There would be no more senseless deaths. If someone committed a crime, she would know before they were sentenced to death if they were innocent or not. She would know if someone harmed children. She would know everything.
Then it hits me, it slams through me. What a burden that will be for her. To know the evils of this world, to have to hear in the person’s own voice, I don’t know that I can ask that of her. As wonderful as it would be, it is a burden too heavy for a woman.
BIRDIE
He’s watching me, but the expression on his face is odd, then it changes to a deep frown. Lifting my hand, I extend my finger and slide it across his lips, touching them and feeling their softness beneath my skin.
“Colt?” I chance asking.
His eyes are sparkling as he watches me, then something unreadable crosses his expression. He leans forward, his lips brushing mine.
“Let’s just get you home,” he mutters against my mouth. “I need to check every inch of you, make sure you’re indeed alright.”
My entire body shivers against his and I press my mouth even harder against his. “Please do, honey.”
He jerks his head back slightly, his gaze searching mine. “Honey?”
“Yeah, you’re sweet when you want to be.”
“When I’m not?”
I wrinkle my nose, scrunching it as I look into his eyes. He lets out a low chuckle and shakes his head a couple of times as if he thinks that I’m cute, or he doesn’t quite believe what I’m saying to him.
“I’m a bear, or maybe a few other choice words?” he asks.
My lips twitch up into a smile and I can’t help but let out a little laugh. “Several choice words.”
“Let me try to get ahold of Lonesable.”
Nodding my head, I watch in amazement as he reaches out to his horse and has a conversation completely in his own head.
As I watch him, I wonder what it would be like to actually be able to communicate with Drucilla back at home. Would she freak the fuck out? I know that I would if I were her. Then I think about Sybilla and Liv, if I could reach out to them, then I could find out where they are.
“Drat,” Colt hisses, tearing me from my thoughts.
Lifting my gaze, I tilt my head to the side, but he doesn’t speak right away. Instead, he picks me up, and stands behind me. I’m a bit wobbly on my legs, but I nod my head and brush my skirt off from the dirty floor.
“Won’t you tell me?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “We have a visitor. A messenger from your sister, Sybilla. The entire camp is panicked.”
“Why would they be panicked?” I ask.
He arches a brow. “Your sister’s messenger came on a flying horse.”
“A flying horse?” I breathe.
He dips his chin. “A. Flying. Horse.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “When can we head back? I gotta see this thing,” I demand.
Colt’s eyes widen and then his lips turn up and he laughs. “You may be excited, my men were not. They’re convinced there is witchcraft afoot. They have never seen one, they do not exist in our country, and were thought to be lore.”
I lean forward slightly. “Honey, there is witchcraft afoot, plus, you talk to horses and lions. I think this isn’t too farfetched.”
“It is, if you’ve never seen it before.”
“I’d never seen this world before, Colt, and here I am. As scared as I was, as different as this is, I’m glad that I didn’t fight it. Your men shouldn’t either. Talk to them,” I urge.
He smiles, leaning forward and brushing his lips across mine. “Our way home is here.”
He turns and looks over his shoulder at the lion who is sitting behind us. He nods his head a couple of times, then the lion does as well. I don’t ask him what they’re discussing, I’m still in awe that they can do that, even though I can kind of do the same thing.
I think what has me in awe is the fact that they can respond to one another, while I am just an eavesdropper. I feel like a fraud, my magic is uncontrollable and I virtually serve no purpose, but as a spy. I have a hard time believing these gods would bring me here just so I can spy for my man.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
COLT
Guiding Birdie out of the lion’s den, I can’t help but continue to think about what is to come. There is something brewing, and the fact that this beast is here from Bunafi has me a bit concerned, not to mention the wedding tomorrow, the Assembly that is on their way, and whatever the men who are staging a revolt have planned.
The lion assures me that he and his pride will stage their base a bit closer to the house, but far enough away that they will not be detected by any enemies. I thank him for his hospitality and guide Birdie out of the den and toward the gigantic white horse that awaits us.
King Elias sends his regards to you and his sister-in-law.
Clearing my throat, I ask the beast his name.
Arion.
“Birdie, this is Arion, he was sent by your sister and her husband.”
She squeals and runs up to the horse as if she doesn’t have a single care in the world, or an ounce of self-preservation. I watch as she wraps her arms around the beast’s neck, at least as much as she can.
She whispers to him, then gasps, taking a few steps backward before she turns to face me, a huge smile on her lips.
“I can hear him. I can’t talk back, but I can hear him and I didn’t even have to try,” she cries.
I can’t help but return her smile. She is amazing and beautiful always, but like this? Like this, she is out of this world. Taking a few steps toward her, I lift one of my hands and cup her
