Page 25 of Kael

One fucking hour to get my shit together before I’m expected to haul arse with Kael, the Glowranth who can’t decide if he wants to murder me or tolerate my existence. My stomach is in knots, but no way in hell am I making that obvious. I wanted adventure, right? I practically begged for it.

Well, here it is, and I’m one deep breath away from shitting myself.

As I make my way to my room, I leave the logistics of getting to Iris and her mate to Varek. The Hendroy are isolated for a reason—especially Iris’s mate. If anyone else tried to get near him, they’d be dead before they even had the chance to wave a white flag. Lucky me, I’m the only one he might hesitate to rip apart.

Maybe.

Possibly.

Fuck.

It’s a four-day walk at least. That’s assuming we don’t run into anything that wants to eat us, stab us, or generally make life miserable. And Dawson? He’s barely hanging on. Will he evensurvive that long? I have no idea, and it’s not a question I want to dwell on right now.

I need to focus. Packing. Right. What the hell do I even take? Everything I own is salvaged or traded for, and none of it is exactly ideal for trekking across God-knows-what kind of terrain while dodging certain death. Food? Water? Weapons? How many weapons is too many?

I’m nearly at my room when I run into the new guy who I haven’t yet spoken to. Human. Tall. Broad shoulders. Wide grin. His eyes light up when he sees me, like he’s actually relieved. It puts me at ease.

“You must be Sonny,” he says, accent unmistakably Australian.

I blink, taking in the Akubra perched on his head. Shit, that makes me a little homesick.

“G’day,” I say, reaching out to shake his hand. “And you’re a tall drink of—” I stop mid-sentence as a massive red dude steps into view behind him. My brain short-circuits.

Pyronox.

I’ve never seen one in the flesh up close and personal, but there’s no mistaking the sheer size of him—all six-foot-plus, decked out in a leather kilt and strapped with more weapons than should be legally allowed.

I brace myself, half expecting him to snarl or growl or do something vaguely threatening. Instead, he beams at me.

“Humans are great,” he says, voice deep as hell. “You could be Jack’s friend.”

Alrighty then.

Jack—the Aussie—shakes my hand, still grinning. “Jack,” he confirms. “And you’re Aussie too? Bloody hell.”

“Small universe,” I quip.

He laughs, but I don’t have time to stand around and bond over meat pies and Vegemite.

“Listen, I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve gotta move. The human you brought in—Dawson? He’s not doing great. I’m heading out to find a doctor.”

Jack nods, expression sobering. “You’re going with Kael, then?”

I pull a face, not even surprised that he knows that. News travels fast here in Dathanor. “Unfortunately.”

He looks surprised. “The Glowranth seems reasonable to me. Don’t get me wrong, the prince is a prick, but his guard seemed like he was at least rational.”

I snort. “Yeah, sure, if you like your reasonable with a side of broody and unpredictable.”

Jack chuckles, and then his expression turns thoughtful. “How are you travelling?”

I shrug. “On foot.” That’s really the only way to go. There are other modes, but most require energy use that we don’t have spare supply of here.

He whistles. “That’s rough. You want my horse? Geralt’s a good boy.”

Geralt? Great name. But hell no.

“Appreciate it, but I’ll pass,” I say, grimacing. “Last time I dealt with a horse, I was seven. Bastard bit my fingers. Haven’t trusted them since.”

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