Emberhawk - Jamie Foley Page 0,42

“I said to just wait a minute.”

“If you think I’m going to spend one extra second in that cocoon, you’re crazy.” Kira jumped out of Sylendrin’s arms, hoping he wouldn’t notice the blush she felt spreading across her cheeks. Her back felt sore in one particular spot—probably where she’d been stung. She didn’t want to think about it.

Sylendrin straightened his gold-etched tunic. “Did you think you could have caught her with one arm?” His orange-gold eyes peered down a sharp nose at Ryon’s shoulder. “What happened there?”

“I shot him,” Kira said at the same time Ryon said, “It’s a long story.”

Waelyn’s laughter sounded like gravel crunching underfoot. “You two seem to be agreeing on everything today!”

Kira tore silk strings from her pajamas as Sylendrin looked between the two of them. “Are you two together at all? Or did it take you separately?”

“We’re together,” Ryon said. He spoke with a finality that made Kira uncomfortable. She tensed as he came closer and positioned himself in between her and Sylendrin as if to drive the point home.

Kira leaned back. “Well, not like—”

“Thanks for the rescue,” Ryon said. “Where is this camp of yours?”

“Oh, not far.” Waelyn pointed his cane back in the direction they’d come. “Are you two well enough for a little hike?”

Kira looked down at her leg, which the d’hakka had wrapped separately over her brace. Her ankle didn’t hurt anywhere near as much as it had last night, or however long it had been. Now that her disgust was wearing off, the silk actually felt soft and snug around her lower leg.

Guess it was just a sprain after all. She tested her weight on it and felt a pang from her ankle—not pleasant, but nothing that would prevent her from getting out of this nest of bones and slop that smelled of death.

Kira glanced at Ryon. His tanned skin looked more ashen than she remembered, and dark half-moons hung under his eyes. Loose strands of silk stuck to the remains of her mother’s handkerchief, which still served as a sling for his arm.

“Do you happen to have a healer at your camp?” Kira asked Waelyn.

Gaps in Waelyn’s teeth didn’t hamper his bright smile as he straightened his hunched back. “We sure do, chickadee.”

Kira couldn’t stop a smile. He reminded her of her grandfather. “Good, because Ryon needs—”

“I’m fine.” Ryon strutted to the edge of the clearing, where the trees began to sprout leaves again.

What’s his problem? Kira looked over her shoulder as they began to move out. As grateful as she was to not be in a d’hakka’s belly right now, she now had no idea where she was. Which meant she had no idea what direction the border was or how to get home.

Which meant she really was stuck with Ryon.

Maybe Lee was circling their former camp right now, where their trail ended in a scattering of Ryon’s equipment. Maybe Tekkyn was awake and recovering with a cup of Granny’s restorative brew. Or maybe he was dead.

Kira banished the dark thoughts. They wouldn’t help her get home. I’m coming, Mom. Please don’t worry. We’ll get out of this and get you healed. Somehow.

The forest brightened from towering pine to lively oaks, similar to what she was used to at the border, but with twisting trunks and branches that spiraled toward the sky. Light filtered through green leaves that seem to shimmer as the wind blew, and the brush thinned to ease their passage.

Kira skipped a step to catch up to Ryon, wary of her ankle as she watched Waelyn chatter with a bored-looking Sylendrin ahead. “You don’t look good.”

“I’m fine.” Ryon glared at the grass at his feet. “I told you to run.”

Kira blinked, trying to figure out what he was talking about. If he meant her squandered opportunity to escape from the d’hakka, well . . . of course he was right, but who was he to boss her around?

“Yeah, because running is so easy when you have a busted ankle,” she said. “Who spit in your tea? These two just saved us but you look more sour than unripe bitterburst.”

“Emberhawk are much more dangerous than d’hakka,” Ryon whispered, “and they shouldn’t be out here.”

Kira watched her footing as she stepped over a rock. “Yeah, Waelyn looks really dangerous.” A thought struck her. He wasn’t actually jealous of Sylendrin catching her, was he? No, of course not. “Maybe you could show a little bit of gratitude for them saving our lives.”

“I had it handled.”

Wow. One second he