Page 41 of The Mage on the Hill
Darius shook by the time he’d finished, panting as he swung a leg over, leaned back against the fallen log, and tucked himself back in. With one hand, he motioned toward himself. “C’mere.”
Happy to oblige, Toby scrambled over while putting his own clothes back together. With a contented huff, he collapsed against Darius’s chest. “I think I’m supposed to say something pithy and wonderful here. But my brain just exploded.”
An uninhibited, resonant laugh rose from deep in Darius’s chest. Toby snuggled closer so more of him could feel the rumblings.
“You’re wonderful. That really covers it.”
“Hmm.” Darius kissed the top of his head. “You too. We should…. Zubayr.”
Toby heaved a tragic sigh. “Yeah. Don’t want him to get all worried. Think you’re ready for the hike back up, old griffin?”
“You’ll need to… keep up.”
“That sounded way too much like a challenge. Was it? I’ll run if I have to.”
“Maybe.” Darius helped him up and slung an arm around him. “Rather walk with you.”
“Don’t say too many sweet things to me. You’ll never get rid of me, and youknowhow annoying I am.”
Darius didn’t have an answer for that, but the smile stayed. Toby figured he couldn’t do better than that. He was going to live. He’d gotten some. And he had someone solid beside him, someone he’d fallen in love with. Not that he would say that yet. Why risk scaring his griffin away? They’d have time now. He’d say it when they were both ready.
They took their time on the way back up the trail. Kind of had to since they both struggled on the steep parts. Rests happened frequently. Still, it only took half an hour to reach the top. Not too shabby.
The sign for the trail was in sight, the edge of the trees marking the parking area just past it, when Darius clutched at his throat and fell to his knees.
“Dar! Gods, what is it?” Toby supported him, desperation clawing up from his stomach. He couldn’t be choking. There was nothing to choke on. What did you do for someone choking on nothing? He lifted his head and screamed, “Zubayr!”
A branch snapped, and then heavy bodies crashed through the underbrush in all directions.That’s not Zubayr.Toby wanted to get up and run, but he couldn’t leave Darius, leaning against him, face turning purple. Strong hands grabbed him, lifting him away.
“No! Darius! He’s dying! Someone do something!”
Toby struggled and kicked, trying to get a good shot at one of the goon’s kneecaps. Quick glimpses showed large men in hunter camouflage, faces he’d never seen before.
“Who the fuck are you people? Let me go!”
“It’s all right, Toby.”
That voice he knew.Oh gods. They caught up with us. “Director Whittaker?”
“Everything’s all right now.” Director Whittaker strolled calmly down the path from the parking lot. “Darius will be fine. One of our Air mages has him in an oxygen-deprived bubble. Once he loses consciousness, he’ll be freed from it. We’ll take care of him, Toby. No need to get so upset.”
Toby stopped struggling, though tears stung his eyes. “You don’t need to do this. I’ve channeled. I’m not a danger anymore. Please, please leave us alone.”
“I’m so sorry, Toby.” Director Whittaker stepped around to stand in front of him, face lined with concern. “We should never have mentioned Valstad, and we should have guessed sooner that you had gone to him. He’s not well, I’m afraid. Hasn’t been since that disaster in Pittsburgh. I don’t know what he told you, but he’s obviously misled you. I can feel your wild magic building up from here. I wish there was more we could do. I truly do.”
A sharp pain shot through Toby’s biceps. He jerked his head around in time to see one of the goons pull an auto injector away. When he turned back, the director had gone fuzzy around the edges. Trying to find where his feet had gone suddenly became far too much effort. He tried, one more time, to reason with them. The only word that made it out was “Darius….”
“You feel responsible for him in some way. I understand.” Director Whittaker nodded. “You’re a good person, Toby. We’ve simply handled this badly, and again, I can only apologize. We’ll take better care of him from now on. I promise.”
Gods, Darius.The last thing his sight latched on to was Darius lying in a heap on the wood-chipped trail, one hand stretched out toward him as if he’d been making one final effort to save them both.
Chapter Twelve
SEVERAL MINIATUREjackhammers thudded away inside his head. He couldn’t recall a headache this bad since leaving the hospital all those years ago. Maybe he was sick. This was his bedroom, at least, and not a hospital room. Something felt off, though. As if he’d forgotten—
“Toby!” Darius surged up, clutching at his pounding head, covers falling to his lap.
“He’s safe, Dar. Everything’s all right.”
