Page 4 of Whispers of Ruin
Now, not only did he like her, but there were times when he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He’d always wanted to fuck her and would have even when he borderline hated her—he was a man and a dark fae, after all, and she was gorgeous—but he also found himself oddly fascinated with her.
It was a strange sensation, and one he wasn’t familiar with when it came to women, but he couldn’t take his gaze off her when he should pay attention to his surroundings. With a concerted effort, he tore his attention away from Kaylia and focused on the deadly land again.
CHAPTERSIX
Around him,the others ate, too, but the food only sated some of a dark fae’s hungers. Thankfully, the three lycan women were more than open to accommodating the needs of the dark fae with them.
If they stayed here long enough, Brokk would have to turn to one of the lycans as the other dark fae had, but because he was only half dark fae, he didn’t have to feed as often. To satisfy his vampire thirst, he’d brought a couple of bags of blood with him, and he could hunt. He’d already hunted and fed from one of the many creatures here.
He wasn’t exactly looking forward to screwing one of the lycans. Although they were usually a fantastic screw, wild and eager, they weren’t what he truly desired. His gaze strayed to Kaylia again, but even with her improving attitude toward vamps, he doubted she’d let him feed from her.
If she would, he’d feast on her and enjoy every second of it. But since that wouldn’t happen, he’d have to settle for one of the lycans.
As he contemplated it, his stomach did a strange, turning sensation, but he ignored it. He’d do whatever it took to survive and not starve or become weakened by hunger. Any weakness in this place would result in death.
Hopefully, they’d find the crudue vine and be gone from here before that became necessary.But it still won’t be her.
His gaze returned to Kaylia. The hunger that hadn’t stirred for the lycans woke as he eyed her. He quickly shoved it aside. There was no point in contemplating things that could never be.
They’d forged a friendship through plotting, blood, and death, but it would never be anything more; she’d never allow it. She’d warmed toward him but retained some distance, and he’d never seen her show any interest in a man, which was strange as most immortals embraced their sexuality and relished in it—not as much as the dark fae, but they all still enjoyed fucking.
He didn’t understand her indifference toward sex and was curious as to why she didn’t embrace her sexuality more, but they hadn’t become friendly enough for him to ask questions like that. Maybe one day, but he doubted it.
He bit off more of his dried meat as he focused on something other than her. He smacked away an annoying bug and chomped more angrily on his food.
As a kid, he’d dreamed of exploring Doomed Valley. He’d read every story he could find on it and been determined to enter the mysterious land as soon as he was old enough.
When he became a man, he’d realized he preferred women and luxury to jungles and monstrous creatures. The first time he had sex, his dreams of exploring Doomed Valley vanished, and he’d never regretted it.
Now, he was a brother seeking to save the only woman his brother had ever loved. He wouldn’t let Cole down, which meant he wouldn’t leave this jungle until he had the crudue vine in hand.
Everyone with him had come because they were looking to keep Lexi on the throne, and while he was here for that, too, he was also here to save his brother. He’d already lost five of his brothers during the war against the Lord; he wouldn’t lose Cole as well.
He loved Lexi; she’d helped save his life after a dark fae ran him through with a sword, and her presence on the throne would save countless lives. He would do everything he could to save her, but the idea of losing Cole propelled him into Doomed Valley.
Also, if Lexi died, the Shadow Reaver would destroy them all, and he didn’t feel like being torn apart by shadows unleashed by the brother he considered his best friend.
At the memory of what Cole could do with those shadows, and how close they’d already come to losing him once, the dried meat became more like sawdust in his mouth. He shoved it back into his pack, took a swig of water, and stored everything away again.
He started to rise, but vibrations in the earth stopped him. Brokk frowned as he placed his palm flat against the ground, but what he felt wasn’t what unnerved him most; it was the slow way Kaylia’s head came up and turned toward the jungle.
Witches were far more in tune with the earth than other immortals; whereas he could barely feel a rumble that made him curious, the color drained from her face. She started shoving her things into her pack.
“We have to go!” she shouted as she worked.
The others all turned to look at her with confusion, but Brokk threw his pack onto his shoulders. Sensing Kaylia’s urgency, they all packed up and rose.
Kaylia was on her feet with her bag halfway on her shoulders when the ground started shaking enough to vibrate his legs. Deep within the jungle trees, branches snapped as something thundered through them.
Brokk turned to see what was barreling toward them, but the wall of green was so thick it was impossible to see whatever was rapidly approaching. The cracking of trees grew louder as some of the taller ones overhead vanished like they’d been ripped from the earth and thrown to the ground.
“Shit.” Brokk had no idea what was coming for them, but it was coming fast. “Run!”
CHAPTERSEVEN
Kaylia’s heartclenched as she plunged over the ledge into the jungle below. The hill was so steep she couldn’t run. Instead, she slid down as dirt and debris kicked out from under her feet.
This section of the jungle wasn’t as thick as what they left behind, so she didn’t have to slash her way through the dense foliage. Instead, she skidded, slipped, and nearly went down as the earth fell away beneath her.
