Slip Song (Devany Miller Series)

by Jen Ponce

  “Seriously? Tell me you wouldn’t challenge Amara if you found your soul.”

  His only answer to that was another volley of power that shredded my bubble. I threw myself to the ground to keep from getting crispy fried.

  Someone cried out. A growl. An explosion and a cry.

  I dropped down into the heart and fired at him, picturing―and getting―a machine gun hail of energy that hit him in the chest and sent him flying.

  I built up another barrier, adding bounce to it, thinking I was getting pretty good at this shit. I took a quick glance around but it was chaos and noise. ‘Kroshtuka?’

  All I got back was intense concentration and violence, then Cambion was running at me. Holy fuck. He’d forgone magic and was going to pummel me with his fists.

  Neutria could take him but she couldn’t kill him. I had to be the one who—

  His shoulder hit me in the stomach and then I was trying to breathe without any luck. His weight slammed me to the ground and that was it for my lungs. Stunned, unable to think, I could only watch as he cocked back his fist and—

  —a black hand caught it. Another arm flashed forward and another, until the weight was gone and I whooped in one agonized gulp of air.

  Skriven appeared around me in rapid succession. With each entrance there was an accompanying tug in my abdomen. I wouldn’t have ever noticed such light flutters if they’d happened one at a time. All at once, though, that was like a dozen worms squirming in my belly.

  They didn’t subdue Cambion so much as dismember him. While he screamed. I couldn’t make myself heard over the utter glee they exhibited doing the deed, not with my lungs still unsure what their role was in my body.

  Seconds later, five Skriven held five parts of Amara’s servant.

  Kali stepped forward. She had the honor of his head, still gape-mouthed and talking, though he couldn’t make sounds. “We came to your aid for only one reason.”

  Another Skriven with an arm said, “To give you the chance to prove you mean what you say.”

  And with that they were gone. My ass saved by the creatures who should’ve been plotting to bring me down.

  Clutching my stomach, I staggered over to the wall. The pain made me think I might have a broken rib which, in the long run, wasn’t too big a thing. Painful. I tried out my healing abilities on myself and managed to ease the pain, though if I took deep breaths, my rib reminded me I wasn’t perfect by stabbing me in the side. A form came out of the dark and I brought up the Magic Eye with a rapidity that gave me a headache to go along with my rib pain. “Kroshtuka?”

  He was in his human form and naked. “Aye. It’s over. Two of my people are chasing down Dodger who thinks he can get away on that great, fat horse of his.” His white teeth flashed. “He will soon learn the folly of that notion.” His eyes dropped to my hand pressed against my side. “How did you fair?”

  “Ow,” I said. “Have you seen Jasper?”

  “The Wing made a good fight of it.” He turned and pointed toward the stage. “He said he had unfinished business.” As we watched, fire flared in the dark night. I saw Jasper outlined for a moment in shadow and imagined I saw actual wings flaring from his back before he tossed a blazing brand. The wooden stage caught with a whump of noise. “I can’t see it staying burnt for long, but I applaud him for the thought of it.” He walked closer and tipped my head up with his finger. “You are better outside my Dream, Devany.”

  “Even dirty and wounded?”

  “Especially dirty and wounded.” He grinned. “It means you are capable of doing and not just being admired.”

  “Ah well, I’ve never been one to sit around and scream, ‘Look at me!’” The breath caught in my throat as he stepped closer, his legs touching mine.

  “In my Dream we hunted together.”

  “Yes.”

  “And we were interrupted before the stag was dead.”

  “Right.” My mind was tittering like a crazy person, chanting “Naked! Naked!” repeatedly. I kept my eyes firmly on his face and tried not to remember that his warm, hard thews were pressed against me.

  “Then our fates still intertwine, eh? I cannot leave a challenge unheard.”

  I laughed and it sounded so girly, it made me blush. “You challenged me, not the other way around.”

  “Ah.” He caught a strand of my hair with his fingers and tucked it behind my ear. “Perhaps. Though I think you threw down the first gauntlet the night we trailed the Carnicus.”

  “But you said that was just a dream.”

  “For my people, Dreams are as real as our waking hours. I believe you understand that.”

  I did. Dream. Time travel. Whatever it was, it had allowed me to see Kroshtuka again and set things right in the swamp. Or as right as I could get them. Whether it afforded me better luck with Amara was still to be seen. At least I could keep Tytan from being tortured this time.

  So far, so good.

  More of the clan wandered back and I was disappointed when Kroshtuka moved. My thighs were cold without his body heat, though he soon pressed close against my uninjured side. I appreciated the heat and sturdiness of him and kept myself—just—from burrowing under his arm like a little kid.

  The fire was a bonfire, shooting sparks into the sky, its hungry consumption audible from here. Jasper walked back smelling of smoke and looking more relaxed than I’d seen him. He even had an easy smile playing on his lips as he joined us. “What next?”

  “Galleia. Last time we joined up with the Carnicus of Nightflowers to get through the Wilds. They were following the group harboring the Theleoni.” I wondered if Kroshtuka would consent to travel with us to the border town. It would be great to have him and his warriors with us when we confronted the Theleoni who had Cyres. I didn’t want to put him danger, though, so I waffled on whether or not to ask him.

  Jasper took the question from me. “Would you and your people help us save my sister?”

  Mutters from the people standing around us.

  “It will take them four days to get to Galleia.” Kroshtuka looked down at me. “You need to be healed and to rest. We can take a couple days to rest and another to plan our attack. Come back to Odd Silver with us. We will feed and clothe you, then whoever of my people who want to fight with you can join us.”

  I gnawed on a cuticle, unsure. “Jasper? What do you think?”

  “I agree we need to rest and we need the help.”

  “Nex?” No answer. I pushed away from the wall, wincing when my rib reminded me it was injured. “Nex?” The night answered with the scree of insects and the call of a bat. “Shit. Who would take Nex?”

  “The floating head?” asked a young woman with owl-like eyes. For all I knew she actually was an owl, at least part time.

  “Yeah. You seen him?”

  She nodded. “He went after one of the slavers. Down yon hill.”

  “Crap.” I started after him but Kroshtuka put a hand on my shoulder.

  “Would one of you go after her friend? She is wounded and needs rest.”

  Three volunteered and loped away toward the hill where Nex was last seen.

  It felt weird to have other doing my dirty work. “I hope he’s okay.”

  Kroshtuka raised an eyebrow. “He is an interesting looking creature. You care for him?”

  “Yeah. He was my first hunting trophy.” I slouched. “Ow.” Straightened. “Jasper? Are you too tired to help me heal? I can feed you power if you need it.”

  He moved my hand and replaced it with his. “You have to rest. This won’t take without your body helping.” He lowered himself to put his mouth at my ribs and breathed on them. The golden sparkles would be scattering across my side, sinking in through my skin. Healing.

  I let out a low sigh of relief as the pain gave way. “You’re better than Tylenol.”

  He chuckled and straightened. “She needs sleep.”

  Kroshtuka nodded. “Odd Silver is too far to get to tonight.”

  I slapped at my
pockets and started to pull the crystal out, then remembered Lizzie’s admonition not to show anyone. “I think I may have a way for us to get there faster.”

  “Magic doesn’t work well in the Wilds,” Kroshtuka said. “That’s the beauty of our home.”

  I nodded. “Yes. I’m beginning to agree. From the little I’ve seen of it, it’s free and unregulated. Compared to Banishwinds or the other places I’ve been where witches have tamed the land, I have to say I prefer the Wilds.” I hadn’t yet met a Wydling I didn’t like. Leon, maybe, but he wasn’t a Wydling, only shaped and crazed by the magic. “I think I can get us to the Dreaming Place, though.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You have great power, but I am not certain even you can manage to take us to the Dreaming Caverns.”

  Why had the emiliometer stayed with me but my necklace from Ann hadn’t? Had I fallen asleep in the caves and Dreamed all of this, only to wake on Earth to relive it? No. Not unless physical objects could be transported through Dreams. Gah. I massaged my head with my fingers, unwilling to think more on it. “It’s worth a try. If it doesn’t work, no harm done, right? I can’t leave without Nex, though.”

  It was another twenty minutes before the volunteers returned. “We didn’t find him.”

  Fuck. Could I hook to him like I’d done with Arsinua? Only if he hadn’t been taken into the Wilds. Shit, shit, shit.

  “Tomorrow. You need to sleep and heal. You’ve done more than enough fighting today.”

  I opened my mouth to complain and realized he was right. I’d almost died in the swamp earlier and Cambion had just done his best to bust me up now. I needed sleep. Damn it, Nex. I’ll come for you. How the hell had a floating head become so important to me? I had the weirdest friends. “Okay. But first thing in the morning.” I slipped my hand in my pocket. “I can try to hook all of us—”

  Kroshtuka interrupted. “Most of my people would rather travel on four feet or two. Witch magic makes them nervous.” To those assembled, he said, “Go. Be safe and care for the Wilds.”

  There were howls, hoots, and shouts in response and then the duallies melted into the night. Only Jasper, Kroshtuka and I remained. I slipped my hand into my pocket and grasped the crystal without pulling it free. “All right. Let me concentrate.” I shut my eyes and focused on the crystal. Instead of the usual connection, it felt like I shrank and tipped into the shard. Then the cave expanded before me and we were stepping through. Lizzie wasn’t there this time. Kroshtuka looked awed and he didn’t speak as he led us out of the cave. The darkness washed over us in a soothing, velvet warmth. The village was quiet, the rock-laid avenues dark and peaceful. Kroshtuka led us through the village to the men’s hut. “There are beds close to this door that are unoccupied. The washhouse is there,” he pointed off to the right of the building in front of us, “and we keep extra clothes above the beds for visitors. You are welcome to them.”

  Jasper nodded. He didn’t move, however.

  “I will keep her safe.”

  His grey eyes fell on me. For a moment, I saw a future that had him in it. One of peace. Tempered joy. I could find happiness with him but I didn’t think he would find the peace he was looking for with me. “Good night, Jasper. I’ll be okay.”

  He didn’t speak, just squeezed my hand and disappeared inside the building.

  My heart hammered in my chest as I took Kroshtuka’s hand and he led me to his hut. It smelled like woodsmoke and male and made me feel like I’d come home. Then he pulled me gently into his arms and covered my mouth with his and I knew this was where I wanted to be.

  -TWENTY-SIX-

  I woke in Kroshtuka’s arms. He looked younger, sleeping. Stubble grew on his jaw and I tried hard to resist running a finger over the edge of it. I tried but failed. The rasp of his hairs was loud in the room. I knew there had to be people up and about since the sun’s shine gilded the reeds above my head gold. No one had bothered us, though. Was there a Wydling equivalent to a hat on the doorknob?

  Our bodies were covered with a soft blanket and under us a soft fur that wasn’t as comfortable as one might think. Still, I had a leg nestled between his, my thigh just touching the part of him that made me forget everything last night. I waited to feel guilty but so far, nothing. I should feel guilty, I told myself. Waited again. Nothing.

  “What are you arguing about in your head?” His deep, sleep-roughened voice hummed through his chest into mine. I rubbed my cheek against his arm for a moment like a cat then eased away enough to look at his face again.

  “Whether or not I should feel guilty?”

  “Mmm.” He slid his hand slowly from my hip to a spot just under my breast. “About finding comfort in another person’s arms?” His thumb moved and I shut my eyes with a sigh.

  “When you put it that way.”

  His lips touched my forehead. “We have a saying here. ‘Take your love where you may, for you might not have another day.’”

  “I’ll bet a man wrote that.”

  His chuckle made me smile. I decided if he was going to explore, then so was I and moved my hand to a place that made him suck in his breath.

  This time we weren’t gentle with each other and that was okay by me. I needed something to hold onto in the coming hours. Days. Written by a man or not, the Wydling saying was true. Amara could kill me. Or convince one of my Skriven to do the deed. I could lose one of my friends. I could lose Kroshtuka before I’d even gotten to spend time with him. (Which tried to lead me back to my guilt but I pushed it doggedly away.)

  Tears spilled, though I fought them. Didn’t want him to think he’d hurt me and opened my thoughts up enough to show him why I was crying without having to try to put it into words. He kissed away my tears and helped push away the terror and fear with his body and hands. With the connection open, I saw myself through his eyes and it took my breath away. I gave him the same, letting him know what I saw. Who I saw.

  Then there weren’t anymore thoughts.

  -TWENTY-SEVEN-

  I wanted to linger there with him, to enjoy the new found infatuation I hadn’t experienced for years, not since Tom and I first met in college. But Nex needed saving and I didn’t want to live the rest of my days feeling guilty because I’d been rolling around in bed instead of searching for him.

  I gave Kroshtuka the rundown on much of what I’d done and wanted to do. Most importantly, I told him why. Part of my involvement was saving my ass, that was true, but there was more at stake than that. The Theleoni, the slave trade, the distrust between species, and I suspected that a lot of the discord was sown by the Originators. I answered what I could about the Slip and my part in it. I told him about Tom’s death, though I didn’t mention that his soul was still inside me.

  Kroshtuka’s relaxed manner compelled me to reveal more than I should have. But I wanted him to know the importance of finding Nex and helping me get to Cyres before Amara did. He asked a lot of questions about the Originator, and more about Tytan. When the questions stopped, I listened to him breathe and made separate plans in case he decided he wouldn’t help or risk his people for a woman he barely knew. I could do the ole smash and grab. Maybe set something on fire to distract the Theleoni holding Cyres long enough to hook her to safety.

  As I was imagining everything going right and me in the center kicking all the Theleoni ass, Kroshtuka said, “We have not gotten involved with the witch-folk and their politics because we do not agree with their laws or the way they chain and break the wild magic. For all that they have taken our lands and stolen our people, I never would have thought them to collude with monsters.”

  I nodded, hoping he wasn’t forgetting that I was one of those monsters, albeit a tamer version.

  As if he knew what I was thinking he ran a hand over my arm. “I never would have thought of them as anything other than monsters but for you. Which made me wonder if that’s how the witch-folk view us.”

  “Could be. I know there’s a lot of misunderstanding between everyone. And don’t
forget that the Skriven are monsters.”

  “Yet you are not.”

  “Well, no but,”

  “And this Tytan that you speak so highly of, he doesn’t sound like a monster.”

  I spoke highly of Tytan? He’d get a kick out of that. “He has his moments.” I wasn’t going to go as far as to say that he was a good guy. I still remembered him threatening to harm my kids when we’d first met. I knew that talking big was part of his schtick but it hadn’t set well with me then and stuck with me now. It might have been the one thing keeping me from falling for his lust-inducing touches.

  “We will help find your friends. I’ll also talk to the council members about treating with the witch-folk. These Theleoni and slavers won’t be stopped by our clan alone. Perhaps the time has come when there are more reasons for us to work together than live separately.”

  It made my stomach hurt to think of them talking with the witches. I mean, yeah, I knew two witches who were good. No, three if I counted Zech. Arsinua, Marantha, and Zech had all helped me when I’d been stumbling around wrecking things as I fought to keep myself alive. But there had been more who had ignored me, outright distrusted me, or turned a blind eye because I wasn’t one of them. I wanted to make him promise me to be careful but he was a grown man and knew more about this world than I did.

  “Thanks for helping me.”

  He picked up my hand and kissed my palm. “You’ve got my help. But you’ll have to ask the others. I am their leader but they have a choice when it comes to risking their lives.” He kissed my wrist and I had to pull my hand away to keep him from tempting me to allow him to continue exploring me with his mouth.

  “I don’t suppose there’s someplace where I could wash up?”

  “I’ll show you to the wash-house. Come.” He rose and helped me up, then gave me space to dress before showing me where I could take a bath. “I will ask my sister to bring you something to wear.”

  “Thank you.”

  The village was built around a network of hot springs and each wash-house boasted baths refreshed by the naturally bubbly mineral water. I sunk up to my neck in the warm water and enjoyed the invigorating pop of bubbles against my skin. The warmth helped ease my stiff muscles though it didn’t do much for the bruises covering my body. Thanks to my attempt at healing and Jasper’s more adept touch, most of them were days’ old yellow instead of livid purple and black.