Pure Destiny (PureDark Ones #12) - Aja James Page 0,90
can, okay Benji?” Sophia said to her favorite little person. “We have a long day of trekking ahead of us. You’ll need all your energy and strength.”
To Dalair, she asked telepathically through their Bond, What’s wrong?
Our enemies are closing in, he told her. I sensed unusual disturbance toward the north and west. At most five miles of distance between us. They must have found the crash site and immediately triangulated our location.
Sophia took a deep breath to brace herself and calm the rising tension.
Where do we go? Will we be able to get to safety on foot? What about Benji? He’s only a human boy. He won’t be able to keep up with the pace we need to set.
“You know, this thing is pretty filling,” the boy said as if prompted by Sophia’s thoughts of him. “It really does taste like chicken. Is this what astronauts eat? This is so cool!”
Sophia murmured distracted responses while her mind focused mostly on Dalair’s words in her head.
We’ll see how far and fast he can hike on his own. When he gets tired, I’ll carry him on my back like I did last night.
But your wounds… Sophia thought with a worried frown.
Are healed, he immediately allayed her fears.
His eyes burned with an intensity that set her body simmering on high as he communicated, Our Mating…your Claiming…strengthened me.
She tried to nod briskly, all business, but couldn’t prevent the shiver of awareness and heat that coursed through her body at his mention of last night. Well, all through the night and into this morning.
How many are there? What is the plan if they gain on us? Even fully healed, you are only one warrior. I might hold my own for a few seconds, but these are well-trained assassins. We have no weapons. And Benji is defenseless.
Again, the boy had impeccable timing whenever their thoughts landed on him, interrupting their silent communication.
“You guys are talking to each other in your minds, aren’t you?” he groused. “Mom and Dad do it whenever they don’t want me to hear. It’s annoying! I’m not a baby any more.”
Sophia switched her attention to him.
“But you are still a boy who doesn’t need to hear everything we boring adults have to say to each other,” she teased. “Especially all that lovey dovey nonsense you’re particularly averse to.”
Benji narrowed his eyes shrewdly.
“You’re not talking gooey stuff,” he discerned. “I can tell. Mom and Dad, Uncle Tal and Mama Bear, and a bunch of other couples at the Shield do it all the time, and they get these hearts in their eyes. It’s like anime cartoons. Literally throbbing hearts and stars in their eyes, blushes on their faces, and drops of drool leaking out of their mouths—”
“Benjamin!” Sophia protested, torn between laughter and acute embarrassment at his description.
“You guys weren’t talking X-rated adulting stuff,” the boy continued, unphased by her interruption. “You’re talking serious getaway stuff. Are we in danger? Tell me, I can handle it.”
“Walk and talk,” Sophia said at a look from Dalair.
“We need to get going.”
And so, the three of them set out into the woods, Sophia and Benji following Dalair’s lead.
Sometimes, he hiked farther ahead to scout. When he returned, Sophia could tell that he would subtly change their direction. Other times, he set them on a path and lagged behind to cover up their trail.
His hyper senses were helping them keep a few steps ahead of their enemies, but Sophia knew that they were gaining on them.
And there were many.
*** *** *** ***
“I called in some favors. Assistance is on the way.”
Just before dawn, the members of the Royal Zodiac and their Mates convened in the Atrium of the Shield to organize the search and recover mission once Tristan and Ayelet, working with the Cove’s Hunter and his tech guru human Mate, narrowed down the coordinates of where Sophia and Benji might have been taken to.
And Dalair. Must not forget the turned Paladin, who abducted them in the first place.
Eveline looked at Jade, who spoke just now.
“Ramses is sending help?”
The ex-vampire queen inclined her head regally, her full lips quirking in a half smile.
“As an act of good faith to cement our newly forged Alliance, he’s sending Rhys, Ryu, and even the magnificent Eli. I also borrowed a couple of helos from one of the Hives that owed me, equipped with pilots to fly them. We will rendezvous with the Chosen at the appointed location in half an hour.”