The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,55

dismounted before his steed was at a complete stop and he only had to jog five steps before he and Teddy ran into one another.

They embraced, Teddy shoving his face in Faunus’s neck, taking in his scent, feeling his strength, before Faunus grasped him on either side of the neck, pulled him back, and his head came down.

His kiss was wet and punishing and fantastic.

When he pulled away, in return Teddy took his head in his hands and stated, “I knew you’d come.” He yanked Faunus to him, pressed his lips hard against Faunus’s, pushed him away but didn’t let him go, and he cried, “I knew you’d come!”

“Many thanks for the message about where you were headed,” Faunus replied, grinning.

Teddy recalled what he’d written in that message and fought the heat hitting his skin.

“Though it would have saved time if you’d taken the bloody road,” he went on.

“I have…we have…” He blinked and mumbled, “We.” He brightened and shouted, “We!”

He pulled from Faunus and spun around.

“Ladies!” he yelled. “It’s all right! Come out! It’s safe! These are my friends come to rescue us!”

He caught sight of Saturn, standing by an astonished-looking Moira, and he bounded over the dead leaves to his friend.

They embraced, Saturn pounding him on the back stoutly many times, before he pulled away and looked severely down at Teddy.

“You are skin and bones,” he declared.

“I’ve been abducted and then on the run,” he returned.

“We need to fatten you up,” Faunus stated, coming to stand by their sides.

Just the word “fatten” made him discontinue ignoring the gnawing hunger in his gut and his mouth began to water.

“Actually, if you have food, my women need feeding,” he told them. “The ham we stole ran out yesterday evening.”

“Your women?” Faunus asked, before his dark gaze moved toward Moira, as if he just noticed she was there.

Teddy shifted around, noting Firenz warriors everywhere, at least twenty-five of them, and many were standing beside or behind where his women were hiding, but had not come out.

“Truly!” he yelled. “It’s all right! These are my friends!”

“How are you friends with Firenz warriors?” Moira asked quietly.

He looked to her and saw she was not only stunned, she looked worried.

“It is a long story, which I will tell you later. In the now, I am being most honest with you,” he whispered, reaching to her, taking her hand and giving it a hearty squeeze. “You have naught to fear from these men. They look fierce. But they are most gentle. Especially with women.”

“Yes, I am most gentle with women,” Saturn decreed earnestly.

Teddy looked to Saturn.

He then saw how Saturn was gazing upon Moira.

Teddy turned back to Moira, and of a sudden, it was as if he was seeing her for the first time.

She did not have the lush beauty of Nyx, but he saw she was rather lush, especially when it came to curves.

And she had quite a bit of rich brown hair that probably looked rather lovely when it hadn’t been days since she washed.

“Saturn,” Teddy called.

“Yes?” Saturn asked, not looking from Moira.

“Saturn!” Teddy clipped.

“Yes!” Saturn answered, tearing his eyes from Moira.

“We have been through hell,” he said softly.

It was then he sensed the others coming out of hiding.

He shifted and watched them scurrying toward Teddy and Moira. The women got close, very close to Teddy, shuffling Faunus and Saturn out of the way so they could form a tight huddle.

Indeed, Irma and Minnie, the most timid and those Teddy had assessed had suffered the greatest in their minds at what had been done to them, ducked and burrowed so close to Teddy, their frightened eyes surveying the tall, dark, formidable warriors surrounding them, he had to curve them in his arms and pull them closer.

As they did this, Teddy noticed the expressions on Faunus’s and Saturn’s faces change from jovial and relieved at having found their friend, to forbidding and furious as they sensed something very bad had happened to the women in Teddy’s huddle.

He wished they would not look like that, for it only made them appear even more frightening.

“We all have been through hell,” he said. “And we need a hearty meal, warm baths, a good night’s sleep.” He focused on Faunus. “And I need to speak with you. Urgently.”

“La creatura?” Faunus asked.

Yes. He had read Teddy’s message.

“Yes,” Teddy answered.

Faunus gave a tight nod then he looked over their heads and barked in Firenzii, “Ride back. Secure every room in that inn we passed. Have them start a meal. Much