Page 60 of The Hidden Falling
The trees get thinner, the river opening up more and the current picks up speed, causing me and Darius to be further away from each other as we push forward. I clear the trees on my side of the river and my eyes instantly go toward the crest of the waterfall, seeing nothing. The statues in front of the base of the cliffs haunt me with the reminder of how many people have lost their lives here.
“Sam!” I shout, rushing forward into the open area and stopping at the edge of the water, turning in a circle looking for her. “Sam!” I stop spinning and stay still, my senses open to listen for any noises, anything that could be her. Nothing. Nothing apart from the rapids and the mess of emotions running through me. I’m happy she isn’t here, but hurting because we still haven’t found her.
Where are you, Samantha?
Wait. I tilt my head toward a sound and look over at Darius who is doing the same. His dark head turns forward until it stops, and I follow his gaze to the female statue on his side of the river.
He walks forward slowly before stopping ten feet away from it. That’s when I hear it, a whimper. My breath stalls in my lungs as I go toward the edge of the bank, walking along as far as possible to the water until I’m parallel with Darius.
“Sam,” I call out gently, and a small cry reaches my ears. My breath whooshes out of me when I recognize it as Sam, and I move to the male statue on my side, my eyes never leaving the female one.“Kade, we have her. She’s at the female statue at Lovers Rest.”My eyes flick to Darius as he stays in his spot, watching me and not moving any closer.
“Sam, sweetheart. Are you alright?” Another cry. “I’m going to come round and get you, okay? I won’t be long, just… just stay where you are. Please.” I see a flicker of movement behind the statue, and her head peeks out from behind it. My heart breaks at the sight. Her eyes are red from crying, tears running down her face, and she’s shaking, her body jolting with every tremor. When she sees me, her face crumples, and she starts to move out from behind the statue toward me. “Stop!” I shout, my voice a screech of panic when she doesn’t realize how close she is to the water. It’s splashing up against the edges a few feet from her, the current fast and deadly. She stops, her body jolting at my harsh tone before she moves back to behind the statue. I hold my hands up at her. “Sam, you need to stay there, okay? It’s dangerous.” I gulp and move my eyes to Darius, who’s moved a little closer, slowly as if to not startle her. I look between him and Sam, wondering what’s for the best when Kade’s wolf breaks the tree line on Darius’ side.
Thank the Gods.
Kade slows until he’s standing beside Darius, who looks down at him briefly. Darius steps back and away from him, letting him go to her. Kade moves slowly toward the female statue, emitting a gentle growl as he pads toward it. Sam’s eyes move from mine as she peaks her head around the female’s legs at the sound, her tears coming in full force. She maneuvers herself on her knees and grips the side of the stone as she leans around it to see Kade coming. She suddenly stands on shaking legs, and I let out a cry of distress, my stomach dropping as my feet hit the edge of the bank, hand reaching out as if I can grab her and keep her safe from falling.
She doesn’t fall though. She grips the stone and moves around the legs until she’s running and heading straight for Kade, her eyes locked on him. Sam throws herself at him, her face burrowing into his neck. When I hear her sobs, I drop back on my ass. My breathing picks up, short, shallow pants coming from my tight chest. My fingers tremble as my vision waivers in and out, and I put my head in my hands, trying to calm down. She could have fucking fallen in. She could have been swept over the edge into the Unforgivable Sea, and I wouldn’t have been able to grab her. I wouldn’t have been able to reach her and keep her safe. She could have been lost to us.
I shake my head and squeeze my eyes shut, the vision of it happening replaying over and over again through my head. A soft touch on the back of my neck has more tears forming in my eyes with how gentle it is. How did he even get across? Hands reach for my waist, and then I’m being picked up, cradled against a solid chest as his scent starts to calm me. I breathe it in deep, and the sound of the river gets quieter, the thoughts of her falling in fading. I move my hands from my face and my gaze lands on Darius, his face so close to mine as he carries me away from the water’s edge. My breathing slows, my body shakes less as I stare into his green eyes that are grounding me, not blinking for a single moment as I take in deep breaths and slowly exhale, copying his own.
He watches me, looking over my face until he stops when he notices the wetness in my eyes. He places me down onto my feet gently, keeping one hand on my waist as if to keep me steady, as he brings his other up to my face. I don’t move as he runs a finger softly underneath my lower eyelash, collecting a tear there, and my breath catches. He examines my tear intently, his eyes squinting as it runs down the side of his finger before he brings those light-green eyes back to my ice-blue ones. The world stops at the look of determination etched on his face. When he speaks, it’s soft, but with demand.
“The only tears I want to see in your eyes, little wolf, are the ones I put there from pleasure,” he murmurs, a frown appearing on his face. “I don’t like to see them otherwise, it makes me... angry.”
“Angry?” I whisper, stunned and confused by his words.
He nods, looking at the wetness on his finger. “Yeah, angry, because something else caused you to shed tears, and I prefer to cause them as you scream for me and me alone.” He puts his finger in his mouth, and I watch in rapt attention as he tastes my tear, his eyes capturing mine with a look I’m not sure I understand. “So don’t shed a tear unless you are on my cock, Rhea.”
I blink, and then eventually come out of my stupor. “Listen, asshole.” I try to keep my voice hard, but it comes out choked as I bring a finger up and poke his chest, ignoring the smirk that spreads across his damn kissable lips. “None of my tears belong to you. They’re mine and mine alone, and when they come, it will be of my choosing.” With a huff I turn on my heel, clearing my throat and ignoring him as I make my way to a safer spot in the river where I can cross. His body heat caresses my back as he stays close, forever my shadow babysitter as he chuckles.
“Keep those eyes open, little wolf, and have them on me,” he says, and I look over my shoulder at him. I have no idea what he means by that, but the seriousness of his tone sets me on edge.
I continue on, I need to get Sam back home, and we have a long walk ahead. I haven’t got the energy or patience to deal with his ass right now, but at least I’m calmer now than I was before.
And that’s all because of my enemy, who I won’t thank.
Because then things may start to shift between us, and I will have no idea what to do about that.
Thirty Two
Rhea
WewalkbackslowlySam on the back of Kade who’s still in his wolf. Axis seemed to want her close and refused to move until Sam was safely on his back. She seemed to know what he wanted straight away, and she hopped onto him without question, without fear, which makes me think they have done this often. Sam kept staring at Darius, her face pale and hands shaky as she gripped the wolf’s fur tightly, so we hung back from them to give her space. She’s been sleeping for a little while now, exhaustion winning out over her fear of Darius being near her. Seeing her look so small and fragile cracks my heart open.
She’s not the only one exhausted though. I haven’t slept properly since the news of the Elites from Illium, and after my heat and today’s emotional strain, I’m ready to fall flat on my face. I yawn, bringing a hand up to cover my mouth as I sway to the side before I right myself.Just a little further, Runa. Not long now.I feel her grumble inside me, her last reserves of energy running low as well.
We come to the part of the river where we collect water, and I see Josh up ahead, his gray eyes showing their relief before they quickly change to concern as he looks at me. He comes forward, running a hand over Kade’s muzzle, careful not to disturb Sam, before he comes at me. Without warning, he scoops me up into his arms, and I go without protest, snuggling into his familiar chest and his comforting scent. I know Josh will get me home. I breathe a sigh of relief at the pressure being taken off my body. Again, without warning, I’m jostled and ripped out of Josh’s arms and moved into another. My eyes spring open, and I glare at Darius. Josh’s growl is ferocious at me being taken so roughly from his arms, and Darius growls back at him, unbothered.
Darius doesn’t look at me as he walks toward my home. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” I grind out, wriggling about and trying to get him to drop me. His hold tightens as he ignores me.
“You can’t just grab at her when you want,” Josh barks at him. “She’s not a fucking toy to be passed around.”
Darius stills, his head turning toward Josh with a move that is all animal. “I will do whatever I want, and she is to be whatever I want her to be.” His tone is cold, his eyes sharp toward Josh, and my muscles tense at his sudden display of hostility.
I push out of Darius’ hold while he’s distracted by Josh, landing on my feet and stumbling a little. I rub my temples, just wanting the day to be done, but know it’s not over yet. I open my mouth to cuss him out when Sam whimpers from Kade’s back. My head swings her way, and I walk to her as Kade lets out a low growl. It’s not for me this time, it’s in displeasure that Sam is upset.
I reach their side and I grab Sam’s hand, holding hers as she sleeps as we continue on. We leave Josh and Darius behind to size up each other’s dicks, my focus on getting Sam home.
