The Wind's Call (The Broken Lands #4) - T.A. White Page 0,115

allow them to be led all the way out here?

Ajari sighed, the sound long, as his expression made it clear he found her question foolish. She gave him a humorless look. If he wanted to be an ass, she'd treat him like one.

"You assume we know every little thing about each other. Think. How well do you know the Trateri? The mythologicals are like humans—each with our own culture and society. My people may have an alliance with the Kyren, but we’re not Kyren." His eyes were dark chips of granite. With the mist rising behind him, he looked like a creature from the murky beginnings of time. Ethereal and primal. "The Kyren protect the location of their herd lands because it houses their most vulnerable. While we might have known where it was once upon a time, the awakening has forced all of us from our former territories."

"What makes you think he would intentionally lead us astray?" It didn't make sense. Why would he drag all of them out here if his herd lands weren't in this direction?

"That is a very good question," Ajari said, appearing deep in thought. "One I plan find the answer to."

He strode out of the gate and into the mist before Eva could ask how.

She glanced down at the fox. "Did any of that make sense to you?"

The fox yipped.

She took that as a no.

Fiona stepped out of the buildings, happiness in her face when she caught sight of Laurell. "Hanna, they made it out!"

Hanna appeared behind her, relief filling her expression. The two women rushed across the small courtyard. When they reached Laurell, they clasped forearms.

"I thought you were a goner for sure this time," Fiona said.

"She even got emotional about it," Hanna volunteered.

Fiona rolled her eyes.

"We only got out because of her," Laurell said, tilting her head at where Eva waited on the edge, watching the Trateri take care of their own. "We would have been goners otherwise."

Hanna crossed over to Eva, drawing her into a hug and whispering into her ear, "Thank you for saving my friend. I don't have many of them."

A smug look crossed Fiona’s face. "Now who's being emotional."

"Come on, we'll show you your quarters," Hanna said, drawing back and ignoring the other woman.

Eva hesitated, casting a glance in Caden's direction. He was consumed with his duties, paying no attention to her. And why should he? That kiss was a moment, a stolen one at that, during a time of extreme stress. It was unlikely to be repeated.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Caden watched Eva walk away, fighting back the urge to order her to stay. The protector within was still riled by the close call they'd had. That part of him wanted to stash her somewhere he could safeguard, or shake her until her teeth rattled. What she'd done was dangerous. Unbelievably so.

He didn’t allow himself to give into any of those urges. Because as risky as it'd been, as foolhardy as it was to place her trust in creatures that weren’t guaranteed to be trustworthy, her actions had saved many.

The memory of her lips under his made the male in him territorial. He wanted a repeat—and soon. He didn't know when his suspicion of her had turned to respect or when the attraction he had fought to squash became too great and all-encompassing for him to deny. Continuing to ignore it would be tantamount to ignoring the killer in him. Impossible and would only lead to strife in the end.

He wanted her. Pure and simple. The Trateri tended to get what they wanted.

He'd have to move slowly. Pick his way carefully. From what she’d shared, he knew her history was dark. She didn’t trust many, only begrudgingly bestowing her regard on a rare few.

He needed to be that person she turned to. It was a desire he didn't question, knowing he'd accept nothing less.

He'd thought the attraction would fade as it had with so many before. He was slow to give his loyalty. Once given it was impossible to take back. Somehow, with her personality by turns shy and forceful, she'd managed to slip through his guard, lodging under his skin in a way he knew that no amount of digging would force her out.

"The rest wish to move on as soon as possible," Darius was saying.

"I don't blame them. There’s something wrong with this place."

The wrongness permeated the air. It crawled across the skin as if seeking a way inside.

Caden wasn't often given to fanciful thoughts, but when his