“The magic oflove.” Onvyr laughed a little too hard to Khent’s way of thinking.
Valentine and he shared a grimace. Their gazes met before Khent stared once again at the road.
“This elf guy isn’t that funny,” Valentine said.
“No, he isn’t. But he’s not bad in a fight, and he can talk to animals.” High praise coming from a reaper of Khent’s caliber.
“Really? He can talk to animals?” Valentine turned to study Onvyr. “A natural-born gift or something he acquired from a spell or imbued object?”
“Does it matter?” Onvyr asked, wiping his eyes.
“Only if I kill you then make you my pet. A natural gift would be ideal. But an imbued talent might not transfer if you die.”
“Oh, but it can if you craft the right spell first,” Khent heard himself offering, not sure why.
Her astonishment, followed by a glowing smile filled with admiration, pleased him to no end. “Wow. Seriously? You’re good.”
“I know.”
“Teach it to me?”
“Hold on.” Onvyr sat back, as far away as he could get from the front seat. “No killing the dusk elf.”
“We’ll see.” Khent smirked at Onvyr in the rearview mirror, pleased when the elf didn’t look so amused anymore.
Khent met Valentine’s smile and gave her a slow wink, not sure why her blush made him think of sultry, naked nights and not the food source he should be fantasizing about.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Tiger Mountain,located near Cougar Mountain in the Issaquah Alps, took them over an hour to reach the right trailhead. A good thing Val had decided to move their hiding place. The last time she’d been up here, she’d battled witches.
“Onvyr, you lead,” Khent said as he grabbed her from the car.
“H-hey,” she sputtered as he lifted her into his arms and started running at a speed she’d never be able to match.
They flew up the trail toward the summit, which had a panoramic view of the city. Val had once hiked this same path and remembered it being over six miles round-trip.
Not a fun way to spend a Saturday, in her opinion.
Riding in Khent’s arms, while the thick forest flew by like a blur, was something else.
“When we arrive, I expect you to hold your own,” Khent stated, not at all out of breath.
Did vampires even breathe?
“Human?” he prodded. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll take the vampires apart so you don’t dirty your precious little hands.”
He smirked, an expression that seemed to be his default when not glowering with ill intent at the world around him.
“I’ll circle around and attack from the other side,” Onvyr announced as he peeled away.
Khent moved even faster, and it took her a moment to realize they’d stopped before he set her down.
She wavered on her feet, dizzy.
