FOREVER KNIGHTS: #16 To Keep Her

Road to Mane, Behind the Grier Citadel, Grier Country

RHYERS

“You’re a what?” Ebony’s confused shout broke a solid few minutes of silence.

Blessed silence.

Rhyers’ carriage lulled side to side as it crossed the rocks and the hilly road on the way back toward Mane Country.

We’re nearing the Citadel. He recognized the sound of Rosefall, the waterfall, filling the irrigation for Green Glen, the lush hamlet before Valley City. And draining south, which was the cause of Marshtown’s sopping landscape.

The road toward Mane forked between Rosefall and Green Glen.

We’re about to enter Mane. Rhyers thought in relief. Tired of this carriage ride already.

Rhyers groaned and rolled his eyes Heavenward, though he forced his tone soft. “We’ve been over this, Ebs. Numerous times over the last few hours.”

“I know.” She tossed her hands. Before winding her fingers into the hair at both temples. “’Tis just a lot to take in.”

“I know.”

“You don’t age.”

“No.” He gestured to his face before slumping back. Black hair draping over one shoulder in a dark sheen. “You think time would dare wear away this face?”

“You haven’t changed in all the time I’ve known you.”

“I haven’t changed since the 1400s.” He sighed. Lifting up an arm to rest the palm along the back of his head. Padding against the wall of the carriage, jostling over the road. “All this is exactly the same.”

“Quite proud of that, are we?”

He shrugged.

“So you can become a wolf or a dragon?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any idea how idiotic that sounds?”

“I’m aware.” His green eyes were levelled on her. Head tilted in his usual state of arrogant amusement.

“Yet, you’re going to have me believing this story as though I’m as naïve as at my first blush?”

“Aren’t you still?” He lifted a black brow.

“Bodin!”

“What?” He inspected the nails of his other hand. Hiding his amusement at her appall.

Her dark eyes narrowed. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re just convincing me of this story for some sort of your amusement at my expense?”

“It’s not.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, nearly closing the distance between the benches in the carriage. “Do you really believe that after what you saw back in Meadowbrook?”

“I don’t know what I saw.” She shook her head. “A rat?”

“No. I told you,” He said forcedly patient. “a Noni. A cimmerii demonling.”

“Demons…”

“Yes, demons.”

“Bodin…”

“What do you need to see to end this circling discussion?”

“Proof.” She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a suspicious look.

“Fine.” He shrugged and held his hands out. “You asked for it.”

She eyed him.

Without moving he unleashed his wolf. Letting the brown fur push through the pores on his face. Turning his eyes to slitted yellow. The white band slashing over his eyes and another line down his snout to form the white cross marking his face. He didn’t let the bones change, knowing that perhaps that might be too much for her to take in just now.

I’m not trying to alarm her. Only convince her.

She began to scream in low notes which rose to a long high one as she threw herself back in the seat and flattened on the far wall.

“Bodin!”

She’s shouting my name a lot tonight. I don’t usually get it this much when making love to a woman! He thought ruefully.

He withdrew the fur and relaxed until his eyes eased back into pale green and he reclined back into the corner again. “Yes?”

“How have you not told me this?”

“Clearly I should’ve earlier. Considering how calmly your handling it.” He gestured to her length painted against the opposite wall.

Looking fit to scream her head off.

“How do you expect me to react?” She blinked rapidly.

A fair question. I couldn’t hardly expect her to handle it in a calm, logical fashion. She rarely handles anything that way.

“About like this.” He said dryly.

She gave him a reprimanding look. “I can’t believe you’d have kept this from me?”

“You knowing could’ve put you in danger, but at this juncture it’s clear you’re in more danger for not knowing. We need to cease talking about me and discuss the types of Cimmerii you need to watch for.”

“Cimmerii?”

“What they are and what they look like.” He elaborated.

She blew a steadying breath. “Tell me.”