we reversed the positions, each being careful to keep our claws from getting too close to our brothers. We didn’t need damage from friendly fire, as Savannah would call it.
With the arrival of the reinforcements, I felt a new surge of strength and vitality. The body count was mounting and the sky above was nowhere near as dark with bodies as it had been not long ago.
By the time the last of my strength gave out, and I collapsed beside Rian, leaving the last few to the late comers, I felt jubilant. We’d done it. We’d fought and won against a raiding party of Vargeez!
When the last of the creatures was dealt with, Nial and Meida collapsed beside us, panting hard. We were all sweating and reeked from the blood and viscera that had exploded from the bodies of our prey. But none of us cared. Jenna would. I was pretty sure she’d wrinkle up her sweet little nose when we got back, but I was equally as sure she’d be glad we were back safely.
‘It’s done. We got them all!’ I sent the news Jenna’s way as soon as I thought about her.
‘You’re late. I already got that message from the other three. But I’ll tell you what I told them. Thank God you’re safe! Well done!’
I laughed. Of course the others had been quicker than me to pass on the news. I surmised Jenna had been sending directions to Nial and Meida all the way up here. Otherwise they might not have found us. It wasn’t like we’d come directly up from the cave.
“Rian?” I croaked out, my mouth as dry as dust.
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t fight like an echo.”
He grunted out a laugh. “That mean you’re accepting me as part of the pod?”
I shrugged. “I guess I have to. Jenna won’t have it any other way.”
He poked me with the end of his staff. “Nothing like a bad loser. Was that how we were taught to behave?”
“I never lose, so I wouldn’t know,” I tossed back.
That started more trash talk from the others until we were all laughing our heads off. If Jenna wondered what was going on, she didn’t say anything. I imagine she was just shaking her head and wondering what the heck she’d done to deserve a bunch of idiots like us.
23
JENNA
Seeing the battle through my pod’s eyes was the most frightening and amazing thing I’d ever experienced. Okay, maybe sex with my pod was the most amazing thing I’d ever experienced, but the Frightening and Amazing Award would have to go to mind-speaking with my pod as they fought Vargeez.
Firstly, I relayed to Nial and Meida the directions to the site of the battle, using memories of the climb Charsus sent me. Rian was far too busy fighting to do more than focus on his overwhelming prey.
Once they were where they needed to be, I sat back and watched the show through one set of eyes and then another’s. I particularly liked watching the three Danans fight together as Rian and Charsus looked on. They were beautiful to behold, all muscular perfection moving like dancers. Bloody, vicious dancers, but dancers, none-the-less.
My heart had been in my throat almost from the moment I sent Nial and Meida off to join the fight. Being left behind would have been pure torture had I not had the ability to see what was going on. It amazed me how women during war times kept the home fires burning, while not knowing what was happening to their men far away.
Not that watching and holding my breath was a walk in the park. Every time some of those ugly monsters dove down at my guys I felt my gorge rise. I was sick to my stomach with fear. What if one of them died? I doubt Charsus could carry another soul in his body with him.
But no one was killed. In fact, except for exhaustion, my guys seemed no worse for the battle. Even Rian in the Theran’s body had stayed unharmed, thanks to the fancy use of his staff. Not that I’d actually seen much of that. He’d sat out as soon as his brothers arrived on the scene, but I’d relived the experience from Lain’s perspective after it was over. In his mind, he kept reminding himself that Rian was really here. No one could fight the way Rian did.
I didn’t quite get the references to an echo, but I was just so relieved he seemed to finally have