Her eyes narrowed with fury. “If I had been there, I would have used a spell and made them pay for harming you.”
There was his fierce little warrior. She could never tell if her magic would work as intended, but that did not deter her from facing a threat.
A loud growl sent Alifair wrapping her arms around Bosse’s neck. “Is it still alive?”
He stood and pushed her behind him. “Not for long if he even thinks to come for you.”
Moving sluggishly, the gorilla snarled and sat up.
Bosse warned, “Come near my mate again, and you will die.”
The gorilla shook its head, not in answer, but as if to clear away the fog clouding his eyes. He said, “No. I was wrong.”
This one spoke in animal form, but that was not important. Bosse said, “You would be wise to get moving and never return. A crazy lion-shifter named Krol captures shifters and has a deadly creature he can use to fly them away.”
Anger simmered in the green eyes that stared up at him. “I am stuck in this country because of that miserable Krol. Kidnappers captured me in my country and brought me here because he offered them a lot of money. I got a chance to kill them and escape, but I have had to live on the land here with no way home. I will kill Krol.”
“If you get the chance before I find him, have at it.” Bosse wanted this shifter on his way, which might go faster if the shifter knew which direction to head for his home. “Where did they capture you?”
“In the mountains near Uganda. Central Africa. Have no idea where that is now.”
Bosse held a mental picture of Slovakia in his mind but could not place the countries this gorilla shifter would have to cross. “I think you probably have to head south, which is that way.” He pointed past the gorilla’s right shoulder.
Alifair stuck her head out from behind Bosse. “Go south and a little east to Istanbul. The land narrows to nothing there, but you don’t have to cross water to reach your continent. Keep going south along the Mediterranean Sea until Egypt. Hopefully, you will have located a map by then.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry I scared you.”
Feeling more charitable since Alifair was unharmed, Bosse pulled her around but kept her under his arm. “Why did you grab her?”
Scratching his head, the gorilla shifter said, “I was tired of being alone and wanted a mate.” His bright green eyes slid to Alifair. “I used to have honor before Krol dragged me from my home.”
Alifair gave him a sad smile. “Apology accepted. Good luck getting back.”
“Thanks.” The gorilla shifter stood, stretched, then asked, “What happened to me?”
Bosse grinned, having figured out what Alifair must have done. “Mighty magic from a tiny woman.”
“You’re lucky. Good mate you got.” Shaking his head, the gorilla stepped up on a log and began leaping from point to point until he vanished down the hill.
Too late, Bosse wished he’d thought to ask the gorilla if he’d been tracking them. That had to be what he and Titan had sensed.
Releasing a long breath that eased the muscles in his chest, Bosse was thankful that had turned out better than he had expected. He’d have fought the shifter if that’s what it would have taken to keep her safe, but he didn’t want to kill another shifter who’d had his life destroyed as well.
Bosse had not wanted to fight and kill up close to Alifair. She’d seen enough of that from a distance. He wanted her to see the man he could be for her, not a monster.
Swinging his head around to her, he said, “We need to get back to our horse. I’ll pick up my clothes on the way. Then we can get you cleaned up and back on the road.”
“Hold everything.” She stepped away and put her hands on her hips. “What’s this bit about me being yourmate?”
Titan observed,She doesn’t look happy we chose her.