Page 98 of The Anointed's Paladin

She pulled away and took the necklace, slipping it over my head. Her face was red and puffy, and she wiped her nose on her arm.

“Keep it,” she said. “Promise me you won’t stop trying to find your oath.”

“Of course.”

“No,promise,” she demanded.

“I promise you, Nidori, that I will do everything within my power to find my new oath and not die. Okay?”

She giggled. “Did that promise work?”

I gave her a smile. “Sadly not.”

I stood, and she squeezed my hand as I stepped inside.

“I’ll be in soon.” She said thickly.

I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the soft moss and didn’t wake up, not even when a faint buzzing started to fill the air.

44

Gone (Again? Really?)

Talon

Iwoke up and stretched. Kaine was still sleeping, of course, and Nidori’s nest was already empty. My stomach rumbled, and I scratched it, looking around. There was a scent, a bit like cinnamon, which made me crave sweet rolls.

Ugh. I felt really groggy this morning, my eyes crusted with sleep, and I wanted nothing more than to curl back up. But instead, I forced myself out of bed and washed my face in some cool water. It must have just gotten dark, and I was hungry. It was quiet, except for the trickle of water and the breeze rustling the trees outside. No humming or singing or fluttering.

I glanced at Nidori’s nest again. Where was she? She usually peppered me with questions as soon as I woke up. I stood, pulling on my clothes and looking around. She wasn’t in the shack—perhaps she’d gone exploring.

“Nidori?” I called quietly as I stepped outside. “Nidori?” I tried a bit louder. My voice echoed back at me through the trees.

My stomach clenched as I called again, louder. There was no response.

My heart was pounding when I returned to where Kaine was still sleeping. I hesitated. Was I overreacting? What if I had just missed her?

But the alternative was terrifying. She could be in danger somewhere. Stuck. Scared. We’d only just got her back, now she was gone again?

I nudged Kaine with my tail. He grumbled and turned over, pulling his thin pillow over his head.

“Kaine,” I hissed, poking him again.

“Fuggof,” he muttered, wrinkling his nose and batting my tail away.

“Wake up,” I hissed, unsheathing the spike at the end of my tail and jabbing him.

He shot up, snarling. His bleary eyes were filled with early morning rage. “Fuck. Off—” he started, but I jumped in.

“I can’t find Nidori.”

He stood and grabbed my shirt with one hand. I froze. He blinked up at me.

“I swear, if we find her outside, taking a piss, I’m going to make you seriously regret waking me up,” he said.

My breathing hitched at his scowl, and the way he was pulling me towards him. He cocked his head to the side as my traitorous tail lashed behind me.

“Fucking perv,” he said with a grin, cuffing my ear. My face burned. Stretching, he yawned and gave me a beautiful peek at the subtle abs around his belly button.

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