There was something he had to do. He was loath to leave her here, alone and without his protection, but one last glance of hers over his shoulder decided him.
“I’m going to hand you over to Jasper,” he said.
Jasper seemed confused, but her hazel eyes were steady as he transferred her into his brother’s arms. Jet’s chest clenched. This felt all wrong.
“Look after her, won’t you?” he asked his brother.
“And where are you going?”
Jet looked down the canyon. “To cover her tracks.”
He had taken a single step when someone grabbed his arm.
“Wait.” Her touch was light, but strong. “Sylvia. That’s my name.”
“Oh.” Something about her hazel eyes made him feel like he’d been clubbed over the head. “Nice to meet you, Sylvia.”
Her fingers fell from his arm, releasing him. He had to go now, or he’d never be able to bear the thought of leaving her side again. Jet shook himself and shifted, racing down the canyon and back into the woods. All the while, his paws seemed to drum out the only word that mattered.
Sylvia. Sylvia. Sylvia.
Chapter 3
There were stone walls, a towering tree. A man with large muscles—Jasper—clutched her to his chest. She felt a twinge of fear that the other man—shifter—had gone. It felt safer with two. There were more now, but she didn’t know them. They crowded around, and she didn’t have enough air.
“Yes, yes,” Jasper was saying. “She’s hurt, though. Give her some room. Everett, could you get some hot water? Rowan, bandages?” His voice sounded like it was coming from down a long tunnel.
Sylvia. She was Sylvia. She clung to the knowledge. He had tried so hard, but he hadn’t been able to take it from her.
Who had tried?
She shuddered as a door seemed to slam shut in her mind. She couldn’t think of him. Couldn’t let him back in, even for a second. He had tried to take everything from her…
Sylvia let out the breath she’d been holding. Jasper was moving, carrying her through a curtain of dangling roots. This was nothing like the other place. Maybe he couldn’t find her here.
No matter where you hide, how far you run, I’ll always find you, my dove.
She couldn’t help the sob that escaped her.
“What is it?” Jasper’s arms tightened around her.
“My… my feet hurt.”
“I’ll have someone see to them. Just hold on a little longer.”
It felt wrong to lie to him, but the twinge of guilt passed. After him, she couldn’t trust anyone. There truly were monsters abroad in the world.
Don’t think of him. Don’t think of him.
Her heart beat frantically as she tried to think of something else. Jasper looked down at her, concern in his eyes. He seemed like a good man. But so had the other one. He had fooled her—it had been so easy.
“Put her down here.” The voice was calm, but commanding. Unravelling a bandage, a woman with black hair flicked her eyes over Sylvia. “She doesn’t look too good. What happened?”
“Not sure.” Jasper laid her on a makeshift cot. “I figured I’d ask again once she’s rested.”
Sylvia wrapped the cloak around her. No one else was wearing clothes, but she felt naked in front of these people. From the way they strode about, confident and bare, she wondered if they thought her odd for covering herself.
The woman gasped. “What did she do to her feet?”
“Ran her soles off, I think.” Jasper put a hand on the back of his head. “Is there anything I can do, Rowan?”
“Get her some water. And food. She looks like she could use it.”
Jasper knelt down next to her cot. “I’ll be back soon,” he said. “Don’t worry.”
He left the room with a worried backward glance. Sylvia watched him go, feeling like she might be sick to her stomach. The woman—Rowan—was still here. So why did she feel so alone?
A shifter popped into the room. “Here’s your hot water,” he said.
“Thanks, Everett.” Rowan turned to Sylvia as he left. “Can you sit up for me?”
She sat abruptly, wondering why the question made her throat tighten.
“You can soak your feet in this bucket for a few minutes,” Rowan said. “Once the dirt’s off, I can see what the damage is.”
Slowly, Sylvia slid her feet into the water. It stung horribly. She gritted her teeth, determined not to cry out.
“That should be good,” Rowan said finally.
Gasping, Sylvia lifted her feet.
“Not as bad as they looked.” Rowan inspected her soles as she dabbed them with a piece of hide. “Hopefully we can get them healed up fast.”
That was good. She needed to heal as quickly as possible. She needed to keep moving, to get out of here before he found her, like he had promised. He always kept his promises…
“This is the best lotion we have,” Rowan said, uncorking a jar. “For healing, anyway. Just don’t ask what’s in it. Or why it smells so bad.”
Gently but thoroughly, she smeared it over Sylvia’s soles. A pungent smell filled the room until it made her eyes water. But the horrible stinging began to fade from her feet, so she didn’t complain.
She hadn’t realized how much her feet had hurt. As the lotion seeped in, she felt her shoulders relax.
“Let me get you bandaged up.” Rowan deftly wrapped her feet, which had started to throb.
Sylvia closed her eyes. She hoped Rowan would finish soon. She could already feel herself drifting off…
“What’s this?” Rowan asked sharply.
Sylvia jerked awake. Rowan was staring at the two punctures near her inner elbow. Feeling self-conscious, Sylvia drew it into her cloak.
“I think it was an animal,” she mumbled.
“That must have been a large animal. Can I clean the wound for you?”
“It’s… old.” Sylvia wished she could disappear into her cloak. “I’ll be fine.”
“Let me bandage it at least.”
Hating herself for not resisting, Sylvia stuck out her arm. Rowan wrapped a bandage around it, taking one last look at the bite marks.
“How’s it going?” Jasper appeared in the doorway. “I brought a tray of food up to my quarters. I figured it might be quieter up there. Is it all right if I move her?”
“Fine, fine.” Rowan spooled and unspooled the bandages. “Let me just talk to you for a moment, Jasper.”
They went into the hall, but snippets of their hushed conversation echoed off the stone.
“…mostly healthy… needs rest and food… but bite marks… vampire?”
“Vampire?”
“On her arm, though… Is it safe?”
“Safe? She’s not a vampire, is she?” Jasper’s voice had risen.
“No, but is it wise—”
“Wise be damned! She’s hurt, and she needs our help.” Jasper stormed back into the room. “If there’s nothing further, that will be all. Thank you for your help, Rowan.”
“Are you besotted already? Really, Jasper?” She tried to keep her voice low, but it didn’t matter. “Last time I checked, you weren’t Alpha.”
“So everyone keeps reminding me.”
“You don’t have final say in this.”
“And neither do you, Rowan. Now go.”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed, but she left without further argument.
Sylvia watched as Jasper sank to the cot beside her, making the hide groan.
“Sorry about that. I know you need rest, not yelling.”
She ran a finger over the bandage on her arm. Unlike the ones on her feet, it felt uncomfortably tight. “I did get bitten, though. But I’m not… I’m not one of—”
Her throat closed, and she couldn’t finish her sentence. She shut her eyes, trying not to think of the fangs, the searing heat of them, the horrible sucking sound…
“It’s all right.” Jasper laid a hand on hers. For once, she didn’t flinch aw
ay. “I’m here.”
Her stomach growled.
“You’re hungry.” He smiled. “And in luck. Come with me.”
Picking her up easily, he took her into the hall and through a maze of stone.
“My brother and I sleep up here.” He was carrying her up steps carved into the inner trunk of the tree. “It’s quieter, if nothing else.”
At the top of the stairs were two doorways. Jasper took her through the one on the right.
“This is my room. It’s not much, but it’s home.”
A platform had been hewn from the stone floor. It was piled with furs, which he placed her on.
“How about we let in some light?” He pushed on part of the trunk, and a piece of it swung open like a window. Clouds rolled past in the blue sky outside.
“Eat, if you’re not too tired.” He laid a tray beside her. “There’s some rabbit, and some greens. I wasn’t sure what you preferred.”
Sylvia was suddenly ravenous. When had she last eaten? From the way her stomach was twisting, it could have been days. She snatched up the meat, tearing off pieces and gulping them down. Juice dribbled down her chin.
She looked up, remembering that Jasper was there, and froze. He must think her so rude. He would punish her, just like—
“Don’t worry.” Jasper smiled. “I’m a wolf, I’m not concerned with table manners.”
Slowly, she relaxed. She took a cautious bite of rabbit, still watching him in case he had lied and was just waiting until she was off guard to punish her.
But as the rabbit disappeared, he only seemed focused on her appetite.
“Was that enough?” he asked. “I can get more if you want it.”
She shook her head, hoping he couldn’t hear her stomach growl again. What if this was all a trick, a tease? Her eyelids drooped. She was so tired. She had to remember not to trust him, not even for a second…
Don’t trust who?
She remembered the cold green eyes, the cruel laugh. Sylvia shivered, feeling like nothing could warm her.
“Are you cold?”
She jumped. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
Lies, lies, lies. She hated lying to Jasper. His eyes were light gold, and there was warmth and humanity behind them. But it was still so dangerous to trust anyone. So, so dangerous…
“You look tired,” Jasper said as she stifled a yawn. “Please rest. I’ll make sure no one bothers you up here.”
He moved toward the doorway as if he planned to leave.
“No!”
Jasper stopped.
“Please don’t… Don’t go.” The words came out choked and frantic. He couldn’t leave her. Not alone, when he was after her, and had promised to find her. She might be at the top of a tree in a hidden canyon on a remote mountain, but that wouldn’t stop him.
Her lungs ached at the thought of being left alone.
“I’ll stay.” Jasper sat down on the edge of the bed, as though afraid she’d take off running.
Sylvia clenched her eyelids shut. He must think her a freak.
“I’m here,” he said, and somehow his voice calmed her. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”
Cautiously, she lay down on the bed. She wanted so badly to trust him. Part of her already did, but she couldn’t trust herself. She was stupid enough to have been tricked before.
Sylvia let out a long breath. She was too tired right now to think of lies, betrayal, torture.
She buried herself in the furs to hide the shudder that crawled over her shoulder blades and down her spine. All she left uncovered was her face.
“Will you hold my hand?” she asked at last, reaching out from under the fur.
“Of course,” Jasper said quietly.
Something about the warmth of his callused palm and the gentle pressure made her breathing slow and even. She was safe here, in this second. That had to be enough.
“Why won’t you eat?”
She sat in an ornate chair, her heart pounding in her ears. It was a trap—there was no acceptable answer to the question.
A sigh. “Being difficult again, aren’t you, Sophie?”
She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. He had taken her voice again. But worse was coming. He only used that name when he was about to punish or reward her. And since she hadn’t answered his question, a reward wouldn’t be forthcoming.
A cold hand brushed her shoulder. She would have sobbed if she could.
“You know what I have to do now. It’s for your own good.”
She screamed.
She sat bolt upright, tangled in furs, sweat dripping down her back. It was pitch black. Where was she?
“What’s wrong?”
Someone was beside her. She crossed her arms before her, mad with fright, trying to ward him off.
“It’s okay. You’re safe in our den. In the canyon. Remember?”
She glanced around the room, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. The window in the tree’s trunk was still open, and she could make out the stars winking in the night. Letting out a soft moan, she collapsed into the furs.
“Jasper?” she asked.
“No. It’s Jet.”
The knot in her shoulders loosened, despite the annoyance she caught in his voice. “I remember you.”
“Do you need anything?” His voice was slightly softer now. “Food, water?”
She hesitated. “Could I maybe have some food?”
“Sure.” He stood in the darkness. “I’ll be right back.”
Sylvia watched him go, feeling torn. She wasn’t hungry at all.
Once his footsteps faded, she stepped out of bed. Groping through the darkness, she headed for the stairs. She took them as fast as she could, trying not to stumble. Though she wished she could have gotten more food, clothes, or even a pair of boots, she had to leave.
The man from her dreams would be stalking her. He would be coming after her, even as he haunted her dreams. Jet and Jasper were good men. And that was why she had to leave.
She couldn’t let danger find them too.
Finally, she reached the main level. Keeping one hand on the stone wall, she made her way through the depths of the den. Her heart thudded, and she worried about bumping into someone at any turn. But she met no one.
Pale moonlight showed her the exit, and she walked through the canopy of hanging roots. They clung to her shoulders, as if begging her to stay.
But she couldn’t. To stay would be to doom everyone in this canyon.
Bracing herself, she stepped into the moonlight.
“Where are you going?”
Jet stood behind her, looking perplexed.
She leapt backward, almost tripping on her cloak. “I was just… taking a walk.” Trying not to panic, she continued into the canyon. He wouldn’t try to stop her, would he?
“Taking a walk? On bandaged feet and an empty stomach?” He sighed. “You’re running away, aren’t you?”
She didn’t have an answer for him.
“Will you please come inside? At least wait until it’s light out before you go.”
Her feet had begun to throb, but she couldn’t back down. “I’m sorry. I have to leave.”
“Why?” The question was like a small explosion. Jet sighed. “I’m no good at this. I told Jasper not to go on patrol. He’s much more persuasive than I am.”
She looked into his eyes, which glowed faintly gold in the light. “You knew I would run away?”
Jet shrugged. “You’re running from something. Why would you stop?”
The question made her ache. Jet, Jasper… Both of them made her want to stop. To cease running. To have a home. But she had him to think about. And he would never let that happen.
She drew the cloak around her, trying to steel herself. “It’s for your own good.”
“And what about your own good? You’re going to hobble off into the mountains, to face your foe alone?”
“And? So what if I do?” She quivered with an
ger. He wasn’t her commander.
Was that a smile that played around his lips? “You’re braver than some wolves I know. But even Alphas know not to fight when they’re injured.”
“I don’t want to fight.”
“But a fight is coming to you. Isn’t that what you fear?”
The wind rose, howling down the canyon. It clawed at her bare legs, raising goose bumps.
Jet held out a hand. “Come inside. Rest. Heal. Let us help you.”
“Will you teach me how to fight?” The words tumbled from her mouth.
“Will that make you stay?”
She was glad for the darkness. Hopefully he couldn’t see her blush. “I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Carefully, Sylvia took his hand. Jet guided her back into the safety of the oak. Before she passed through the curtain of roots, she looked back down the canyon. Darkness swallowed its mouth, but she couldn’t help but feel like something was watching her.
Chapter 4
“Fists up.”
Sylvia eyed him warily, putting up her hands defensively like he’d taught her.
“Not like that. Like you mean it.” Jet put up his own fists, biceps bulging. It was slightly distracting. “Plant your feet. You don’t want a mild wind to knock you over.”
Shuffling her feet, she tried not to scowl. Did he think this was easy?
The meadow was strewn with late summer wildflowers, and morning sun made their colors shine. It didn’t really match the mood of the lesson.
Jet scrutinized her feet. “That’s better. Now hit me.”
“What?” She couldn’t remember ever hitting anyone in her life.
“You said you wanted to learn to fight, didn’t you? You’re going to need to hit someone some time.”
Honestly, she thought he’d have forgotten his late-night promise. And even still, she never dreamed that her first lesson would be to hit her rescuer.
“But why would I hit you?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Pretend I want to steal your cloak.”
“You could have it if you wanted.”
“Sylvia!” He sighed. “You’re the one who wanted to learn. You won’t hurt me, I promise. Go on, hit me.”
Myths & Magic: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection Page 123
