Slowly.
"They don't travel in herds," Saff pointed out.
"Be grateful for that," I said.
"They might mask any noise we make," Huon pointed out.
"Or we could just be quiet," Ash suggested.
"That's the best idea I've heard all day," I said, my voice low. "So tell me, how are we related to trolls?" I stepped around a beech with more rotten leaves than not. It stank like a dead pig's ass. Not that I had ever been near one, but it was putrid nonetheless.
"We evolved from the same creature," Ash replied. "As did the screamspinners."
"That explains my sisters," I said cheerfully. "Part troll, part screamspinner."
"I'm sure they aren't that bad," he said.
"You clearly haven't met them." I sighed. "No, they aren't that bad, just irritating, judgemental, difficult, spoilt…" I held up a finger as Huon looked over his shoulder, his mouth open.
"Don't say a word," I warned.
He held up his hands and gave me a look of pure mock innocence. "I wouldn't dream of it."
"Of course not," Saff said, "you just described him to a T."
He ducked away from Huon and the ground fell out from under him.
6
"What the hells?" Huon exclaimed.
I froze.
"Saff?" I called out gingerly.
"I'm all right, just a little bruised." His voice came back from a hole which had been covered by sticks and leaves. When he'd stepped in the wrong place, the camouflage had given way.
The trap was the oldest one in the book, here and in the human world. We probably should have been on the lookout for it, but my eyes had been on the leaves nearest my face, not on the ground.
"You should probably come down here though," Saff added.
I exchanged confused looks with Huon, but slowly moved toward the hole.
"Why," I asked, "what's down there?" If this was a joke of some kind, I would…
"Something amazing," Saff replied. "You have to see it for yourself."
I frowned, but inched forward before I peered over the edge.
Saff lay on his side, eyes closed, face white except for a smattering of blood on his cheek. Beside him sat a large creature with striped black and grey fur.
"A mimicat," I said. It hadn't been Saff speaking at all. The big cats were known for their ability to mimic voices perfectly.
And for their appetite.
The mimicat licked his paw.
"It looks as though I eat well tonight." Now the mimicat sounded like me.
"Not if we kill you first." Huon pulled out a knife.
"Kill me? Don't you know you should always be gentle with pussies?" The mimicat tilted his head.
"Not ones who are about to try to eat my friend," Huon growled.
"Why would I eat him?" the mimicat asked, now speaking in Huon's voice. "You look much more tasty. Or her." The cat inclined his head toward me. "But I can make you a deal. I won't eat any of you." He flicked his tail.
"What do you want in return?" Ash asked.
"The same thing you want." The mimicat used a different voice now, maybe its own, maybe a past victim. "The return of lesser magic. Without the ability to cross the veil, we're dying out. Trolls are unpalatable and fae are vengeful if we eat one of them. Don't even get me started on eating screamspinners."
"You eat humans?" I asked, aghast.
The mimicat looked affronted. "Only the bad ones. Mostly we just eat rats and mice and the fish humans toss out for us."
"So if we get lesser magic back, you won't eat us?" Huon asked.
"Better than that, I want to help you." The mimicat stepped over to Saff and licked his face before anyone could object.
Saff gave a soft groan and started to rouse.
"We're not without magic of our own. I think we can assist each other. My name is Khatlintain. You can call me Khat if you prefer."
Huon eyed him for a few moments longer, then slid his knife away. "Saff?"
Saff groaned and sat up. "I'm all right. Nothing hurt but my self-esteem."
"So, nothing vital then." Huon gave a wan smile.
"Pretty much." Saff pushed himself to his feet. "Why is a cat digging a hole and hiding in it?"
"That's Khat to you," Khat replied. "You have to say the H. K…h…h…hat."
Saff shrugged. "Like I said, cat."
"Maybe I will eat him after all," Khat said in my voice.
Saff peered up at us. "Is it wrong that I found that arousing?"
I turned to Ash. "Maybe we should leave him in the hole."
Ash nodded. "That might be wise." Humour shone in his eyes. "But he asked a pertinent question. Why did a mimicat dig a hole and cover it?"
"I didn't," Khat replied. "I found it and hid in it. We mimicats like dark places, you know. No one asked you to fall in and wake me from my nap." His ears and tail flicked back and forth now.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude—" I started.
"Then don't," Khat replied.
I hesitated for a moment, but then asked, "Are all mimicats as strange as you?"
Khat sniffed. "Of course we are." He blinked at me slowly. "You ask that as though being strange is a bad thing."
I laughed. The creature was odd, but it was hard not to like him.
Huon laughed louder than I did. "The cat has a point."
"Khat," said Khat.
"So how can you help us?" I asked. "Do you know what caused lesser magic to fail?"
"Alas, I don't," he said sadly. "I suspect the answer lies here, in the west. The rest of the mimicat council—"
"You have a council?" Huon blurted out.
"Of course we do." Khat sounded offended. "We're not uncivilised." His tail swished again.
I was starting to realise that was a sign of his aggravation.
"Of course you're not." I shot Huon a warning look. "We just don't know much about your kind."
"You could have learnt," Khat said.
"Since your kind eats our kind, I think we can be forgiven for not trying too hard," Huon said dryly. "Hopefully this can lead to a new era of peace between the mimicats and fae."
"And a new era of mutually not eating each other," Saff added.
Khat stretched slowly and leapt out of the hole.
I stepped back. Next to me, he was twice my current size. In the human world, he would be no bigger than a kitten. I resisted the urge to enlarge myself. We stayed small to reduce our impact on the realm around us. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise just for my own ego.
Huon looked as though he'd been thinking the same thing, but he too remained small.
"So," I said uneasily, "what did the council think?"
"They dealt with it the way they deal with everything. They decided to take a nap and worry about it later." He sounded disgusted.
I grimaced.
"So why are you here?" Saff flew up out of the hole and landed beside me.
Khat's head swivelled to look at each of us in turn. "Why are any of you? You all care more than the rest of the fae. Am I right? The rest are too busy being self important and indolent."
Huon raised a hand as though to argue, but lowered it again. "That and the late king gave us the responsibility."
"Would you be here if he hadn't?"
"I would," I replied immediately.
"As would I," Ash replied.
"Me too," Saff said, eyeing me unashamedly.
"And you?" Khat asked Huon. "Or would you have sent them on your behalf, your highness?"
Huon's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"I said I'm not without my magic," Khat replied. He blinked and slowly began to shrink down until he matched the rest of us in size. "So, would you be here?"
"I don't know," Huon admitted, "but that doesn't answer Saff's question."
"I'm a rebel," Khat replied. "Also I have a mate and kittens on the other side of the veil."
"A regular cat?" Saff asked.
"Good gracious n
o!" Khat replied, affronted. "She's a perfectly good mimicat, I'll have you know. She just started to give birth at the wrong time. I came back here for help and the veil closed. I've been stuck here ever since and she's been stuck there."
"That's terrible," I said. I genuinely felt bad for him. "We're going to fix this. We have fae on the other side too."
Huon nodded. "Khat, do you have any idea where to start on this? All we have is "somewhere in the west," but the west is a big place. It's hundreds of kilometres from coast to coast, and mostly places fae don't go. Or won't go."
"Too many trolls," Khat agreed. "And screamspinners. I heard rumours once of a cave full of them, and something of immense magical power at the other end."
"What sort of something?" Huon asked.
Khat sniffed. "I have no idea. No one I know who has gone there has ever come back."
"Well that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all," I said sarcastically. I looked around. "We're going there, aren't we?"
"It could be the key," Huon said.
"Or a dead end," I pointed out.
"Literally," Saff added.
"I'm sure four fae can overcome—" Huon began.
Khat cleared his throat.
"—four fae and a mimicat," Huon corrected. "Can overcome a bunch of screamspinners."
"Or die trying," Saff said cheerfully.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Ash asked. "You might be trying to lure us to our death."
"I might be, but if I was, I would have eaten you already," Khat said. "What benefit would there be in sharing you all with screamspinners? Not to mention I prefer not to become their meal myself."
He sat down to scratch his neck. "I heard of a mimicat who was taken by them and devoured slowly. In the end, he could only scream like them before he died."
I shuddered. "In the human world, they use bug spray to kill insects and arachnids. Usually I wouldn't approve of the killing of any creature, but I'd feel better if we had a giant spray can to bring with us."
Saff murmured his agreement.
"Let's worry about that when we get there." Huon said. "Khat did say it was just a rumour. How many times have we heard rumours that aren't true?"
"Once or twice," I agreed. "Khat, do you know the way to this cave that may or may not exist?"
"West, near the foot of the mountains," Khat replied.
"Well that narrows it down a little." I sighed. The Border Mountains spanned at least a hundred kilometres.
"It's as good a place as any to start," Saff said cheerfully.
"Yes, and we will not get there if we stand here talking about it," Khat pointed out.
"The cat is right." Saff jerked a thumb toward him. "Lead on then."
"Me?" Khat asked. "Oh no, I don't lead. I said I would help."
"Scared the screampinners will get your first?" Huon asked, teasingly.
"Precisely. I may look cute and furry, but I'm not an idiot. No, I will tag along behind you."
"If any trolls are following, they'll get him first," I said helpfully.
Khat paused. "As I said, I'll travel in the middle."
"I'll walk last," Ash said. "I can take care of myself."
Huon nodded. "Let's all stay close and keep an eye out for anymore traps." He gave Saff a smirk.
"Hey, it was hidden," Saff argued. "It could just as easily have been you who fell in."
I shook my head and walked behind Khat as we made our way through the ever darkening trees.
7
"It seems clean," Huon reported.
I crouched beside him and drew a cupped hand of water from the wide lake. I sniffed at it carefully, then took a tiny sip. "It tastes all right."
Huon slurped the water in his own hand and nodded. "We can camp here for the night."
Grateful, I swung my pack down to the ground and rubbed my shoulders.
Huon gave me a look as though to offer to do it for me, but I stepped away from him. I felt his eyes on me, but I didn't look back to see. Let him think I was still angry with him. I wasn't, for the most part, but it wouldn't hurt to let him stew for a bit longer.
Along the edge of the lake, the trees looked untouched by the taint. Their healthy green looked odd after several hours of brown.
"Is it possible the water contains something which is keeping them from rotting?" I asked Ash as he stopped beside me to regard to foliage more closely. "A bit of lesser magic maybe?"
"It's possible," he agreed. "Trees and plants which grow beside water are often stronger and more healthy because they have a source of water so close."
"That's true," I agreed. "Do you think it's safe to swim in?"
"I expect so. If it's fresh enough to drink, it should be clean enough to bathe."
I eyed the water. A fish darted across the surface and disappeared under a lily pad on the far side of the lake.
"Well, if it's good enough for the fish…" I followed the lake around to a stand of weeping willows and stripped. I tucked my clothes into a gap between two tree roots, where they should stay dry.
The water was cold on my feet as I stepped in. I waited a few moments for my skin to become accustomed, then waded in a little further. When the water was waist-deep, I paused.
The silence was broken by a whoop of joy and a splash as Saff leapt out off a thick branch. Legs tucked up, arms wound around them, he landed in the lake like a rock.
A wave washed over me, up to my chest. I squealed at the sudden cold on my breasts. I pressed my arms across them and ducked down until the water was up to my neck.
"You're a brat," I said once he surfaced for air.
He grinned. His eyes widened and he threw his hands over his face as Huon slammed into the water beside him.
A wash of water drenched my face and hair. I spat out a mouthful.
"And you called me a brat." Saff laughed. He scooped a handful of water and flung it at Huon as he popped up and took a breath.
Huon returned the favour, then splashed me for good measure.
"This means war," Saff said with a grin. He flicked the water with both hands, drove it relentlessly toward Huon's face.
Huon splashed him back. He moved closer to Saff, a bounce with each step.
I shook my head and picked a side. I lay back, stretched out my legs and kicked in Huon's direction.
"Hey, I thought we were friends?" he protested.
"What made you think that?" I kept up my attack, while I paddled with my arms to stay in place.
"You're savage for a fae," he teased. In spite of the onslaught, he grabbed my ankle and yanked me toward him.
I let out a shriek and tried to slip free from his grasp.
He managed to grip on to my other ankle and pulled until my legs went around his hips.
I tried to paddle backward, but he got his hands on my waist and drew me closer so my stomach was touching his cock.
"I'm mad at you," I reminded him.
"I'm sorry," he replied. "I shouldn't have talked about you behind your back. I just find it hard not to talk about you. Or touch you." His hands slid up and down my sides.
"You told Saff you would share me, with no thought to my feelings." My tone was colder than I'd intended, but I need to make this point. My life was my choice to make, no one else's.
Unless you count Birch having sent us on this quest to start with.
Huon surprised me by laughing.
"As if anyone could ever tell you how to feel or act, or anything like that. Summer, you're the most independent fae I know. All I said to Saff was that if you preferred him to me, I would have to accept it and live with it."
He searched my eyes with his. "For all I know, you might have loathed him like you loathe me."
I sighed softly. "I don't loathe you, Huon. You drive me crazy, and sometimes you're a dick. You're immature, spoilt, selfish, difficult—"
"Wow, it sounds like loathe is an understatement."
He looked so sad I had to add more, to put him out of his mi
sery.
"You're also smart, funny and I think you'll make a great king. Well, some day." I smiled teasingly.
He snorted. "No pressure then." Judging by how his erection now pressed against my stomach, there certainly was pressure.
"What about me?"
I had forgotten about Saff until he spoke over my shoulder.
I looked back at him. "You're goofy, funny and have that amazing hair." Right now it was plastered to his head and dripping down his face.
He grinned.
"You're pretty cute yourself," he said.
"Of course I am," I joked.
"So—" Huon ventured. "You don't hate us?"
I shook my head, sending droplets flying. "I don't hate either of you. I like you. Both of you. And Ash…" I added slowly.
"Ahhh." Huon nodded. "Well, Ash is pretty great."
"Really great," Saff agreed. "Smart and kind of hot."
I arched an eyebrow at Saff.
He shrugged. "I'm attracted to men and women. Is that a problem?"
"Not for me," I replied.
"Now we've worked that out…" Huon moved me up his body until the tip of his cock teased my sex.
I smiled and rubbed myself against him lightly.
"Um, should I go?" Saff asked.
It was sweet of him to ask, instead of making assumptions.
"I think you should stay," I said, my voice husky with growing desire.
In reply, he gently massaged my shoulders, then slipped a hand down and around to cup my breast. With his other hand, he rubbed my mound. He must have touched Huon's cock as well, because we both groaned.
Saff found my clit and gently ran his fingertip in tiny circles, while Huon slid himself inside me.
Huon paused to exhale, then slid out again, all the way. Just as I was about to beg him to fill me again, he did.
Behind me, Saff's cock rested against my ass. With one hand, I reached around to grip his wet, hard length. He bucked into my fingers as I rocked against his. Huon thrusted. Little waves splashed as he slid in and out of me.
Saff palmed one nipple, in rhythm with his movement, as Huon rolled the other gently.
Between all the stimulation and both men pressed in close, my passion rose quickly. I closed my eyes and rubbed myself faster against Saff's finger.
Shimmer (Summer's Harem Book 1) Page 4
