I shake my head as I retrieve the knife, which is in a leather sheath. I pull it out of that to see what the knife looks like. It’s actually a dagger with a thick, jagged, silver blade, and the handle is shaped like a batwing and encrusted with emeralds.
“No.” I gape at the blade. “This looks more like a dagger than a knife.”
“Technically, it is. I just thought saying knife might make it seem less scary.”
I stare at the very pointy tip of the blade, trying to imagine plunging it into a creature that attacks me. My stomach churns as I think about it.
Asher turns toward me, his gaze sweeping across my face. “I’m sure you won’t have to use it, but if you do, make sure to jab deep, okay?”
I give an uneven nod as I slip the dagger back into its sheath. “I’ll do my best.”
He offers me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry we have to have this conversation, but it needs to be had.”
“I know,” I tell him, understanding, as I slip the dagger into my pocket. “And I’m glad you gave me something to protect myself. I just hope I don’t have to use it.”
“Me, too,” he agrees. “I’ll make sure I do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen, but there may be a circumstance where I won’t be able to help you.” With that, he twists back around and signals for me to get on his back.
His last statement haunts my mind as I wrap my arms around him and hop onto his back. What kind of circumstances could there be where he wouldn’t be around to help me? Because we got separated? Because one of us was captured? Because he gets hurt.
That thought makes me feel sick to my stomach, and I make a silent vow to myself to do whatever I have to, to not only protect myself, but to protect all of them.
Harlynn
I don’t want to look weak, but I’m glad Asher is giving me a piggyback ride. I hadn’t even realized how slow I was walking until I climbed onto his back. The rest of the guys have gotten so far ahead of us that it takes a while for us to catch up. By the time we do, everyone is exhausted and frozen, which I find sort of odd. I wasn’t aware paranormals could get tired and cold. Then again, I’m exhausted and freezing. I just sometimes forget that I’m a paranormal.
I cling to Asher as he reaches the guys. Everyone is trudging forward with their heads tipped down, snow-flurries howling around us. Icicles have formed on everyone’s eyelashes except for mine. But that’s only because I have my face pressed against Asher’s back.
“Fuck this storm,” East grumbles as he pulls the hood of his coat tighter over his head. The snow is up to his knees, and his face is covered in snowflakes. “It keeps getting worse by the second.”
“I know,” Asher replies over the howling wind, his hair almost white from all the snow in it. “We probably should’ve waited until it blew through.”
“Yeah, well, it’s too late now,” East tells him with his head down. “And besides, it almost always storms here, so avoiding it is nearly impossible.”
“True.” Asher tightens his grip on my legs as we start up a hill.
“I think my eyes might be frozen open,” Arrow mutters as he rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Yep, they definitely are.”
My eyes widen. “Your eyes are frozen open? Aren’t your eyeballs going to get ruined?”
A wind-howling beat skips by, and then they all chuckle. Even Maxton, who’s been fairly quiet, lets out a soft laugh.
I blow out an exasperated exhale, smoke circling my face. “What’d I say this time that was so funny?”
Asher gently squeezes my legs. “Arrow’s eyes aren’t real. They’re mechanical, so they’ll be fine.”
My lips form an O, my breath puffing out in a cloud in front of my face. “Well, one of these days, someone really needs to sit down and tell me all the parts that are mechanical on Arrow and what parts aren’t.”
Silence encases us, and while I can’t see their faces, I can feel awkwardness mixing in with the icy snow.
Why, oh why, do I sometimes talk without thinking?
Gods, this is so awkward. I am so awkward.
I clear my throat. “How much longer do we have to be out here?”
“I think it might be just over this hill,” Asher murmurs, taking longer strides, the snow crunching underneath his steps.
Everyone follows his lead, picking up their paces, all their footsteps making soft crunches, four sets to be exact. And it makes sense, too, since we’re in the snow, but for some reason, my ears are sensing another set of footsteps. When I peer back behind us, though, all I see is snow. Lots and lots of snow. So weird. Perhaps I’m being paranoid.
Still, I feel a bit unsettled.
“You okay back there?” Asher asks as if he can sense that.
“Yeah.” I hold onto him tighter. “I just thought for a moment that I heard someone walking behind us.”
He grinds to a stop and hurriedly turns, searching the land. “I don’t see anything,” he mumbles.
“I know,” I say. “And I can’t hear the extra set of footsteps anymore, so I was probably just being paranoid.”
He brushes his fingers along the sides of my legs while his gaze remains glued to the frozen land behind us. “I’d say I can’t see any footsteps, either, but it’s snowing so hard it’s already filled in ours.”
“I know. And like I said, I’m probably just being paranoid … After everything that’s happened, I’m sure I am.”
“Maybe. But if you hear anything again, let me know.”
I nod, and he starts walking again. I keep my ears tuned in for noises around us but don’t hear the extra footsteps again. And that’s a good thing, yet I can’t shake this unsettling feeling stirring in my stomach that someone’s watching us.
By the time we reach the top of the hill, I’m more focused on getting out of this damn snow. I’m so cold, and I’m not even walking in it. I can only imagine how cold everyone else is.
“And there it is,” East declares, causing me to lift my head.
Squinting, I can make out a few twinkling lights at the bottom of the hillside.
“That’s the town?” I question.
“Yep,” East replies, folding his arms around himself.
I crinkle my nose. “But there’s hardly anything there.”
“All towns are small in Midnight,” East explains, wiping the snowflakes from his face.
“Let’s just hope this one has a hotel.” Arrow rubs his eyes again, the gadgets in his arms making a loud humming noise. “Or else we’re going to have to walk to the next one.”
“A hotel?” I frown. “Wait—we’re staying the night here?”
“We’re probably going to be staying more than one night,” Asher informs me. “And if it turns out no one here can point us in the direction of an energy reader, we’ll have to move on to the next town. This may take a while.”
“That sounds like it,” I mutter. “And no one even packed a suitcase.”
Again, they laugh at me.
Le sigh. Will there ever be a time when I don’t always sound completely clueless?
East reaches over and brushes his hand across my cheek. I don’t feel his touch, though, my skin way too numb from the cold.
“Don’t worry, little mouse; I’ve got you covered,” he says without explaining exactly how he has me covered. But, considering I’ve seen him create like ten rooms inside their worlds traveling vehicle, I’m sure that somehow he’s brought extra clothes for me. Or maybe he’ll just create them with his magic. I hope so. Honestly, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if we got to the hotel and East told me I was just supposed to walk around naked.
Suddenly, another thought occurs to me.
Are we going to get more than one hotel room? If not, then that means we’ll all be staying together in the same room, and that sounds like a very uncomfortable disaster in the making.
Harlynn
By the time we reach the town, I’m so frozen that I’m not sure if I’ll even be able
to pry my arms off of Asher. Everyone has grown quiet, possibly because their lips are frozen shut. Every so often, I peel open my eyelids and peer around at the cottages and shops lining the frost-bitten street that pave through the town. For the most part, I just keep my eyes closed, the wind too chilly against my pupils.
“Here we go,” Asher finally says. “This one should work.”
I hear the creaking of a door, and then we move forward out of the wind. I crack my eyes open and sigh in relief. We’re no longer outside, surrounded by snow.
The space is quaint with wooden walls and a chandelier made of horns. Beams stretch across the peaked ceiling, and a fire crackles in the fireplace in the corner that has a series of cozy looking chairs around it. This wasn’t what I was expecting at all on a planet that the guys warned me was dangerous.
“Well, this is cozy,” East murmurs, sounding a little on edge. He steps up beside Asher and me and drags the hood of his coat off. Then he shakes his head, sending bits of snow and ice all over the wooden floor.
“Cozy is better,” Asher informs him, stomping the snow off his boots. “I know you like flashy and fancy, but places like that are rare around here. Plus, those places draw more attention. Here, we can remain more hidden.”
“True.” East slips off his gloves and blows on his hands. “You wanna check us in? Or should I?”
“I’ll do it.” Asher gives my leg a soft squeeze. “I’m going to set you down, little thief. Go warm up by the fire.”
“Yes, boss,” I mumble with a roll of my eyes.
“Glad you finally realize that,” Asher mutters under his breath.
I’m about to throw a witty comeback at him when he carefully sets me down. My legs are a bit wobbly as my feet touch the floor. The cold has weakened my muscles, I think.
East glances at me with a trace of worry residing in his eyes. “You look freezing.” He grazes his fingertips along my cheeks and frowns. “Your skin’s basically blue.”
I frown, too. “Really?”
He gives a grave nod. “Yeah, let’s go warm up by the fire, okay?” He tangles his fingers with mine without waiting for me to agree and pulls me away from Asher.
Asher glances at us as he slips off his gloves, giving me one final look before turning away.
East steers me past Arrow and Maxton, who are shucking off their coats. Arrow’s eyes track out movements before he follows us.
“This place is empty,” Arrow notes as he, East, and I take a seat on the sofas.
East ends up sitting beside me while Arrow sits across from us. Maxton lingers near the door, gazing out the frosted windows, his eyes haunted with uneasiness.
“That’s a good thing,” East tells Arrow as he tugs off one of my gloves, drawing my attention to him. He brings my hand to his lips and breathes on my skin.
“I guess so.” Arrow slumps back into the sofa. “It makes me kind of unsettled, though. My sensors are, too.”
“Your sensors are frozen,” East points out as he sets my hand on my lap. Then he takes off my other glove and breathes on that hand, too. “So, right now, they’re not reliable.”
“I know, but I still don’t like how empty the place is.” He drums his mechanical fingers against the armrest. “It’s strange.”
“It’s not completely empty.” East nods in the direction of the counter where a woman with long black hair and golden eyes is talking to Asher.
Arrow throws a glance over his shoulder, and then his frown deepens as he looks back at us. “You know what she is, right?”
East casts a glance at the woman then looks back at Arrow. “I do, but why does it matter?”
Arrow gives him a pressing glance, and East sighs before breathing on my hand again.
“What is she?” I ask then look at East. “And why do you keep breathing on my hands?”
East smiles then breathes on my hands again. “I’m trying to warm your skin up, sweetheart.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t think it’s working because I can’t feel anything,” I tell him while plucking a chunk of ice off my coat with my free hand.
“That’s because the cold has made you numb,” he tells me. “Give your body a minute to thaw, and then you should start feeling stuff again.”
I give him a thumbs-up. “Noted. But you didn’t answer my other question.”
East’s eyes travel toward the counter, then a frown etches into his face. “I’ll tell you later when we’re in our room, okay?”
I desperately want to know now, but nod, worry coursing through my veins. What could she possibly be that would have him so apprehensive about answering me?
“Can you hear what they’re saying?” East whispers to no one in particular.
Arrow discreetly shakes his head. “No. I think there’s a protection charm in place here or something. Or maybe some silent herb is burning in the fire.”
I glance at the fire, the flames hissing a golden brown haze into the air. Beneath the sounds of hissing of the flames, though, my ears detect the slightest whispering of voices.
“Well, we only have one room available here.” The feminine voice has a sultry purr to it.
“I can hear what they’re saying,” I utter quietly.
East’s brows rise. “Well, look at you, you little badass.”
I wink at him. “You know it.”
He grins, positively pleased.
I grin back, pretty damn pleased with myself, too.
“I don’t know why you’re so surprised by that,” Arrow says to East as he shoves up the sleeves of his shirt, displaying his bronzed arms. “With everything she can do, I’d be more surprised if she couldn’t hear them.”
“You’re right.” East scrubs his hand over his jawline, deeply contemplating something. “One of these days, when we have some free time and a secure place to do it, we should test her and see what she can really do.” He winks at me.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I say warily. “I mean, what if I accidentally do something bad? What if I—”
East places a finger to my lips, shushing me. “Relax, sweetheart. I meant after we find out more about your powers. You don’t need to stress about it right now, okay?” When I nod, he lowers his fingers from his lips. “However, if you’re okay with it, can you eavesdrop on their conversation? I want to make sure nothing strange is going on.”
Again, I wonder what sort of creature the woman is, but don’t ask, nodding instead. Then I strain my ears and listen.
“There’s an event going on downstairs, too,” the woman is saying to Asher. “Only validated guests are allowed to attend, so you’ll need to make sure to stay on the main floors.”
“What’s she saying?” East whispers while leaning close to me, his breath fanning across my cheek.
“Something about an event taking place downstairs,” I whisper, glancing at Asher and the woman from out of the corner of my eye. “And that we’re not allowed to attend because we’re not validated guests.”
East trades a wary look with Arrow.
“What sort of event?” Asher asks her, resting his arms on top of the counter.
“I’m not permitted to say,” the woman replies vaguely as she scribbles something down in a thick, leather book. “But most of the entire town is down there, and the event lasts for days, which means many of the shops and stores will be closed for most of the week.”
I know the guys mentioned this world was old-school, but watching someone write something in a book with a quill pen is as weird as watching a gnome tap dance to punk rock music, which is really freakin’ weird, let me tell you.
“Really? You can’t even give me just a little of a hint?” Asher asks, offering her the most charming smile I’ve ever seen grace his face.
Okay, I take back my comment about the dancing gnome. Asher’s flirty smile is the way weirder. Usually, he’s so intense. But charming …? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him use that smile on anyone before, and that makes my stomach sink a sm
idgeon.
“No, I can’t. And I’d advise not to ask any more questions,” she continues, slamming the book closed then handing Asher a skeleton key. “Your room is the tenth door, down the hallway and to the right.” She points to a hallway while giving Asher a hard look, apparently not impressed by his charm. “Have a nice night.”
“Well, she doesn’t seem too impressed with Asher,” I tell East and Arrow. “He tried to flirt with her to get her to tell him what the event was, and she got pissed off.”
“Considering what she is, he should’ve known better than to even try,” East murmurs, rising to his feet as Asher heads over to us with the key in hand.
“Let’s get to the room,” he tells East and Arrow with a pressing look.
East nods while Arrow gets to his feet, his gadgets humming.
I start to stand up, when East reaches down, snags ahold of my hand, and lifts me to my feet. Then the four of us start toward the hallway, but Asher suddenly pauses and turns around.
“Max, are you coming?” he calls out with his brows furrowed.
I peer over my shoulder at Max, who has remained standing by the window.
He looks at Asher and sighs. “Yeah, I guess,” he mumbles, anxiousness flowing off him.
I wonder if he’s just nervous because all this is new. Or is it something else?
One thing’s for sure, as we pass by the counter and the woman behind it eyes me over with way too much intrigue, I begin to grow anxious myself.
Harlynn
“I don’t like this at all,” Asher declares after the five of us have piled into the room and he shut the door behind us. He tosses the key onto a table then rakes his fingers through his hair. “There’s a succubus running the front desk and some weird-ass days’ long event going on in the basement that we can’t attend.”
“Wait … She’s a succubus?” I gape at Asher.
He nods, shucking off his jacket and tossing it onto the bed.
Wait … One bed?
You have got to be shitting me.
I mean, sure, it’s a huge, four-poster with velvet drapes the size of four normal beds. Mounds of silky blue and silver pillows are propped against the headboard that’s carved with stars and moons. The comforter is grey and matches the mural of what looks like a smoky sky painted on the ceiling. The fireplace is made of blue stone, and the floor is the color of ash. The walls are lined with black beams that spiral toward the ceiling.
Chasing Secrets (Capturing Magic Series Book 4) Page 5
