3

She screamed, or tried to. She had no voice to shout in that form. She spun and ran, ignoring the threat of the animals, desperate to escape the nightmare. She was so scared that she shifted back to human as she ran, somehow thinking the dream would end if she changed, if she woke up.

Strong arms grabbed her from behind, lifted her off her feet. Those arms were human. She cried out.

“Easy,” Jayems said, subduing her effortlessly. “Easy, Rihlia.”

“L-let me go!” she shouted, freaking out. That name triggered something, and she knew she was dead. The monsters that had haunted her dreams for so long had finally caught her.

There was a burst of light, and she knew nothing at all.

***

“You shot her!” Jayems stared at the limp bundle in his arms, too stunned to do more than state the obvious.

“She’s happier that way,” Keilor said, putting away his laser gun. It had been set on stun. “She’ll be easier to take home if she’s not fighting us all the way.” He still looked dazed, as if he couldn’t quite grasp what was happening. Then he blinked and focused. “You are taking her home after all this? Or were you planning to leave her to wake up and think it was all a dream?”

“Are you insane? Of course I’m not leaving her here!” Jayems looked around. “But what about her friend? She said someone else was coming. Could he be one of us, too?”

His day had started out so ordinary. He’d reviewed the books for the Citadel, and then made plans to walk Fallon and Keilor to the gate. Fallon had business on Earth, tending to those of their kind who’d chosen to stay behind. Keilor had planned to visit, having never seen the planet. He’d been born in the Dark Lands, the world where most of their kind had migrated. He’d assigned his duties as Master of the Hunt and captain of the Citadel’s guard to another. Jayems assumed his subordinate would be disappointed to hear of Keilor’s sudden return. He couldn’t imagine Keilor staying behind now.

He looked at Fallon.

The blond looked torn. He’d been as fond of Rihlia as any of them. “My business can’t wait, Jayems.”

“I know. Don’t worry, you’ll be back, and she’ll be there. This time, she’s not leaving my sight.” He looked around. “Keilor? Will you keep watch here? We’ll need to be prepared in case she wasn’t bluffing.”

“Done.” He looked at the girl in Jayems’s arms. “I’ll send the volti out scouting. They’ll let me know if anyone is coming. I’ll join you when I’m done here.” Similar to wolves in temperament and appearance, the volti shared a unique bond with Jayems’s people. Fierce and loyal, they occasionally served as guards or scouts.

Fallon said his farewells and strode off to take care of business. Keilor dismantled the camp as Jayems carried the girl to the gate.

The gate between worlds was a subtle transition and you had to walk into it just so; the path was narrow and only accessible from one direction. Moments after he’d started on the path, the landscape suddenly changed. One moon became three in the balmy sky, and volti wove in and out of the tall ferns between giant trees. A spicy forest smell wafted on the gentle wind, mixed with the distant scent of the sea.

The path through the forest was dark, but he did not need a light to find his way. His senses were finely attuned to the rustle of ferns as small creatures hurried away from their volti escort. Conscious of encroaching branches, he was careful to keep his precious burden safe. She’d traveled a long road to get here; he didn’t want to risk her getting hurt now.

It took only a few minutes to reach the gates of the Citadel. The Haunt guards, always in wolf form, saluted him with respect even as their eyes lingered on his burden. He was glad she couldn’t see them, considering how she’d reacted to his own transformation.

That had been odd, given that she’d been the one to change first. It was one of many questions he had for her. They had years of history to cover, and he was anxious to start. The mystery was burning a hole in his mind.

Parquet tiles clicked under his boots as he made his way down the hallways to his rooms. The Haunt stationed at the doors opened them, and in moments he’d crossed the sitting room and laid the girl gently down on the couch. He studied her, frowned, and straightened her head on the pillow.

She was dressed too warmly for the climate. Keeping a sharp eye out for movement, he pulled off her hat, releasing a riot of dark hair plastered with sweat. The heavy coat had to go, too, but he dreaded taking it off. She would not be pleased to wake up and discover him undressing her. He pulled it off as fast as he reasonably could and laid it next to her hat. While he was at it he dispensed with her boots and the second layer of heavy socks. The rest he’d leave to her.

Searching for a handle on the moment, he glanced out the window that took up an entire wall and looked at the three moons. She was going to wake up soon and would want explanations. One couldn’t take a woman, dump her on one’s couch and expect her to take it calmly.

Practical matters first. She’d been cooking her dinner. She would be hungry and perhaps thirsty. Fetching a tray with a glass of water, bread, cold meat and fruit took too little time; he was left staring at her, willing her to wake up.

When she did wake, her eyes opened with a snap. She took one look at him and tried to back up over the couch. “Don’t touch me!” she shrieked when he reached out a reassuring hand.

He spread his hands and backed off.

Breathing hard, she stared at him, her eyes wild. Whatever their natural color was, at that moment her eyes were gold with stress. Sweat trickled down her temple and dripped down her neck.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said calmly, willing her to believe him.

“You kidnapped me!”

“Yes, I did. I wanted to bring you here to explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain. You take me back right now or I’ll …” She looked around, searching for a weapon. When she found nothing more dangerous than couch pillows, her eyes shot to his weapons. She glanced at his face and shivered. Maybe she dreaded the change more than she did his gun.

“I don’t hurt women,” he tried again. “I’m especially not going to hurt my betrothed.”