That gets a chuckle out of him, the sound warm and easy.“Your skills are more impressive than you give yourself credit for.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re stuck with me,”I reply through the bond, grinning when I feel his amusement ripple in return.
“Ready to move,” Shanae says, cutting into our private moment. She’s dressed in leather armour that looks well worn but sturdy, her black hair tied back into a loose braid. She catches my eye and smirks. “You coming, or are you too busy making googly eyes at your mate?”
Jamie snickers, and I glare at her. “We’re coming.”
We set out, the group moving in a loose formation with Nera leading the way. The scenery is unlike anything I’ve ever seen back on Earth. The ground beneath us is a deep slate grey, cracked and uneven like the surface of an ancient lava flow. Strange spindly trees twist skywards, their branches tipped withglowing orbs of light that pulse faintly, as if in time with the heartbeat of the world.
“Stay close,” Solan murmurs, his hand brushing briefly against mine.
I nod, my grip tightening on Jamie’s shoulder as he walks beside me. This is not the direction we came from a few days ago.
As we move, I fall into step with Shanae, who seems perfectly at ease despite the tense atmosphere.
She catches me glancing at her and raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly. Then, unable to resist, I ask, “So… you have a mate?”
She grins, her teeth Colgate white.Fuck, I really need to figure out what to use to brush my teeth with when my toothpaste runs out.“I do. Their name’s Ril.”
“Ril?” Jamie pipes up, clearly curious.
“Yep,” Shanae says, her tone fond. “They’re aGildryn—a kind of species that looks like a cross between a giant praying mantis and a jellyfish. Beautiful, really, if you’re into the whole bioluminescent, translucent vibe.”
“Sounds… unique,” I say, unsure how else to respond.
“Oh, they are,” Shanae says, laughing. “I met them when they saved my ass from a pack ofklaustras. I was pinned under one of those six-legged bastards, and Ril swooped in like some kind of glowing avenger. Scared the hell out of me at first. I thought they were going to eat me.”
“Romantic,” I say dryly, which earns me another laugh.
“Hey, it worked,” Shanae says, shrugging. “Turns outGildrynsare big on loyalty. They’ve been by my side ever since—well, except for scouting missions. And let me tell you, having a mate who can paralyse enemies with a single touch is a real game-changer.”
I glance at Solan, who’s walking a few paces ahead. “Paralysing enemies. Sounds useful.” And holy shit, that must mean she can do the same, right?
He doesn’t turn around, but I feel his amusement through our bond.“Don’t get any ideas.”
The banter helps ease some of the tension, but the farther we travel, the more the unease of the group grows. The landscape becomes more rugged, the terrain littered with jagged rocks and deep crevices that force us to pick our way carefully.
Everything we pass looks part of this land. It doesn’t seem like we’ve stumbled—or are even close to crossing—into a sliver of another world.
Nera suddenly halts, its head snapping to the side. It makes another guttural sound, this one sharper and more urgent.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice low.
The bark-man translates. “Something’s ahead. Faint, but… there.” He shakes his head. “But not the rift.”
Shanae raises a hand, signalling for silence. The group falls still, every sense on high alert.
Then we hear it.
A distant scream, sharp and human, cuts through the air, followed by a deep, guttural roar that makes my blood run cold. The sound is close enough to send a flock of birdlike creatures erupting from a nearby tree in a flurry of iridescent wings.
Jamie presses closer to me, his eyes wide with fear.
“Stay with me,” I whisper, my hand tightening on his shoulder.
Before we can react, another sound splits the air—a piercing, otherworldly shriek that vibrates through my skull. The pain is immediate and overwhelming, forcing me to my knees as I clutch at my head.
