Dragon's Gift - The Valkyrie- Complete Series Page 24

  Concern glinted in his gaze. His wet sweater clung to the muscles of his chest and arms, while his dark hair glittered with water droplets that gleamed in the sun. Worse, his full lips were damp.

  My gaze went straight to them.

  Oh, fates.

  That near-death experience should have killed any desire I had lurking inside me.

  As if.

  I was a danger junkie. Fear fueled me. And so did Cade.

  The combo? Explosive.

  I licked my lips and drew in an unsteady breath. Cade’s hot gaze dropped to my mouth. The heat in his eyes made me burn.

  Yes.

  I wanted to lean up. Press my lips to his. But no matter how much I wanted him—and damn it, I knew he wanted me too—there was no way I was going to kiss him.

  Memory of my last attempt kept me pinned to the ground.

  “Um, I—” My mind scrambled for any words.

  Shutters fell over Cade’s eyes. He leaned back and sat up, resting his arms over his knees. I heaved myself up beside him, staring out at the now calm sea.

  “I don’t know why I can control the water,” I said. “But the power is new.”

  He nodded. “We’ll sort it out.”

  I hoped so.

  Cade pulled the pack off his back, opened it, and riffled through the contents. “Well, the food is mostly shot. I hope you like salty apples and granola bars, because that’s all that wasn’t ruined.”

  “How long will that last us?”

  “It’ll get unpleasant after a day. But we may find food. Or help.”

  “Here’s hoping.” I struggled to my feet, muscles aching and chest still on fire. Gingerly, I reached into my pocket and found the wet map. I unfolded it, grateful for the sturdy paper. Still in pretty good condition. “Let’s get a move on. There’s still a long way to go.”

  We started down the beach again, our clothes drying in the warm sun.

  “You have more control over the water than you do your sonic boom power,” Cade said.

  “I know.” It’d been worrying me. “And it’s weird. The changes have been happening fast. I had good control when you created that creepy monster, but other times it’s shot.” I looked at him. “I know you trust me in a pinch. But I honestly don’t know if my magic can stand up to the challenge anymore.”

  “You’re more than just your magic, Bree. That challenge was meant to prove you can do it. But if your gift changes, you’ll adapt.”

  A small smile tugged at my lips. Why did he have to be so great?

  I turned and quickened my pace. Finally, we reached the end of the beach. It butted up to a dark forest. I sniffed, nose wrinkling. “Still stinks.”

  “Rotten eggs and something else…” Cade’s brow wrinkled as he thought. “Blood?”

  “Ugh.” I searched the forest. The trees were closely spaced, and their bark was black. Whether it was natural or a disease, I couldn’t tell.

  I dug out the map and carefully unfolded it. “We’re nearly halfway there. We go through the forest, then the Fae city is in the clearing beyond that.”

  Cade nodded and stepped into the forest.

  I followed.

  Immediately, it was quieter. There was no gentle roar of the ocean waves, and the temperature dropped considerably without the sun.

  I looked up. Frowned. “There are no leaves on these trees.”

  “Yet it’s still dark.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Neither do I. Stay close.” He drew his sword from the ether.

  I followed suit. I could try my sonic boom here, but my blade was always handy. And there was no water other than the ocean. Soon, it’d be too far away to call upon.

  We walked as silently as we could, cutting between the trees and avoiding the bark that looked sharp-edged. There was no path from what I could tell.

  Did the Fae ever use this forest?

  Not from what I could see.

  A rustling sounded at my left. My heart jumped, and I glanced over, searching between the trees.

  “I see nothing,” Cade murmured.

  “Neither do I.” But it definitely sounded like something was there.

  Cade picked up the pace and I followed. We’d gone about two miles in when the smell began to change. It was more coppery. More—

  “Blood.” I gazed in horror at the tree nearest me.

  Crimson liquid was dripping down the blackened bark, pooling on the ground below. It smelled like blood.

  “Don’t touch it.” Cade jumped over a puddle of shining red liquid that had seeped onto the forest floor. I followed, sticking close by his side.

  I kept my grip loose on my sword, ready to swing.

  The forest grew darker as we got deeper in, the trees closer and the rustling sounds more distinct. There were rock outcroppings here and there, large granite boulders that cast shadows on the ground.

  My hair stood on end and my senses were as alert as a cat burglar’s.

  “Duck!” a strange voice shouted.

  It was so intense, so serious, that I followed instinctually. Cade did too.

  We ducked low as a man made of rocks hurtled toward us, then leapt over our heads.

  6

  My heart thundered as I whirled around to see what the hell had just happened.

  A man—at least, I thought he was a man, since he was made entirely of rough stone—fought a giant hairy winged thing.

  I stumbled back, side to side with Cade.

  “What the hell?” I asked.

  “I think the rock man is on our side.” Cade winced as the rock swung his heavy fist at the creature’s head and removed half its skull.

  The hairy winged thing flew to the side and slammed against a tree. Dead.

  The rock stepped back, dusting his hands together in a move that said job well done.

  I peered at the creature, realizing it was a giant bat-like thing. Huge fangs protruded from its mouth. Blood began to seep from every inch of its skin, flowing into the ground, which drank it up like a sponge. The bat shrank down to nothing.

  “Ew!” I grimaced.

  “Yeah, not pretty, those VDBs.” The rock man sounded like a teenager with a slightly strange accent. New Zealand-ish almost. “Murderous pests, is what they are.”

  “VDBs?” I asked.

  Rock man turned to us and smiled. He was about the size of Cade. But yeah, he looked like a kid. Or at least, as much as a rock figure could look like a kid.

  “Vampire Demon Bats, the scourge of this fair land.” He swept out his arm to indicate the creepy forest. “You’ve never seen one before?”

  “No,” Cade said. “We’re not from around here.”

  “Well, I coulda told you that. Ain’t nothing but rocks from here to the abandoned city. The VDBs saw to that.”

  I stepped forward and held out my hand. This kid was going to be our ally, if I had anything to say about it. “I’m Bree Blackwood. Thanks for taking out the VDB.”

  He nodded and smiled, then stuck his hand toward mine. He gripped it gently, as if consciously trying not to pulverize my bones. “I’m Rocky. Good to meet ya.”

  Rocky. How fitting.

  “I’m Cade.” He stepped forward and shook Rocky’s hand.

  “So, what are you two doing here? Haven’t seen a Breather in a couple hundred years, at least.”

  “Breathers are humans?” I asked.

  “And Fae. Anyone not made of rock that walks on two legs. And breathes.”

  “Where are the Fae?” Cade asked. “Isn’t this their land?”

  “Was their land.” Rocky hiked a thumb toward the withered corpse of the VDB. “Until those bastards showed up. Drove the Fae off about three hundred years ago. Nothing but outcasts living in their city now.”

  I glanced at Cade. Three hundred years was about the time that the Fae portal had closed. And if there were only outcasts left, we didn’t have to worry about inciting a war, at least.

  “Is that why they closed their
portal to the Undercover Protectorate?” I asked.

  “Wouldn’t know nothing about that.” Rocky shrugged. “I’m only two hundred years old. Just a kid, according to me mum. But yeah, safe to assume they didn’t want the VDB to get through to you. Did you a favor right before they ran for it.”

  Cade rubbed a hand over his jaw. “So they just disappeared.”

  “Ran off. Those that weren’t killed, at least. Can’t kill me though. I’m a rock. Ain’t got nothing the VDBs want.”

  I looked around at the miserable forest. “Isn’t it lonely out here?”

  “Nah. I got my family. They’re rocks, too, so they made it out okay. Can’t kill rocks.”

  Right. Of course. He had a way of stating the obvious that was somehow charming. “Do the VDBs have anything to do with the dark curse that’s spreading from this world and out through the portal into ours? And the oily black monster that was near the portal?”

  Rocky shook his head. “Don’t think so. This blackness came after the VDB. A while.”

  “How much later?” Cade asked.

  “Don’t know. Not so good with time. I’m a rock. Rocks can’t tell time.”

  I chuckled softly. Rocky liked to be precise, that I could tell. But at least we knew the two were separate—and this new problem hadn’t destroyed the Fae.

  “We’re looking for the source of the new dark magic,” I said. “Do you know where it’s coming from?”

  “Not a clue. Just showed up one day. But the people in the old Fae city might know.”

  “Can you take us there?” Cade asked. “Show us the lay of the land, so we don’t run into any more VDBs?”

  Rocky grinned wide, clearly delighted to be asked. “Not a problem. Long as I’m home for dinner.”

  “Wait—what do rocks eat?” I asked.

  “Nothing.” Rocky shrugged. “But me mum learned it from the Fae before they left. She likes the tradition. So we all sit around the log and look at each other.”

  “All right, then. Back by dinner, it is.” I clapped my hands once. “Let’s go.”

  “This way.” Rocky started off through the trees in the direction we’d been headed.

  While we would probably eventually find the city on our own, it was much better to have a guide.

  “Good job getting us an escort,” I whispered to Cade.

  “I like the kid.”

  “Me too.”

  As we walked, Rocky rambled on about the dangers in the forest—which he seemed to regard as something like his own personal video game.

  “So, you like it here?” I asked.

  “Oh yeah, love it. The VDBs may have made life a nightmare for the Fae, but they’re downright entertaining for us.”

  “Everyone needs a hobby.” I jumped over a puddle of blood, trying not to look too closely at it.

  “Did the new poisonous oil make the trees bleed?” I asked.

  “No, that’s the VDBs. They become one with the forest when they die, giving it their blood. Not much I can tell you about that oil stuff. Hasn’t been around long.”

  “For a rock, long could mean anything from weeks to a few years, right?”

  Rocky nodded, smiling. “Now you’re getting it.”

  I pointed to a bubbling yellow river ahead. It was about a hundred feet across and stank like sewage. “What’s that?”

  “The bubbly pit. Don’t want to get that stuff on you,” Rocky said. “Melt right through your clothes.”

  “Through rock, too?”

  “Yep. Through granite. My Uncle Al lost a finger that way. Uncle Al never was the smartest.” He stopped at the edge of the pool and pointed to the rocks dotting the way across. “But you can jump on those fellas. They’re my buddies. They don’t mind.”

  “Why aren’t they dissolved?” I asked.

  “Different kind of rock. This is like a steam bath to them.” Rocky waved. “Hey, fellas! We’re just gonna cross, all right?”

  One of the rocks rose up slightly. It was a head. “Sure thing, Rocky.” The rock creature’s gaze landed on me. “You hanging out with Breathers?”

  “Visitors. Ain’t it the thing?”

  The rock grunted, then slipped back below the water.

  “He’s not going to throw me off, is he?” I asked.

  “Ha!” Rocky slapped his knee, as if that had been a hilarious joke. “Nah, Boulder liked you. That was friendly, for him.”

  I glanced at Cade, who shrugged and nodded. “I’ll go first.”

  “Nope. Me, my good man. Follow my lead.” Rocky stepped onto the first rock, then began to hop his way across.

  We followed, Cade going before me.

  The stench was eye-watering as we leapt from stone to stone. My muscles ached from the strain of maintaining my balance. By the time we reached the other side, sweat was dripping down my temples.

  “Not bad, eh?” Rocky grinned. “My best time is forty-five seconds, but you weren’t too slow.”

  “Thanks.” I saluted.

  “This way.” Rocky turned and set off through the forest.

  We followed. This side didn’t look any better than the other—same bleeding trees and dark sky. By the time the growls and hisses started up in the distance, I was almost relieved. I’d been on edge, waiting for another monster.

  “Oh, this is a treat!” Rocky said.

  Sure, Rocky. I didn’t know what was making that noise, but I sure as heck wanted my sword. Cade seemed to agree, because he drew his at the same time.

  Rocky turned to us, his expression clearly aghast. “No swords!”

  I frowned at him. “Sounds like a pretty ferocious beast.”

  “Nah, not if you know how to treat ‘em right.”

  At that moment, five huge, rat-like creatures crept out of the bush. They had scraggly black fur and blazing red eyes, along with whiskers that were at least two feet long. Their lips were pulled back from yellow fangs as they hissed and spat. The largest one was growling like a washing machine full of screws.

  “Hey, fellas!” Rocky waved at the rats, which didn’t so much as look at him. “I know, I know. Treatie time!”

  I shifted closer to Cade, so we could fight back-to-back if necessary.

  Rocky just ignored us, going over to one of the large trees and leaping up to pull off one of the withered fruits. He tossed the dark gray thing at the nearest rat, which leapt into the air and snagged it with yellow fangs. It tore into the fruit like it had to break its neck.

  Rocky repeated the drill, tossing withered fruits to the rats, which couldn’t get enough. Their eyes calmed down to a dull, red color—no longer flaming—and the hisses and growls eventually stopped.

  I lowered my sword.

  Rocky turned to us, a smile on his face. “Mice love apples.”

  A laugh escaped me. “Those are neither mice nor apples, but whatever. Good job, Mouse Whisperer.”

  Rocky’s grin spread wider on his face and he turned. “We’re almost there. Let’s get out of here before the mice finish their treaties. They get moody after that.”

  I glanced at the enormous devil rats who were massacring their withered fruits, then hurried after Rocky and Cade.

  “Did the mice come with the VDBs?” I asked.

  “Nah, according to me mum, they used to pull the Fae chariots. Now they’re kinda wild, rampaging through the forest, looking for treaties.”

  Considering I was frequently on the hunt for a nice pink cocktail, I couldn’t blame them.

  After walking for another forty minutes, the trees began to thin.

  “Almost there,” Rocky said. We reached the edge of the tree line, which looked out onto a wide-open plain. Rocky pointed. “Just beyond the horizon is the village. Be careful, though. They don’t love visitors. I’d take you, but it’s almost dinnertime.”

  “We will.” I turned to him. “Thanks, Rocky.”

  Cade thanked him too.

  “Glad to do it.” He grinned. “Stop by and see me again. I’ll show you Razo
r Mountain.”

  I gave him a thumbs-up. “For sure.”

  Lie. Big, fat lie. As much as I’d like to see Rocky again, I didn’t want to get anywhere near Razor Mountain.

  He saluted, then ran off into the woods. Before he disappeared through the trees, he turned around and shouted, “Oh yeah, and watch out for the VDBs!”

  Great.

  I turned to Cade. “Ready for this?”

  He rubbed his hands together and smiled. “Looking forward to it.”

  I nodded and conjured my sword and shield. Cade did the same, though his weapons were far larger than mine.

  I sucked in a bracing breath. “Let’s go.”

  We started across the sandy expanse. The ground was hard-packed and dusty out here, away from the forest. It was a totally different ecosystem from the last two we’d just been in. Bright sun shined down. Nothing like Death Valley, but I’d have preferred the cover of night.

  When the first shriek sounded in the distance, my heartrate spiked.

  I glanced around, catching sight of the oncoming VDB. It was huge—the size of a horse—with massive fangs and blazing red eyes. The stench of its magic reached me from far away.

  “Got this one.” Cade didn’t break his stride as he drew his arm back and hurled his shield.

  The shining silver metal flew through the air so fast it was hard to see, and collided with the bat. The beast tumbled through the air, and the shield returned to Cade.

  Nice.

  I kept up the pace, my breath coming short. I was more used to riding than running.

  The next bat came out of nowhere. I barely heard the flap of wings in time. I ducked, and the beast sailed over me. Cade threw his shield, taking it out.

  The third was mine. It flew from the left, hurling toward me with a bloodthirsty glint in its eyes. When it was close enough for me to see the hairs on its hide, I stabbed with my sword. The blade sank into the creature’s belly, and it tumbled to the ground.

  I kept sprinting, occasionally cutting down VDBs as Cade knocked more out of the sky with his shield.

  My lungs burned and my legs ached, but soon, there was a massive city on the horizon. It rose tall and pale, a strange conglomeration of buildings built out of the earth. They all looked to be stacked on top of each other, making a city that was more vertical than horizontal.