Page 33 of Shifter King
Zorna tipped her head forward once more, then glanced back at Gabrice. "Come. We will leave them to their rest."
Amelia watched them go, her stomach twisting with the uncomfortable knowledge this was neither a sincere offer nor would it be the last time she saw them.
Naatos put his arm around her and pulled her tight. He spoke once they left. "You are safe. As soon as WroOth gets back, we’re leaving. So gather your things now."
She wasn’t safe though. It was hard to explain why, but she felt as if she had been spotted. The Ki Valo Nakar agreed, pressing within her mind."Watch them,"it whispered."They want you, not us. But they’ll destroy us both."It stirred even more, the scales and legs rattling and clicking as they expanded and pressed out."You must be vigilant. You need to heal faster so you can destroy them."
"Stay still and let me focus,"she thought back.
"Things are becoming more dangerous here. You survived, but for how long can that last? Look at how dangerous this place is."
She blocked the Ki Valo Nakar out and picked up her satchel. Even if the Bealorns wouldn't be back for awhile, she didn't want to remain here any longer than was necessary.
A POOR HOST
It did not take long to gather up what little they still had in the camp. Most had been moved into the bunker already, and though the plan had been to give it one more night to finish airing out, it was obvious that the possibility a minor headache or nausea was preferable to being surprised by Bealorns once more.
WroOth arrived a few minutes later. He staggered into the camp, clothing shredded and bloodied again. But instead of asking questions, he joined in the packing. Each of the brothers circled out, testing out different forms to ensure that neither Bealorns nor some other enemy was near and tracking. The lack of scent from the Bealorns troubled everyone.
By the time the sun disappeared below the horizon, they reached the bunker. None of the traps or markers had been disturbed. Tacky stayed hidden beneath the blanket, allowing her to carry him. Which was almost amusing given that she had to be carried most of the way herself.
Even once they were in the bunker, a heavy pall remained over the entire family. She wanted to lighten it, but no good words came to her mind. Nothing except an awareness of how deeply wrong all of this was. The unnaturalness of the silence weighed on her all the more, but somehow her boundaries held better. Perhaps because of the tea. Perhaps because she was doing something right. Or perhaps because her somehow she had started to become stronger. Though that struck her as the least likely option.
After dinner, she placed her hand on Naatos's shoulder and kissed his cheek. "I am going to rest."
He gripped her hand and brought it to his lips. "I'll be in shortly." His hold tightened as he looked at her, his eyes hardening. "You are safe, veskaro. They won't find you here."
She nodded, pressing her lips into the most convincing smile she could manage. Perhaps it was simply all that the day had held, but she wasn't sure that was true or that anyone in this room believed it. But rest was needed. She kissed him once more and then stepped away, aware once again of the enormity of the space between them and feeling as if she had started to slip away.
Tacky scampered after her as she made her way down the hall.
Even with all the spikes in the ground, traps on the outside, and cachi gourds to sound the alert if anyone drew close enough, they all shared one bedroom in this bunker. Earlier, She and AaQar had used some of the pelts to make low-lying leather beds that were basically layered piles with blankets on top.
She climbed onto the center one and pulled the blanket over herself. Like a cat, Tacky hopped up and then nuzzled beneath her arm. Smiling, she moved onto her side. He crawled up on her hip, his eyes shutting as he purred contentedly. "At least you had a good day," she whispered. She bit her lower lip as the images of those poor Vawtrians in the monument struck her again. Nausea twisted in her stomach.
"Are you finally ready to talk?" The Ki Valo Nakar uncoiled, its tapping footsteps echoing in her mind.
Sighing, she pressed her face into her pillow. "Just…there isn't anything to say tonight. Go rest. It's been a hard day."
"It's going to get worse,"it grumbled. Even though she tried not to focus on it, the Ki Valo Nakar loomed up in her mind's eye, casting a long antlered shadow across the corridor of her mind."You have to focus on getting better. I have been more than patient, but you could at least respect my wishes that you avoid anything that results in those emotional hormonal fluctuations when you copulate with that animal."
She rolled her eyes."I like those hormonal fluctuations, and besides, when he’s happy, he heals better. So it’s to your benefit—"
The Ki Valo Nakar huffed even louder in her mind.
"If you don’t stop, I’m going to start kissing him again."
"You wouldn’t."
"I actually like kissing him now. And if you don't leave me alone, I have no problem getting out of this bed and kissing him again."
It grimaced and made a loud retching sound."My previous hosts understood propriety. They would not have sullied the bond with this."
She smirked despite the coldness that pervaded her. It would have been nice if he had been here now."You mean love."
"There are many types of love that do not require activities that result in this sort of hormonal disruption. What you are doing is what I call indulgence."
"Well, as I am the host, I decide what I do. Now if you don’t like it, go away. Find something else to do. Just don’t pay attention to me."
