“Speaking of digestible horrors.” I lean in, resting my forearms on the wooden plank. “What’s the deal with the newcomers? Two humans, yeah? And some other species?”
Molsi gives me a sharp look, their pale silver eyes glittering under the bioluminescent glow. “Shanae took them out with two others. One Pyronox, the other… unidentified.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Pyronox?”
Pyronoxes aren’t exactly common. I’ve only met one in my time here, and he was a walking inferno with muscles to match. Massive, skin like molten rock, bright bloody red, and capable of setting an entire camp ablaze with a sneeze. Pyronoxes arebasically the last creatures you want to invite to a bonfire unless you want the whole damn forest to go up with it.
“And the human? The adult one?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.
Molsi tilts their head, considering me. “Mated to the Pyronox.”
There goes that hope.
Not that I was about to run off and throw myself at the guy, but still, I wouldn’t mind a nice, simple “down to fuck” situation. Instead, it looks like he’s already wrapped up in an infernal love story. Lucky bastard.
“They left almost immediately,” Decca chimes in, flipping whatever she’s frying. “Hours ago, actually. Apparently, they’re searching for evidence of the latest rift and whatever came through it.”
My gut tightens.
Of course, I can’t help but wonder—hope, even—that whatever slipped through might be my mate. But that thought is fucking ridiculous, and I hate myself a little for even considering it.
Still, I tap my fingers on the counter, frowning.
“Any clue what the unknown creature is?” I ask. Though, in truth, it could be a whole town, not just one unfortunate bastard.
Molsi shakes their head. “No details. But it must be important if Shanae took them all out there herself.”
Interesting. Shanae is no fool. If she’s personally escorting them, something about this situation is worth investigating. Saying that, the lightning storm seemed to last longer than usual.
“So, what you’re saying is, I should be prepared for some fresh chaos?” I muse.
Decca grins, all teeth and mischief. “Aren’t you always?”
Fair point.
I grab a wooden bowl as Molsi ladles some of the questionable stew into it. As I take my first hesitant bite, my mind is already turning over the possibilities. New rift, new creatures, and two more humans added to our ranks. One of them, at least, definitely not mine.
But what about the other?
And why do I get the feeling that everything is about to change?
A sudden commotion outside makes me pause, spoon halfway to my mouth. Heavy footsteps thunder through the hall, voices rising in an urgent, tangled mix of Glowranthian and English.
“Sonny!” A tall Trefite bursts into the mess hall, breathless. Their dark scales shimmer under the glow of the cave’s veins. “A human has been taken to headquarters.”
My stomach clenches. Headquarters isn’t here—it’s a short trek away, hidden but more exposed than our rebel accommodation.
“Taken?” I ask, standing. “By who?”
“They were found unconscious. Strange clothing—no pants, like many humans seem to favour. Shanae’s party found them. She went ahead with the majority of her crew. Sent two back with the unconscious human.” The Trefite pauses. Up close I recognise him as Dreink. “Varek sent for you.”
A sharp thrill rushes through me. I’ve been waiting—practically begging—for a real job here. Something with purpose, not just the usual errands or menial tasks that keep me from going insane. Back in Sydney, I worked as a nightclub promoter, which, let’s be honest, was mostly talking my way into free drinks and making sure drunken idiots didn’t vomit in VIP lounges.
Not exactly a skill set that translates well to surviving a rebellion in a monster-filled dimension. It’s why I’ve thrownmyself into training, pushing my body, learning to fight. If war ever comes—hell, it’s already on the horizon—I want to be ready. Because as a human, a Riftborn, I’m a target. The ruling realm’s queen sees us as property, assets to be used however she damn well pleases. Captured, enslaved, experimented on.
No fucking thank you.
I slam my bowl down, appetite forgotten. “Let’s go.”
