Shadowborn

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Eruption

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Eruption

While I was as happy to have Tiana in my arms as she was to be carried like a princess, we both agreed walking through camp like we were probably wasn’t a good idea. Her shadow armor had some kind of enchantment to keep her naughty bits covered while she moved, but we’d learned the enchantment got a little more unreliable when someone else’s hands were involved. Mine especially.

I set her on her feet when the camp came into view and wrapped her up tightly in a cloak. The quick stop ended up not so quick when as soon as she was standing on her own two unsteady feet she found every excuse she could to run her hands across my chest and abdomen, and she all but refused to start walking again until I’d given her a kiss that ended up with me having to adjust myself before I could do any more walking.

Unfortunately for us, good ol’ Al was on watch when we finally stumbled into camp. Tiana was still flushed, smiling as wide as I’d ever seen her, and I wore a smile myself for once. Al, however, was his usual ornery self, though his gaze wasn’t fixed on us. He practically sneered in the direction of the trees.

“You seem to be in a good mood, Al,” I noted.

He shot me a glare that could have curdled milk. “You see Vivian out there?”

Tiana giggled, burying her face in my bicep, but I kept as neutral of an expression as I could manage. “We ran into her briefly. Why?”

He grumbled under his breath, then said, “she’s been going out into the woods a lot since we’ve stopped. No idea where she’s going or what she’s doing, but she’s been hiding her tracks too damn well to be a noble. I don’t trust her.”

“Al, you don’t trust anybody,” I felt the need to point out.

“I trust you to keep getting into shit that should kill normal people,” he shot back with a shrug. “Trust Yen to get into trouble the second I look away. Trusted Fel to be a right bastard at any given opportunity.”

“I stand corrected,” I said dryly.

He snorted. “I don’t trust the bitch. She’s up to something.”

Something about his attitude towards Vivian annoyed me. Considering I also suspected her of being considerably more than just a ditzy-yet-charismatic noble, I wasn’t sure why my hackles raised so aggressively. Maybe it had something to do with how I’d just flashed her in the forest or the image of her nipples poking through her sleepwear, one pierced and one not, that refused to leave my head. The way her expression had felt interested, frustrated, confused, and hopeless all at the same time. The odd, protective instinct that her expression had poked at.

But none of that was any of Al’s business. “Zoey and Reese have been nothing but helpful this entire expedition, I think that alone earns her the benefit of the doubt.”

He made a half-grumbling-half-growling noise that said he disagreed, but I’d had a good morning so far and I wasn’t about to let Angry Al shit all over it. “We’ll keep an eye out, Al,” I told him.

He pointedly looked from me to Tiana. “I’ll bet.” Then he went back to scowling at the forest like it had offended him.

Tiana and I exchanged a look, but she just shrugged. Unfortunately, the entire conversation wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary when it came to Al. Still, if Vivian was half as powerful as I suspected she might be, keeping Al from pissing her off might be something I’d end up having to do.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com

With Tiana happily on my arm, we threaded back towards the camp. On the way, we ran into Korey and Liana, who greeted us warmly. “Ren, just who I wanted to see,” Korey said. “Liana seems confident everyone we’ve rescued is ready to hit the road, and Pierce is as antsy to get moving as I am. Just wanted to get confirmation from you.”

“If Liana is confident, that’s fine by me,” I told him. His shoulders relaxed visibly. “I’m guessing you’ll want to get on the road as quickly as possible?”

He nodded. “I think that’d be best. We’ve had more than our fair share of excitement for this trip, and I really miss my bed.”

Tiana hummed. “I understand completely. I can’t wait to get in a bed myself,” she practically purred, her arms tightening around mine.

I was fairly certain both Korey and Liana’s cheeks darkened slightly, but other than that neither of them reacted. I managed to resist the urge to roll my eyes, instead saying, “I’ll let my girls know, and we can get moving as soon as everyone’s eaten breakfast.”

“Excellent,” Korey said with a clap.

Liana bowed her head. “I’ll have my girls get to packing as soon as they’ve eaten. I can also pass along the message to Reese or Zoey so they can inform Vivian when she returns. We have a few girls capable of driving a carriage as well, so if you’d like we can offer our assistance to give Miss Cynthia, Tsuki, or any of your drivers a break, Mr. Pravl.

It took me a moment to realize she’d been talking to Korey, and I silently kicked myself for not bothering to learn his last name sooner. I’d come a long way, but it seemed my people skills still had a long ways to go.

“Sounds good. Same as before, make sure anybody who needs to ride does so. I don’t need anyone straining themselves trying to prove anything.”

“Of course, sir. I’ll enlist Iris, she’s very perceptive and can help with the new additions as well.”

“Thank you, Liana. You’re a godsend.”

Her cheeks darkened further. “Many of us would argue that is your role, sir.” But she bowed again and glided off before I could respond.

Korey seemed amused. “You’re good with them,” he noted.

“Them?” I asked carefully, uncertain if he was referring to them being demi-humans or something else.

He nodded. “The people we’ve saved. They’ve been through something horrible, but they’re already doing better than I would have thought.”

Ah, that made more sense. “Some of them might sense a kindred soul, but I suspect the truth is that many of them aren’t nearly as okay as they’re pretending.” When he shot me a curious look, I sighed. “The more I learn about this whole system, the angrier I get. I’d suspect many of them haven’t had much of a chance to process trauma in their lives. Right now they’re in survival mode, forced to focus on making it to the next step before they have the luxury of reacting to what they’ve been through.”

He grimace. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience, so I’ll trust you on it. If there’s anything you need from me, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll start everyone else moving.”

He clapped the shoulder Tiana wasn’t hanging off of and headed off. We made it the rest of the way to our tent without being stopped. Inside, many of them were starting to get dressed for the day. Tiana gave me a kiss, then whispered something about helping Rhallani choose her equipment for the day before heading over to wake the Arelim still snoring soundly.

I earned a few amused smirks while she walked somewhat unsteadily across the tents, but I didn’t acknowledge them. Instead, I told them that we’d be moving out while I dressed. Nariko was nowhere to be seen, but Noelle and the twins remained. Tsuki was still completely naked, and I tried my best to keep my eyes on her own. It wasn’t until my willpower crumbled and I raked a glance over her small, curvy body that she finally started to get dressed with the slightest quirk to her lips.

I shook my head, still not sure what to do with either of the twins. Especially when I realized Ryoko was pointedly avoiding my gaze while her tail hung limply between her legs. I took a moment to rub her head between her ears and she froze, finally looking up at me. “We’re fine,” I said softly, smiling.

She relaxed immediately and her tail perked up. She nodded once, her own lips curving in a small, soft smile, then headed to follow her sister. She risked a glance at me, her golden eyes brimming with uncertainty.

Before I could look away she made a point of shedding the shirt she’d slept in then bending over to pick her clothes up, her tail swishing with just enough force to give me a rather tantalizing view.

I was caught off guard for the second time today, my brain simply unable to keep up with everything happening, so I didn’t look away. Her cheeks flushed when she straightened and realized I was still watching, but she turned towards me to finish getting dressed. Tsuki noticed, but she simply pursed her lips and said nothing and started to pull her clothes on.

Seeing them both naked next to one another I realized their hair wasn’t the only thing that was different. While Tsuki had a lithe body, helped by the physical nature of her class and skills as well as the training she’d been doing lately, Ryoko was much softer. A bit thicker in the thighs, ass, and waist than her sister, but no less attractive for it. They both looked so much healthier than when I’d pulled them from the Pens, and a primal part of me was very pleased by that fact.

But as much as I’d like to, I couldn’t stand around and ogle the girls in my tent all day. Noelle had finished dressing already, and she walked over to help me. I raised a brow when she buckled on my sword belt, her hand brushing against my erection that was really struggling surrounded by all these beautiful girls, but she just flashed a small smile at me. When I got to the parts she couldn’t really help with, she just stood at my back and leaned into me. I’d just finished lacing up my boots when I heard a dramatic gasp.

“Zaren!” Rhallani called, storming over with a journal in hand and nothing on her lower body. “Tell me everything!”

For a second I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. My paranoid brain went first to Ryoko’s orgasm this morning, then to the moment that had lasted an eternity where Vivian’s eyes had been glued to my junk. They my eyes drifted to Tiana, who was smirking.

“The Link?” I asked carefully.

“Of course the Link!” Rhallani said sternly, dropping to sit with her legs crossed and her journal on her lap. A brief flash of pleasure crossed her face with a light moan and she shook her head. “Fuck, sat right on the plug.” She shifted, her hand disappearing beneath her, then sighed happily. “Right, spill mister.”

I told her everything I remembered while everyone else got dressed. Then, before she could yell at me for forgetting, I checked my Soul Essence. I was only seventeen short, which meant Tiana’s Link had only cost twenty before whatever I’d regenerated while fucking her ass into oblivion. When I told Rhallani as much, she frowned.

“I wonder if twenty is the new normal or if it’s something else. I wonder if this shimmer has anything to do with it. You’ve still got no idea what it could mean?”

“Not in the slightest.”

She nodded. “Well, we’ll have to keep an eye out for more shimmers then.”

I made an uncertain noise. “It’s hard to see unless I’m focused on the soul for a period of time. It isn’t really something I can just glance at a soul and see.”

It was time to defuse like a motherfucker.

I patted Alice’s shoulder to signal her to hang back and walked up to the couple. Reese and Zoey both flanked their employer. Where Zoey was locked onto Al, her hand on her weapon, Reese was watching Vivian’s every move with hawklike eyes that had me moving just a little quicker.

I sighed loudly, announcing my presence. “Al, what on earth are we shouting about right now? It’s far too late for this.”

He turned his body to me without taking his eyes off Vivian. “This deceitful bitch is trying to sneak off to do who knows what, and I won’t let her put the caravan in danger.”

Well then. A part of me wanted to just let Vivian have him, but the rational part of my brain pointed out that, while he was being a supreme ass about it, Al was just doing his job. “Al, hate to break it to you bud, but Vivian here doesn’t have any contracts with me, Korey, or Pierce. She’s a companion of convenience, which means she doesn’t owe us her secrets.”

He growled. “She isn’t what she seems.”

Vivian’s smile widened. “And what exactly am I, Alrik?”

Al stiffened, and his hand went to one of his blades. “I don’t know, but I know I’m not letting you creep off into the night anymore. Not without knowing what you’re doing. A noble wouldn’t know how to shake a ranger so easily.”

It was Vivian’s turn to stiffen, though I wasn’t sure exactly what had set her off. “As Zaren here so kindly pointed out,” she said through clenched teeth, “I am under no obligations to you. I will go where I please you incredibly unpleasant man.” Something about the words didn’t fit with the look in her eyes. For some reason, I expected a lot more vulgarity. The disparity was almost enough to make me miss her using my full name.

Almost.

Al took a threatening step forward and Zoey did the same. Vivian didn’t so much as twitch, though. I sighed again, stepping close enough to put a hand on his shoulder. “Let it go, Al,” I told him.

He shook off my hand. “Why? Because she’s spreading her legs for you, too? Or are you hoping to win her over by fighting her battles for her?”

“Oh, I’m not doing this for her,” I said. Vivian’s eyes flicked to me. “I was just in the middle of something and really don’t have the time or patience to clean up whatever’s left of you when she’s done.”

I wish I could have bottled the moment up to enjoy it later. Zoey sucked in her breath and Reese balked. Al opened his mouth to say something else likely hateful, but then closed his mouth in confusion as my words finally registered. Then his gaze flicked back to Vivian and his eyes narrowed before he took a step back cautiously, but I wasn’t looking away from Vivian.

Her expression was still that sweet smile, but it felt more like she was frozen in time than anything else. Her eyes stared at me for a while, her gloved hands clasped tightly in front of her, her jaw clenched so tight I worried Serena might have to work some magic on her poor teeth.

Then she blinked.

Then she blinked again.

“You...” she said finally, but the word trailed off. Before my very eyes, I watched the visage of Lady Vivian Cross shatter into a million pieces. Her smile fell first, then her brows came together. Her barely controlled expression melted into something much more akin to fury. The intensity and emotion in her eyes made my heart race.

And not out of fear.

“You...” she said again.

“Lady Vivian...” Reese said, her tone dripping with caution.

Then she took a step forward. “You motherfucker!”

Oh boy.

She took another step and I was very suddenly aware that I was within arm’s reach and I felt everyone but Reese and Zoey take at least two steps back. “How fucking long have you known?” she demanded.

I’d known that the mask Vivian had worn wasn’t anywhere close to who she really was, but I hadn’t quite expected this fiery version of her. It took a second to find my tongue. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific.”

Her hand shot out and grabbed the front of my shirt, yanking me in close with a surprising amount of strength. Reese and Zoey both took a step forward, but they froze when Vivian snarled. Snarled. A sound I found myself liking considerably more than the airy giggle she’d seemed so partial to only a few days ago.

“Vivian!” Reese called again, her hands held out in front of her as if trying to calm a wild animal.

“How long have you suspected me, you slippery fuck!?” Vivian demanded.

[Giant Killer] seemed to flicker, like Vivian was still trying to decide if I was an enemy or not. The surge in my primal wasn’t as pronounced as it had been before, but logically I knew I should still be at least a little worried about the very angry Vivian in my face.

I was not. Not in the slightest, and I had no clue why.

I tried to fight it. I really did. Unfortunately, I failed. A grin slid onto my face, and I said, “well, probably sometime around ‘Lady Vivian Cross. A pleasure.’” I should not have enjoyed the rage mottling her cheeks quite as much as I did. I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a very paranoid person.”

She growled, but my grin only widened. “You fucking read me that day with the tents. Fuck I knew it!” Her grip tightened, and suddenly she was nose to nose with me. There was a fire in her eyes, and her face seemed to glow with rage. “You godsdamned—”

“Vivian!” Reese called again, but Vivian was on a roll.

“—arrogant, reckless, bull headed—”

“Lady Cross!” Zoey yelled, trying to break through to her.

“—paranoid, clever, motherfucking—”

“JACK!” Reese shouted.

Vivian/Jack whirled towards her. “WHAT!?”

Reese just gestured towards where Vivian/Jack was gripping my shirt. Both of us looked down and I realized she wasn’t glowing, but rather reflecting the light of the fire between us. The fire that coated her entire hand and arm down to her elbow. Fire that didn’t frighten me nearly as much as it probably should have.

Like water had been dumped over her, Vivian/Jack hissed and jerked back, putting space between us. She didn’t look up at me, though. Instead, she stared at her hand in shock. I couldn’t see any part of her flesh past the gold and crimson flames that danced and swirled in a mesmerizing fashion. The same gold and crimson flames that had eviscerated the Rathum.

Her face twisted in concentration and I realized I’d slightly misunderstood. Her hand wasn’t wrapped in flame, it was flame. Before my very eyes, I watched as the flames slowed and condensed, dimming until they’d settled back to the golden tan of her skin. Where the flames had been the glove had burned away, which was slightly insane considering I knew they were enchanted to be flame resistant.

She looked at her hand in shock, panting slightly, then her eyes shot open. She stepped back towards me, a panicked look on her face, and pressed her now-bare (and no longer made of fucking fire) hand to where she’d gripped me a moment ago. Her touch sent fire racing through me (metaphorically speaking) but didn’t hurt me at all. In fact, despite the annihilation of her glove, my shirt wasn’t even singed.

Vivian/Jack’s look of panic was replaced by one of pure confusion. Her brow furrowed, not in anger this time, and she ripped my shirt up to see the skin underneath. No burns there either. Only then did she seem to realize what she was doing and turned an alluring shade of scarlet that complimented her fiery hair quite well.

She released my shirt and took several steps back, shaking her head. “I...I didn’t...” She swallowed, then turned on her heel and strode back towards the center of camp, ducking into the tent I knew Zoey and Reese shared.

When I turned back to the two owners of the tent, they were watching me intently. From the tightness of their bodies and their stances, I figured they were waiting one me to react poorly to whatever the fuck had just happened. I just jerked a thumb towards where Vivian had gone. “Might want to go check on her. I don’t know how her class works, but I’ve only got so many tents and I didn’t think to invest in the fireproof ones.”

They both gaped. “You’re not...” Zoey started.

I shrugged. “We’ll deal with it later, preferably when she’s had a minute to calm down.” Then I pointed at Al. “And you’re going to give her space. She already doesn’t like you, and you don’t seem very fireproof to me either.”

Al paled, then stalked off to resume his watch while muttering to himself. It was about as good as I’d get to an agreement from him. I looked back to the two of them. “Well? Like I said, I’m really not in the mood tonight. We can all talk more tomorrow.”

They exchanged an incredulous look, but they didn’t argue. They both sped off after Vivian and I just shook my head, running my hands through my hair. My reactions to literally everything she’d done had been far from normal, which was something else I was going to have to deal with. For now, though, I was going to blame it on still being incredibly horny and the knowledge that three very beautiful, very naked women were currently waiting on me to fix that.

I could deal with the rest tomorrow.