

“So, after that, we come back here, and make a nest.” Hashir nodded, some of the lines of tension leaving his face. I hadn’t realized he’d been so on edge until he started to relax.

A bubble of warmth filled me. His alpha instincts were kicking in. He cared about me, but seeing it so obviously displayed made me feel good. Cared for.

“Next topic, sex.” Hashir looked around the room. “Heats have a way of making you lose your mind. If there’s anything or anyone, you’re not comfortable with, I would speak now.”

My face felt hot again. “Hashir,” I hissed.

“I’m just saying.” He shrugged, still looking pleased with himself. “Better to talk about it now.”

I looked down at my plate of food. “No one has to do anything they don’t want to.”

There was a lot of awkward shuffling. Cuan grinned. “I’m okay with everything. For the record.”

“You don’t have to talk about it now.” I cleared my throat, trying hard not to look at Stefan. So far, it had been kissing and touching above the waist. I didn’t want my heat to push him further than he was comfortable with. “Think about it.”

Even if I craved his body against mine. I’d taken everyone else to bed. Even if we weren’t bonded, I still needed their skin on my skin, their scents all over me.

I took three naps and spent the rest of the day being lazy. The silk sheets on the bed were the best I’d ever touched, and I crawled into bed declaring I wasn’t going to leave for a week.

I briefly considered making Duke Antu part of the pack, so I could bring the sheets and silk dresses with me, then I promptly fell asleep again.

I tossed and turned most of the night, weird dreams of running and being caught making it hard to sleep.

The next three days we spent talking to people. So, so many people. Most of them had black hair and golden skin, but there were also people from all over the world. Tolaga was a cultural melting pot, and it showed. There were dances and festivals, and we toured the city, wandering around the buildings and looking out into the lakes created by Catajara Falls.

The entire time, Duke Antu was pleasant. The perfect host. He did seem genuinely concerned for my health, but there was never any spark.

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