I grimaced. “Bryce can’t fight, Maks. What the fuck was he thinking leaving the Stockyards?”
Lila bobbed along beside us. “Didn’t you say Ish was losing her mind? Maybe he saw that and wanted to escape?”
Ish. . . something about Lila’s questions tickled memories I couldn’t quite grasp. Maks interrupted my musing.
“Maybe he didn’t want to be broken any more. That can drive people to do things they would otherwise avoid.”
There was something in his voice, more than the words themselves, that pulled my eyes to him. “What did you do, Maks?”
He shook his head and wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Doesn’t matter, Zam. Doesn’t matter.”
After that, our discussions were nothing more than the necessary.
We covered good ground that day and the next. There was a constant sensation as though we were being watched and I didn’t like it, but I didn’t know how we would avoid it either. Different from when we’d been stalked by the Ice Witch’s shadow. This had a heavy menace bleeding through the sensation as though the watcher was enjoying our discomfort. Taking pleasure in the shiver it gave us as we rode.
And on the plains as we were, there was no cover, no way to hide.
If something decided to come after us, we would have no choice but to run for all we were worth.
Again.
That irritated me. How long would I have to run this time? Till Balder dropped and I was on foot? There were so many times in the past when it would’ve been nice to have stood my ground, to be the lion I was meant to be.
“Your face is an open book, you know that, right?” Maks’s words once more drew my eyes to him.
“What?”
“Your face. Your emotions are not hidden at all. I can see you’re pissed off about something and then you get this twist in your lips that tells me you’re determined. Why don’t you hide all that like the other supes?”
He was looking at my lips. I had to clamp them together to keep from smiling. “I don’t know. I never bothered. I don’t like games. They irritate me.”
He nodded. “That’s. . . the Jinn are like that. They like games.”
“I know they do,” I said.
Wow. As if I didn’t think it could get more awkward, I opened my mouth and spoke yet again, really putting my foot in it.
“I don’t regret any of it, Maks. I should, but I don’t.”
I looked at him and he was looking away, so I couldn’t see his face, couldn’t read his eyes. His one hand lifted, and for a split second I thought I saw a glimmer of gold around his neck before he answered.
“I do.”
Chapter 13
Merlin flinched at those two little words Maks spoke. “Oh, that was not the thing to say to her, man.” He touched the orb, and it spun around so he could see Zamira’s face. The horror and shock written across her skin was as plain as day. Maks was right about that little fact; she was not good at hiding her emotions. Or she just didn’t care to as she’d pointed out.
It was one of the traits he liked about her. No guessing as to just what she was feeling, or even what she was going to say sometimes.
He blew out a breath, flapping his lips lightly, thinking. He was sure that Maks was important now, sure that he was the other desert born the Oracle had meant when she spoke of the wall coming down and the Emperor being stopped. The only thing that still had him concerned was Maks’s loyalty. Would it be to the Jinn and his father, or would his blood run truer than that?
Because while he wasn’t sure, he had a fairly good idea of what Maks was. Jinn, yes, but something else too. Something good and pure that offset the madness that came with a Jinn’s power, and that goodness was what kept Maks with Zam. She called to him like a siren to a sailor drowning in rough seas.
Whether she meant to or not, she’d captured him firmly and had become a rock of strength he needed, he was sure of it.
Merlin glanced at the sleeping form of Flora. It was the first time she’d essentially left him alone in months. Not that he minded, but he had things to do that would be easier done without her knowing. He twisted his lips, thinking fast. There would not be time for him to get to Zamira, Maks, and little Lila. They were on their own for now.
Never mind the gorcs still hunting for her. He was far less worried about Zamira on this journey of hers. She’d proven herself more than capable through the Witch’s Reign, stronger and smarter than anyone—even himself—could have guessed. He would let her go and see what he could do to help the bigger picture move along.
It looked like it was time he had a chat with Ishtar. That discussion had been a long time coming, and he needed her help if the Emperor woke. But first, he would have to convince her to do the right thing which was far easier said than done. The more stones she gathered to herself, the stronger she became. More like the woman she’d been when the Emperor had reigned supreme.
“No time like the present,” he muttered to himself.
Decision made, he paused on the doorstep and looked back at Flora. She was going to be pissed as a wet hen when she woke and found him gone. He grinned and blew her a kiss.
Her anger would be something to behold.
He couldn’t wait.
Chapter 14
The clouds above us hid the sun at its zenith when it should have been flooding the plains with bright light. I wished for the sun, for the warmth to chase away the cold that clung to me. But instead I was left in the cold, nothing but the naked earth around us.
Maks regretted what had happened between us, the kiss, the friendship, everything. That could be the only thing he meant when he’d said, “I do.” Wasn’t like he was fucking well saying he’d marry me. Not that I would have wanted that.
“Well, sucks to be you then,” I snapped and urged Balder into a faster trot. We weren’t too far from Dragon’s Ground. . . maybe I could just. . . I didn’t even know what I would do. The hurt and cold in my body was replaced by a burning red-hot anger that was much easier to hang onto. There would be no tears over Maks then. None.
He could fucking well bite me for all I cared.
Lila swept out in front of us doing barrel rolls through the air. While it wasn’t exactly warm, at least we weren’t dealing with the cutting rain that had pounded on us for days.
I let my mind be occupied with the weather, with dissecting Lila’s moves and seeing how beneficial they could be in a fight if she were bigger, with thinking about anything but the man behind me.
“Zam, I didn’t mean it like that,” Maks called after me. I kept my back ramrod straight.
“You said it. You don’t say things you don’t mean, right?” I booted Balder harder than I should have and he gave a buck and pinned his ears. “Sorry,” I whispered. I didn’t need to take my anger out on him. Not for an instant. I relaxed my hands and seat, doing my best to not be tense for Balder’s benefit at least.
“Zam, don’t be like this,” Maks called after me and I tightened my hands on the reins.
I took my feet out of the stirrups and pushed up onto the saddle. Just wait till he got a load of what I was about to throw at him. I shifted into my cat form, ran across Balder’s back and leapt off his rump straight at Maks. His eyes widened but, of course, he thought he would be catching a tiny kitten in his big strong arms.
Not so much.
I shifted again at the last second, so my entire body weight slammed into him at full speed. I knocked us both off Batman’s back; the horse scrambled out and away from us and I landed on top of Maks as he hit the ground. The air whooshed out of him and he closed his eyes while I stared down at him.
“Don’t be like what, Maks? Don’t think that was a fucking shitty thing to say? Don’t think that after everything we’ve been through, after I’ve saved your ass multiple times, you’d think of something better to say than you regret meeting me?”
“Better than a lie, don’t you think? I don’t want games either. I want honesty.” He breathed out as he opened
those eyes of his. Eyes that I’d always thought were pretty. They were as blue as ever and filled with a blankness I didn’t like.
His words were sharper than any knife and I hated the pain they caused. Because the only way they could cut me like this was if I really cared about him. About a Jinn that I’d thought was a good man. More the fucking fool was I.
Lila swept down around us. “What did I miss? Did you kiss him again?”
I pushed upward and strode back to Balder. “Go away, Maks. You owe me nothing.”
“You need my help, Zam,” he snapped. “There is no way you’re going to get your brother out without my help. And I owe you my life.”
His words tore through all the defenses I was so rapidly building. Defenses made of lies.
I didn’t like Maks.
His kisses were awful, sloppy and cold.
I thought he was a self-serving asshole.
A Jinn just using me.
Except none of it was true, and I didn’t do well with lies whether they were for me or others.
“I don’t need you,” I said. “So, go, escape the wall and your family and be free of all of this. I release you from any bonds you might feel you have for me saving your life.” I finally turned to him. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? To be free?”
“Yes,” he said.
“And I am just one more chain holding you here because you owe me.” I arched an eyebrow while my heart pounded out of control. Balder danced around me, picking up on all the energy I was throwing off.
Maks nodded once but didn’t speak. His hand lifted to his neck and then dropped.
So that was how it was going to be. “I absolve you of anything you think you might owe me. Lila, witness this,” I said.
She sucked in a breath. To have a witness was to say that nothing would ever be given my way in recompense for saving Maks’s life.
“I. . . I witness your words, Zamira Reckless Wilson,” she said. “But are you sure?”
“You are free, Maks of the Jinn,” I said. “Assuming that is even your real name.”
I turned my back on him and mounted up. “Lila, how close are we to the Dragon’s Ground?”
She cleared her throat. “Seven miles. You should be able to see the marker soon.”
I nodded and spoke over my shoulder. “Do not follow me, Maks.”
“Or what?” he called back.
I shook my head. “I won’t do anything, but the dragons might have a different thought on just how crunchy you are.”
Lila flew at my shoulder, darting looks at me. “Seriously, what did I miss?”
“He regrets everything, Lila. All of it. And he said it right after I told him I didn’t regret it.”
She winced. “Well, that was stupid of him.”
“Rather.” I bit the word out, thinking how I’d like to shove it down his throat. “Tell me he’s not following.”
She twisted around and then shook her head. “He’s just sitting there on Batman watching us leave, his one hand on his chest.”
That was what I wanted, but it still hurt. Damn it. “Good.”
“Wait,” she said. “He’s coming our way now. Like, really fast.”
I twisted around to see Maks and Batman galloping toward us. He leaned over the horse’s neck, driving him hard, pushing Batman through the limp he had. This was no simple catching up to us, and that sense of foreboding finally came home to roost. “Lila, what’s behind him?”
She flew straight up, let out a tiny roar, then flew right back down. “Gorcs. A lot of them.”
“In the hood!” I yelled at her, and she shot to my shoulder and climbed into my hood. I gave Balder his head and he took off, running flat out. Batman barely managed to catch up to us even going at full speed. I didn’t care, and I didn’t bother to look at Maks.
The gorcs were fast enough that we could be in trouble, and there was no water anywhere nearby.
“Head for the forest. That’s our only hope to lose them there. They will set off all sorts of traps and then the dragons will deal with them,” Lila said.
There was a pulse of cold around my neck, the chain holding the lion’s head ring cooling so rapidly, it burned, but that faded and then words flowed through me.
Don’t you wish to stand your ground? To prove your worth?
“Yes,” I whispered to the unknown voice. I was so done with running, with being the smallest one around, with just all of it. And while Bryce was out there waiting for me in one sense, I also knew he didn’t want my help. He didn’t care if I lived or died, not really. He was my brother, but the brother I’d grown up with had died in the Oasis, and what was left was a shallow shell of the man I’d so admired.
Darcy had abandoned me for Steve. Steve had abandoned me for Kiara. Bryce had left me to fight for myself.
Maks didn’t want me.
I slowed Balder, letting Batman pull ahead. “Lila, go to Maks.”
She didn’t argue, but of course, she didn’t know what I planned to do. I could save them both if I stood my ground.
With the gorcs gone, Maks and Lila could find their way to the wall. He could take her with him, they could escape together. That was what the words said to me and I believed them. The silver chain cooled further until it was nothing but a chunk of ice against my skin.
Use the flail, Zamira. Use it and embrace its power. It will not fail you.
I turned Balder around in a slow canter as I reached for the flail. It would kill me. I knew this.
But to save the ones I loved, that was worth it. That was worth death.
“I’m sorry, Balder. You’ll go down with me,” I said and felt the pangs around my heart. He’d been a good friend to me, better than the two-legged ones I had.
He tossed his head into the air and reared up, striking out with his front hooves. He plunged forward and threw himself into a gallop. I swept my deep red cloak off, let it flutter out behind us, leaving me in nothing but a T-shirt and my cargo pants and the one weapon that could wipe these assholes out.
My confidence grew with each stride. Belief in my own abilities jumping in leaps and bounds.
I could see them clearly now. They’d lost numbers in the river and were down to an even fifty. Still there were far too many, but hope lit through me. I wasn’t sure if it was pride, or stupidity, to think I could stop them.
I spoke to the flail. “You can have your pound of flesh when I say so. Not a second before.”
The handle warmed against my skin once more, growing tacky. Even if I tried to let go, it wouldn’t let me. Not now. I’d just made a deal with the devil’s weapon, and I would never be able to go back.
Behind me someone shouted. I ignored the sound.
I held the flail out to my right side and began to spin it, letting the twin spiked balls pick up speed until they were nothing but a blur beside me. The gorcs saw me coming and roared a greeting, laughing, taunting me.
It was not the first time I’d been laughed at.
Kill them all, Zamira. You can do this. Find your power.
I snarled and leaned into Balder, and he gave me everything he had. We blasted toward the gorcs and the first one reached for Balder’s head to pull him down. Balder dodged to the left, and I swung the flail in a perfect arc, driving both balls into the gorc’s chest, cracking his sternum.
Time slowed, and I saw the spiked balls move as if on their own as they pushed their way into the creature’s flesh, pulling the skin and bone apart, blood floating out on the air like liquid flower petals.
I yanked the handle hard, disengaging the weapon from the gorc. “We’ve got more, you greedy pig.”
Time sped up and the scream from the gorc hammered at my ears as his body was flung twenty feet into the air, end over end before he fell, landing on two of his buddies.
I pulled a kukri with my free hand and threw it at the gorc closest to me, nailing him between the eyes. He was still running then fell forward, putting a furrow into the ground like a rhino c
oming to a sudden halt. I turned Balder with my legs and he kicked out, catching a gorc in the jaw, snapping it in half. I swung the flail and hit a gorc, and then another, and another. The rage in me built and multiplied. I don’t know how many we took down. I only knew that as long as there were any standing, I would kill them.
Creatures of the Jinn, they needed to die.
You can do this, Zamira. Dig deep, girl. Dig deep.
I moved as though this were a dance, a dance I knew inside and out.
A snarl erupted out of me and there was an answering roar from the remaining gorcs. Bodies lay around me and I pushed Balder deeper into their ranks.
He stumbled over a limp body, throwing us both off balance, and then there were hands yanking me from the saddle and the gorcs tore the weapon from me.
Literally.
I screamed as my skin went with it, peeling off my palm like a peach. I kicked and hissed but the gorcs’ hold on me didn’t lessen. I couldn’t shift while they pinned my muscles and bones down so hard. They might as well have trapped me with iron bands, I was held so tightly.
“Looky here, she got Marsum’s flail!” the gorc who’d taken it from me yelled, holding it up. I stared at it. A thought slamming through me that was very much my own.
“Now, take your pound of flesh,” I yelled, and the flail shone bright white like a flash bomb going off. The gorc holding it screamed and tried to get the weapon to let go, but it was taking what it was owed.
A life.
Right in front of my eyes, the gorc shriveled. Its companions watched with eyes as wide as my own felt. The creature’s body was sucked dry as the flail pulsed and glowed. The hands that held me let go and I scrambled forward. The smart part of me that wanted to survive said I should shift and run.
But I was done running. I was done hiding.
These fuckers were going to pay even if it cost me my life.
It won’t. You are not alone, Zamira. Let them help you.
The scream that built in my chest exploded from my mouth as I leapt toward the still-dying gorc. I kicked the arm that clung to the handle of the flail, and the bone, brittle as if it had been in the desert for a thousand years, snapped, dangling at the break.
Dragon's Ground (The Desert Cursed Series Book 2) Page 12
