I look at the determination on Percy’s face says no matter my answer; he is going to find some loophole to stay. Though he doesn’t have to convince me of anything. It is clearly what he needs, what he has to do, and for now, it is greater than his loyalty to me. Grief is strange like that. Never once the same for each person.
“Percy-” I say, pausing as he rolls his shoulders back before they slump forward.
“I need this, more than the tears I have and will continue to cry. More than I need to bury her and that part of me.” His eyes are soft, his voice close to breaking.
“Percy, I understand.” I tell him, nodding. “And we could use the extra body.”
He exhales roughly and nods. The poor guy is barely holding himself together. I can see Hayes‘ disappointed look, but I choose to ignore it for now. He is wise in so many regards, except when it comes to his own situations. Hayes didn’t mourn the same way I did. When I look at Percy, I see me.
I see the same beginning of the Alpha of Death, the determination to push aside the emotional pain and bury it beneath bodies. And having an extra fighter means better odds for Colette. I could have ordered more warriors to the fight, but once we get home, there will be a war and I need to save them for the moment we need them.
“We need to keep moving,” I say, clearing my throat.
Percy reaches down in the bush and extracts a bag full of things and pushes it up his back as he rushes to keep up with Hayes, who is walking on ahead. Leandra is the next to follow him, moving along with Percy as I pair up with Caspian. He walks at ease, but I can see the fatigue on his face and the way he shakes out his legs every now and then.
“How are you holding up, Fishman?” I ask, smirking at him.
He shakes his head, a soft chuckle breaking from his lips.
“I will be fine. Though I believe I can cross hiking off the list of mainland things I enjoy,” he admits. “I think I prefer the food, and perhaps the couch and a nice movie.”
“Makes you sound a little lazy,” I tease, and he nods.
“There is not much to do where I am from and electronics and the sea….well, it doesn’t exactly cohabitate well.” He grins.
“Yeah, we learned that up here, too.”
growing more serious as he looks ahead, watching
are growing more worried.” I say for him and he
me something is wrong.” Caspian says, “It’s not just me, is it? You feel
we hit the jungle, or more like my lycan did. He has been silent, almost
mile.” I concur, leaning closer to him. “When we encountered the giants in the woods near the mansion, it felt…strange. Like the air had an electric current. I thought
you are thinking differently.”
think differently. I know differently.”
we are being stalked?”
turn my head, looking around, and realize it doesn’t feel like it. It is different. This feeling is unnatural. One that isn’t someone lurking but an ominous feeling
“But it is best if we remain closer with the rest, in case we are being
and Percy, who are walking in silence, and Hayes, who is holding up his hands. I push past them, all coming up
and he just stares in awe
I see the way the jungle is scorched below us. The two of us on a ledge we never saw coming looking down at hundreds of burn spots through some, even still raging with flames leading to the base of
I murmur,
hell, that’s for
is it like this?” I wonder
love of their lands, nurturing it to grow and flourish. Supernatural beings need balance, something to offset us. Lycans and werewolves have our human side and our morals, Dragons, though part human are nature lovers, or they have been in
in their midst.” Caspian reminds us, stepping up to my side. “The phoenix feeds off of it. She craves it. The dragons are sensitive creatures. Under their scales, they have mighty
their situation. If it were as simple as the dragons wanting a war, it would be easier to go
their minds because of the bitch Giselle, well, that’s when guilt and remorse may try to
changes nothing,” I say, making my decision. “Colette is in
will feel no
Leandra whimpers, reaching out and grabbing at Hayes,
taking her face
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QZfjp86SR/C9jUTPm62SXkzralSLI9C6tR+xUgXn0w==
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