She shrugged. “I am a Satyr. And you are absolutely no fun.”
That seemed the consensus, all right.
Vali bit her pinky nail. “You mean you’ve—how many guys have you—oh, never mind.”
The Satyr pointed to the grass beneath a certain tree. “Untried, at least by me, because it’s uncomfortable over there.” Her lower lip stuck out in an impressive pout. “Honestly, it hasrained. At least once. It isn’t like we spray fluids everywhere.” She reconsidered. “Although—”
“TMI.” I rose to head for the designated spot.
“What?”
I enlightened her as Vali and I settled beneath the unused tree. I could see why it wasn’t prime real estate—its roots ran along the surface, and I had to squirm to find a grassy softer spot big enough for me. If it kept it unsex-smeared, I’d put up with it.
“Oh.” The TMI concept seemed foreign to Kiko, as was evidenced by her confused expression. She plunked herself down beneath the comfy tree with a sigh, and stared up through the branches to the late afternoon sky.
Vali managed to find enough grass to stretch out, looking much like a Playboy centerfold. What would it be like to be born like that? Every move, every curve, perfect.
It didn’t matter if you had a hole in your soul.
The thought popped into my mind and lodged there. Now that I knew what to look for, the pain of Ace’s death was in every gesture, every word. It didn’t matter how beautiful Vali was. I didn’t want to be in her shoes.
Didn’t want to become like her.
I closed my eyes. Now that I was aware, I could sense Havoc at the fringes of my consciousness. All I had to do was imagine him to catch snatches of his thoughts. That was one royally pissed-off Dragon. He was muttering curses and pacing, at the moment. In and out of the cell, as though convincing himself that he could leave.
But at least he was still down there. And safe.
Marcus was here, too. Safe in Cara’s suite. Or as safe as he could be, considering the monster that prowled within him.
I should be grateful. And I was. But although both men were close in terms of proximity, they’d made it pretty damned clear they wanted nothing to do with me.
It was definitely time for chocolate. I sighed and reached for a bar.
My heart might be in a shambles, but I physically felt better out here in the open air. My energy buzz had subsided, and I had a powerful urge to nap. I consumed the last of the chocolate and tried my own version of stretching out. It was more likecamp counselorthancenterfold,though.
“We have supper in half an hour,” Kiko said. “If we fall asleep, we’ll miss it.”
“I’m good,” purred Vali without opening her eyes. “This day off might be for all the wrong reasons, but I needed it.”
I was, at the moment, replete, and said so. We fell silent, mesmerized by the breeze moving through the leaves. Even Havoc pacing in my mind had settled, for now. He’d shifted to a small version of his Dragon, and curled up in the larger chamber beyond his cell.
I needed to rest if I was seriously going to try rescuing those kids. I knew what the twins looked like, and I had the necklet. It was worth a shot to save them from Isobel.
But if I was going in after them, I was going after another, as well.
My third moon. Rafael.
How was I going to get to him? They’d kept him in chains at the other place. Even if I found him, how would I free him? Could I Jump with him if he was attached to something else?
If he was chained, it might pull him apart.
I’d once seen through his eyes. I’d been dreaming, but was pretty sure he’d been awake. Which was different from what I’d experienced with Marcus and Havoc.
Could I manage that again?
I didn’t know if my dreams could be targeted. There might be another way to connect with him—but for that, I’d need Cara’s help.
I stood abruptly, and Kiko peered up at me. “Is it time for supper?” she asked halfway hopefully.
