Page 24 of A World Enough

Brogan rubbed her face with her arm. “How do the miners cope with that environment?”

“Nearly none make it home. The fumes give them lung disease and cut their lifespan in half. But the people are so brainwashed they think that their family member has given up their life to sit beside their gods in the stars.”

“These Abnobians are truly amoral. Surely people must resist them?”

“Yes, me and the portal guardians, a resistance cell working against them. But I can’t say too much more,” Camber said.

“Are they anything to do with the Tuatha De Danann?” Brogan asked.

“What do you know about them?”

“When we were fighting Balor, a monk—a member of Tuatha De Danann—came through the portal to help and talked to me and my friends about Balor.”

“Do you remember his name?”

“Nuada.”

Camber reached into her bag and took out a small black tool. “Give me your arms.”

Brogan lifted her hands, and Camber pressed the tool to the cuffs, and they split apart.

“Thank you,” Brogan said.

Camber put the cuffs in her bag. “It wasn’t personal. I’ve been chased all my life. When I was too small to look after myself, Tua monks took me from place to place, trying to keep me safe.”

“I understand. You were right to take precautions,” Brogan said.

Camber gave her a rare smile. “Let’s get you to the wolf world.” She then snapped her fingers and said, “Oh yes.” Camber brought out what looked like a kind of pen. “Can I give you the translator? In case we are separated at some point.”

“Yeah, sounds like a good idea.”

Camber came close to Brogan, and her scent hit harder than it had before. She closed her eyes and saw sweet dew on the grass, snowy pine needles, and beneath that, fire and ash around a burning hot bonfire.

Brogan’s eyes sprang open when she felt Camber’s warm fingers on her neck. Camber’s eyes were gazing straight into hers, soft, melting, liquid eyes that drew Brogan in and parted her lips.

Brogan half wished Camber was a wolf, so she could read her feelings. But no, she wouldn’t change a hair on Camber’s head. She was perfect as she was.

Camber pulled back an inch or so and shook her head. She cleared her throat and put the slim device into Brogan’s ear canal. “You should only feel a mild sting.”

Brogan felt virtually nothing, apart from the heat in her cheeks and neck and the heavy beating of her heart.

“Okay, the mines are east of this door, and the ship hangar is north. The further we head towards the hangar, the less strong the fumes will be. Do you think you can make it till there?”

Brogan nodded. “I can do it. Whatever it takes. How are we going to make it without anyone seeing us? I don’t know if I can follow my nose with these fumes.”

Before she could protest, Camber snapped the cuffs back on her wrists.

“What? Why? I thought you trusted me.” Brogan was confused and angry and hurt, and through it all, she felt a pang of desire for Camber.

“I’ll tell you why later, I’ll explain everything later, but just for now I need you to promise to follow my lead. I need to make sure your wolf doesn’t decide to take over. I can’t risk anything like you did out there, scooping me up and rescuing me.”

“I’ll try my best,” Brogan said sarcastically.

Camber gave her a soft hit to her stomach. “Try to give me your super best.”

Brogan’s stomach tensed with want and her lip curled into a snarl.

Luckily, Camber didn’t notice.