Page 64 of Whispers of Ruin
“It might not matter if they canseeyou; they might be able tosmellorhearyou. Or maybe they have senses we don’t know about; maybe that tongue can find you anywhere. Those cats sensed us even while cloaked in shadows. They’ll go away when the sun rises; we can wait it out.”
“Wethinkthey’ll go away at dawn. This is the first time they’ve ever exposed themselves to anyone; we have no idea what will happen when the sun rises. More of them could come then, or they could grow more powerful.”
“We should wait and see.”
“I could go out there, discover what we’re dealing with, and possibly eradicate the enemy.”
“We have no idea how long they’re going to stay out there, and we can’t stay here,” Ryker said. “They’re not the only danger we have to worry about in this jungle. The ophidians will come too if we stay here.”
Kaylia shot him a look that caused Ryker’s eyebrows to rise. His lips twitched toward a smile before he suppressed it.
Brokk was too smart to share in Ryker’s amusement as an irate Kaylia glared at them. He also enjoyed that she was concerned about him going out there.
Maybe I’m not the only one who feels something here.Her fiancé’s ghost would always haunt them, but perhaps they could have something more… if they survived this place.
“I might be able to take them out with relative ease instead of risking the lives of everyone here,” Brokk said.
Kaylia glowered at him. “It’s a bad idea.”
“It’s one of the few we have,” Ryker said. “Can I go with you?”
Brokk studied the shadows beyond the barrier. There weren’t a lot of them, but there was enough to keep them concealed.
“Yes, but if something goes wrong, we could lose the shadows and be exposed.”
“I’ll unleash some lightning if that happens.”
“I’m coming with you,” Kaylia stated.
“That’s too many of us out there.” There was no way he was going to risk her getting hurt. “We could create too much noise, or I could have a tough time keeping the shadows around us.”
“If you’re going out there, then I’m going too. Besides, you could have a difficult time keeping the shadows around you anyway. At least, if I’m out there, I can cast a protective spell to keep us all safe until we return here. You have no reason to argue, especially since I’m right.”
Normally, he liked it when she was bossy and determined, but he wasn’t a fan when it worked against him. “And if I say no?”
Her chin jutted out. “That’s not an option.”
“But it is.”
Behind him, Ryker chuckled as he muttered, “Brave bastard.”
When Kaylia’s eyes narrowed, Brokk pondered if she was contemplating turning him into a toad.
“I won’t let you out of the barrier,” she stated.
“Allegra will.”
They all looked at the witch, whose mouth parted as she looked between him and Kaylia. She held her hands up as she backed away a couple of steps. “Don’t put me in the middle of this.”
“Someone has to let you out,” Kaylia said.
Brokk could ask Ryker to command the other witches to do it, and they would. Kaylia was the oldest, but Ryker paid them. He couldn’t bring himself to do that to her.
He hated the idea of her out there, but she’d survived many years and knew how to take care of herself. He grated his teeth together as he bit out his next words.
“You’re to stay by my side. If you don’t, I’ll drag you back in here kicking and screaming if I have to.”
“You can try.”
