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Henry barked skywards vehemently.
“No need,” I said. “She’s coming. He can feel her more than I can from a distance.”
Chiron glanced between Henry and me. He was fascinated with the bond between my hound, my hybrid bird, and me more than the bond between my mates and me.
“I saw an abandoned temple on a side road,” Rai said. “Let’s take a break and wait for your bird there.”
All my mates had a hard time categorizing Sybil. In the end, they just called her a bird instead of a flying lizard, believing that was politer.
Blaze and Iokul went ahead to scout the temple, and the rest of us reached the surrounding broken pillars before they signaled that it was safe.
Green moss covered the stone temple.
A vast old tree that was split through the middle concealed the entrance with its twisted trunks.
“It’s empty and dusty,” Blaze said.
“It must have been built long ago devoted to one of the gods or goddesses,” I said, a bit ashamed that I didn’t know my own realm’s history. But I had been a mere teenager when the curse befell me.
“Maybe it’s Arianrhod’s shrine,” Iokul said.
“Gods and goddesses are forgotten in this era of science, technology, and human uprising,” Rai said regretfully. “As are myths and legends.”
“Even so, magic is still a force that can’t be reckoned with,” I said, suddenly remembering Elvey’s line. “When nature gets its revenge, no one can resist its wrath. Humans will learn the lesson the hard way if they don’t back off.”
Just then, a vast shadow cast on the ground. We snapped our heads up, and Rai nocked his arrow skywards. The shadow flitted by. At an eye blink, it was gone.
“Something was spying on us,” Iokul said. “It’s too high to make out what it is.”
“One of us will always stand guard,” Rai said. “We’ll take a half hour break. Daisy needs food and drink.”
While Rai chose the first shift, Blaze and Iokul found a large flat rock and covered it with a sheet. They pulled out dried meat, fruits, bread, and bottles of water from the bags and set the picnic on the rock.
Chiron fed Henry before he strode to take over the guard duty from Rai. As was proper, he would let his prince eat first.
“Go eat, Chiron,” Rai said, and the healer nodded. Rai’s every word to him was an order. Chiron inserted a slice of dried beef and cheese between his bread and took a huge bite.
I sat down on an even rock. Blaze and Iokul brought me my share of food and drink before they prepared theirs. Ever since we’d mated, they always made sure I was taken care of first.
Iokul sat across from me and Blaze perched beside me, so they could both shield me in case of attack. I leaned over to give Iokul an appreciative kiss, then turned to kiss Blaze on the cheek. But he turned his lips to me, signaling that I should kiss his mouth. I brushed my lips over his, then tore a piece of bread and popped it in my mouth.
My mates gazed at me intently, desire in their eyes.
Rai swallowed and tore his eyes away from me. He needed to stay alert for any threats.
It didn’t matter where we were. We’d always want each other. The mating call was forever eager. Maybe tonight when we set up the tent, we could warm our bed.
Skin to skin. The image made me blush and hope for the night to descend earlier.
As we ate, Sybil shot toward us, her wings fluttering rapidly.
Corns, Daisy! Corns ahead!she called.I ate lots of sweet corns.
I relayed Sybil’s information to the rest of my group.
We soon set out again and climbed over a hill. Standing on top of the hill, I surveyed acres of cornfields in the valley.
At the end of the golden cornfields was a vast green plain with silver trees. The white mountains weren’t far from there.
