"You should save yourself." I blinked away the grit from my eyes.
"I am," he replied. "I'm just taking you with me."
"Hurry up, or I'll bite you all," Khat said. He streaked past us.
"How would that help?" I asked, but got no response.
We reached the place we'd come in and found Ash waiting for us.
"I would guess we join hands again, but we have very little time." Ash's words were punctuated by the collapse of the tunnel right behind us.
I grabbed onto him and Khat pressed himself against Huon's legs.
Nothing happened.
The tunnel rumbled and shook. Slowly at first, then with more force.
"We need to keep running." Huon did just that, but his expression was strained.
"I can walk by myself," I said. "Or better yet, fly."
Huon shook his head. "There's too much risk of your wings being hit. Don't worry, I've got you."
"You lot are too slow." Khat raced ahead of us and disappeared from view amongst the dust.
"It's nice to know he has our back," Huon said dryly.
"Perhaps he can lead the way," Ash said. He was panting and sweat made rivers in the dust on his dark face.
"Or not." Huon nodded as Khat appeared in front of us.
"It's a dead end." The mimicat sounded disgusted. "We're all going to die!"
"That's an encouraging thought," I said dryly. "Maybe we can reach the others on the outside somehow."
"How?" Huon asked.
"I don't know… Maybe if we all think at one of them hard enough, they'll hear it." It was worth a try anyway.
Ash nodded slowly. "Let us try to reach Saff. We all know him better than the other two."
"Agreed," Huon said.
"Don't send him dirty thoughts," I said.
Huon smiled. "What makes you think I would do that?"
"I've met you," I said dryly.
"Have I mentioned hurry up?" Khat said frantically.
"All right, all right." I closed my eyes and thought about Saff, telling him to let us out of here. I pictured him sitting on the ground beside us, watching us, moving closer to us…
"Oh!" Huon exclaimed.
My eyes shot open. "What?" To my bitter disappointment, we were still in the crumbling tunnel.
"Khat's gone," Huon said. "He was there and then he wasn't."
"Good, he can tell them to…"
Ash disappeared without a sound.
"Us next." I licked my lips and waited.
"Maybe I should put you…" Huon started to lower me to the ground when he too disappeared. I fell the rest of the way with a thud.
"Well shit." I pushed myself to my feet and rubbed my ass. "I guess no one else is holding my hand now," I said to myself. "Good, they're safe." I assumed they were anyway. At least they weren't here, in a tunnel on the verge of falling in on itself, and me.
I stopped and looked around. "How the hells do I get out of here then?"
The walls responded by shaking.
"Really? That wasn't the answer I was after." I rubbed my gritty face. "I could use a bath."
The walls shook harder.
"Yes, yes, I know. No bath for Summer. Maybe my sisters were right, I'm an idiot." I frowned. "I must be going crazy. I'm talking to myself and thinking my sisters were right about something."
I threw my head back and shouted, "They're the idiots!"
The shaking stopped for a moment, then resumed, twice as hard.
"Good job, Summer," I muttered. "All right, if I'm going to die, I might as well make it spectacular."
I drew in a breath and focused all my attention and magic at a section of wall. With everything in me, I sent the biggest blast of magic I had ever used, toward the stone. Where the magic hit, the stone shattered into a thousand minute pieces.
For a while, I couldn't see past the dust. When it finally settled, I saw the hole I had made.
And the forest beyond it.
I took off at a sprint and threw myself through the hole just as the tunnel collapsed in on itself.
20
I hit the ground for the third time in a short while and cried out in pain. This was a habit I could live without.
I lay on the ground for a while, panted and caught my breath. The air out here was fresh and smelled like wet dirt and trees. Better than dank stone and tired souls.
After a moment, I lifted my head and looked around. A scream echoed through the forest, but this time I didn't jump. Just another screamspinner.
That sound was soon followed by a different one, a shout.
"Summer!"
"Huon?" My own voice was little more than a squeak. I pulled myself to my feet and leaned against a tree. This close to the leaves, I smelled the taint of rot creeping in. The longer I stood there, the worse it got.
"Huon!" I called out louder. That blast of magic must have taken a lot out of me, I was exhausted. I doubted I would be able to shout any louder.
"Summer!" He sounded closer now. Another voice joined the first. Then another.
Saff and Fletcher.
"Summer?" That was Ash. He sounded like he was only a few metres away.
"Ash, I'm over here." I blinked and struggled to keep my eyes open.
"Thank the gods." He caught me around the waist. "I've found her."
I sagged against him and closed my eyes.
"Where are you?"
"Oh."
"We need to lie her down."
I wasn't sure who spoke, but I felt a few tender hands on me. They helped me down, covered me with blankets. Someone held me close while shivers wracked my body.
"I think she's in shock. We need to keep her warm and comfortable. Here, put this under her head."
A warm hand lifted my head and a blanket was placed underneath me.
"Can you believe she blew a hole in the side of the mountain?" That sounded like Saff. He seemed impressed.
"That was incredible," Ash agreed.
"That's our Summer." Huon sounded proud.
"She really is like no one else." Fletcher's voice was so close, he must be the one holding me.
"And you secured the key," Tavar stated.
"Yes," Ash replied. "Is it supposed to be this small?"
I couldn't make out her reply and their voices faded away.
"The key," I murmured.
"It's okay, Ash has it," Fletcher said. He stroked my hair lightly and kissed my cheek. "You did it."
"We all got out." I marvelled at that miracle.
"Yes. Saff said something about hearing you all yelling at him."
"That's right." I heard Saff and felt him flop down beside me. "Huon said, "help us, you fucking idiot," so I knew it was him." He chuckled.
"That would be Huon," I muttered. "Always with the manners."
"Shhh, you should get some rest," Fletcher urged.
I nestled down into him, but I needed to know one more thing. "The soul said the realm would die faster."
They both hesitated. I cracked my eyes open to see them look at each other.
"The trees around us got brown just before you blew out the mountain," Saff admitted. "But you have time to rest. The realm won't end today."
That should have been reassuring, but the realm might end tomorrow instead. I couldn't help if I was exhausted, so I closed my eyes again and let sleep claim me.
Dawn was breaking by the time I awoke. I felt refreshed and comfortable. Fletcher lay on one side of me, Saff on the other. I picked up my head and saw Ash on the other side of Fletcher. Huon lay beside Saff. I saw a blanket a few metres away and assumed Tavar was under it. I saw no sign of Khat.
I stretched and Fletcher opened his eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I whispered.
"How are you feeling?" he mouthed.
"Much better," I mouthed back.
"Good." He gave me a soft smile and put an arm over me to draw me to him. "I was worried about you."
"I was worried
about me too," I replied. I had expected to wake in pain, but I hadn't. Instead, I found my body responding to the way Fletcher looked at me. I scooted over and pressed my mouth to his.
He kissed me back, hungrily. His mouth opened and when my tongue slipped inside, he sucked on it as though he wanted to devour it.
I stifled a moan and slipped a leg over his. He pressed his body to me and I felt his cock harden against my leg.
I slid my hand down under the blanket and undid the front of his pants. His erection was hard and hot as I curled my fingers around it.
He groaned against my mouth.
Unable to wait, I undid my own pants and wriggled out of them, then tossed my panties aside with them. My leg still hooked over him, I pressed myself onto his cock, all the way down to his balls.
"Summer," he whispered. "Oh gods." He was still for a moment, then began to frantically thrust into me. His breaths were short, sharp grunts from between gritted teeth. His hand found my clit and started to rub with as much urgency as his cock was pounding into me.
I bucked my hips, matching him movement for movement, driving us both closer and closer to the edge.
I bit my lip as an orgasm washed over me, hard and fast like our coupling. I was still in the throes of pleasure when he gave a grunt and came to his own climax inside me.
He thrust one more time, two more, then sagged.
"Wow," he sighed.
"I agree." I lay back and panted, while enjoying how it felt to have his cock still resting inside me. "I hope we didn't wake anyone."
He chuckled low in his throat. "I'm certainly awake now." Reluctantly, he slid out of me and tucked the blanket back around us.
"Me too." I nestled down against him. "That was nice."
"It was. Maybe we can take our time, next time."
"I'd like that." I especially liked that he wanted a next time. "Although quick and dirty is fun too."
"No argument from me," he replied. He exhaled softly into my hair. "I suppose we should get up and get food."
The reality of our situation crashed back into my mind. I wished it could have stayed out for a while longer.
"I suppose so. And work out our next course of action." I reached around under the blankets for my clothes and pulled them on.
As I did up my pants, I rolled over and saw Saff peering at me, only his eyes visible above his blanket.
"Is it safe to come out now?" he asked.
"Why wouldn't it be safe?"
He jerked his head toward Fletcher. "I didn't want to disturb you." He lowered the blanket to reveal his smile.
I flushed. "You heard that?"
"Heard it, felt it, have a raging hard-on because of it." He looked pained, but grinned. "I think I better go off by myself for a couple of minutes."
I gave him a regretful look. "Sorry, we'll try to be quieter next time."
He pushed the blanket back and rose awkwardly. "Or you could invite me to join in, if you like."
"I'll bear that in mind," I said and watched him walk away, his gait exaggerated for my benefit.
"Oops," Fletcher said softly. "Hopefully he was the only one."
I waited, but no one else spoke up, so I stood and grabbed the shirt full of blackberries out of my bag. I tossed a berry to Fletcher and started nibbling on mine. By the time I finished and reached for another, Ash and Tavar were up and Huon was stirring.
Saff returned, looking relieved and without a word we all sat down and exchanged looks.
I decided I may as well jump right in. I faced Tavar and spoke bluntly. "You said we might get into the human realm."
Fletcher twitched and looked at us both over his berry.
Tavar nodded. "It required a key, and for you to survive."
"Yes, well I wouldn't expect to go anywhere if I was dead," I said dryly.
She regarded me, expressionless. "I imagine you wouldn't."
"Is this another legend which sends us off in the wrong direction?" Huon asked.
Tavar turned toward him slowly. "The first wasn't incorrect."
"Ultimately no," Huon agreed, "but it wasn't specific. We could as easily have searched for a literal cave while the realm died around us." He gestured toward the trees.
"It was in a literal cave," I pointed out. "Just one we couldn't have reached except the way we went in." I frowned. "I still haven't worked out how that happened."
"Your mind opened a portal," Tavar said. "A veil between here and inside the vault."
"But they were all still sitting in the same spot," Saff pointed out. "Only when we pulled them out did Summer disappear."
I blinked. "I did?"
Saff nodded. "When I took Huon's hand from yours, you were just—gone."
I shook my head slowly. "That's why you were calling out for me."
"You anchored the others there," Tavar said. "As soon as their connection to the anchor was gone, so were they."
"That makes sense," Ash said.
"I'm glad you think so." I snorted. I thought for a moment. "So I could have gone in alone and physically been there the entire time?"
"Possibly," she agreed. "I only know a small amount about this kind of magic. It's likely you couldn't have entered, or been allowed to live for long without the foretold being there with you."
I glanced at Ash. He looked embarrassed for some reason.
I looked back to Tavar. "Did you know he was the one they'd give the key to?"
"No. I've never heard of the foretold." Her lower lip twitched as though irritated at having not known every detail of our venture.
Huon flopped down beside me. "So you don't really know if we can get to the human realm or not?" he asked directly.
"I can make no guarantees," Tavar replied.
"So it's possible that what we just did could have all been for nothing," he said. "Except to hasten the death of the realm."
Tavar bristled. "I didn't know it would have than effect.
"Didn't you?" he challenged. "Because it seems a bit too convenient to me."
"What are you saying?" I asked.
He regarded me through half lidded eyes. "I'm saying you could have died. So could Ash and I."
"Don't forget me," Khat said.
Huon waved a hand in his direction. "And the cat. Three fae, including the fae king, and a mimicat, all dead. All after having listened to a troll."
Tavar hissed. "The key was retrieved." She bared her teeth at him and her hand hovered near her knife.
"Yes, but what if we can't get another one?" he asked. "What if the key has no meaning at all."
Silence fell for a long moment.
"I think it has meaning," I said softly. "I believe Tavar. I think she wants to help. If the realm dies, the trolls die too."
"Do they?" Huon asked. He looked around in challenge, but his eyes settled on Tavar.
"Yes, we do," Tavar said softly. "Our territory is dying faster than the fae territories. Before long, we will have two choices: die or move into fae lands." Before Huon could speak, she added, "Most would prefer to die first."
"That won't be necessary," I said firmly, "If the trolls need help, the fae will give it. Right King Huon?"
He frowned and shrugged. "I suppose so. We don't want to see anyone suffer."
I shook my head at his ungracious response, but I wouldn't push him any further. "We can do this. We've shown that. We can find both of the other keys. We will find them."
"How?" Saff asked.
"The key will tell us," Ash said softly.
"It talks?" Saff asked in surprise.
Ash tilted his head and gave Saff a funny look. "No. Ever since I touched it, it's been pulling me westward."
"Further west?" Huon groaned.
Tavar nodded eagerly, as excited as I'd ever seen her. "The legend says the keys are drawn together. If there's a way to retrieve the second, the key will show you the way."
"What about the third key?" Saff asked.
"Unless we find the second, then t
here will be no point in trying to find the third," I said.
My words were met with silence, punctuated by nods.
"She's right," Ash said.
"Of course, I'm always right," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Huon spluttered in laughter.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Just think," Saff said to no one in particular, "the fate of the realm lies in their hands."
"We're doomed," Khat said. He put a paw over his eyes and rolled onto his back.
I shook my head at his melodrama, but grinned. "If anyone can do this, we can."
"Of course we can," Huon said.
If only we didn't have to venture deeper into the tainted parts of the realm to do it.
21
"So how does this work?" Ash and I walked a few paces ahead of the others. Him, because he had the key. Me, because I was curious, and hadn't had much time to speak to him.
"I don't know." He held the key on his dark palm and moved it back and forth slowly. "I feel it pulling me this way." He stepped passed a pile of rocks which might not have been there the day before.
The damage I had caused when I blew a hole in the base of the mountain was more obvious here. Rocks and scars tore up the ground. The bodies of dead beetles were scattered here or there, but not as many as I would have thought. Either they had disintegrated, or some other predator had feasted on them.
I didn't want to think about the latter.
"I hope that isn't leading us astray," I remarked.
"As do I," he agreed. "I suspect not, but we should be on our guard."
"When are we not?" Saff asked from behind us.
"Most of the time," Khat said. "Your thoughts are more with your cock than your brain."
"How do you know what's going on inside my head?" Saff asked. He sounded more intrigued than annoyed.
"Lucky guess," Khat said.
Huon chuckled. "He gets you."
Khat regarded him. "You're just as bad. You all are. Except Tavar. Imagine that, a troll being the only sensible one."
She gave him a frown, then shook her head.
"See?" Khat said.
"Jealous?" Huon asked.
"Certainly not." Khat sniffed. "I have a perfectly good mimicat I hope to be reunited with very soon. If you would all focus and hurry up."
Shimmer (Summer's Harem Book 1) Page 12
