Wild Lands (Savage Lands Book 2) Read online

My jaw locked down, and I guarded myself against the surge of desire plunging through me.

  Ash pulled his attention from Bitzy still wiggling around on the floor, taking me in. “How are you feeling?” He rose to his feet.

  “Amazing!” I exclaimed, my arms tossing out.

  “Really?” He tilted his head, his eyes wide in awe.

  My face and voice went flat, my arms folding. “No. I feel like crap.”

  He grinned, shaking his head, something about his smile making me shift on my feet.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” But the same knowing smile stayed on his lips as he looked back at Warwick. “I’ll get you some toast and tea.”

  “Coffee?” I could hear pleading in my voice.

  “Uh, I’ll check, but don’t think so.” Ash went to the kitchen, busying himself with my breakfast.

  I folded my arms tighter, glancing at my toes. “So… you’re leaving?”

  Warwick pushed back, rising from the bench, gathering his jacket and bag on the chair.

  “Seriously?” I shook my head, anger dancing at the edges of my tone. I should have known better, taken “just for tonight” literally.

  Warwick moved in front of me, his body almost pressed against mine.

  “I have to.” The scents of rich woods and soap filled my nose, making me want to flatten myself into him. “For a week or so. Try to stay out of trouble.” He stared down at me, but I felt an aloofness this morning. A line he was trying to redraw after last night. “It’s not like you can’t contact me anytime.”

  My response was to step away, giving him free access to the door.

  He didn’t move. “You’ll be safe with Ash.”

  I nodded.

  “Last night—”

  “Nothing happened.” I cut him off. “Right?” I lifted an eyebrow.

  I had never been a jealous, bitchy girl. Even when Caden dated all those other girls, most of them I was friendly with. I had no idea where or to whom Warwick was going, but it caused my shoulders to bristle, resentment spiking out of my spine.

  “Have a safe trip,” I said flatly.

  His mouth opened, then shut, his jaw rolling. He huffed as he stepped over Bitzy, stomping out the exit and slamming the door.

  Just like that, he walked out. Left me.

  Again.

  I guess it was an upgrade he didn’t sell me back to Killian, but his aloofness still cut deep, reminding me the only person I could really count on was me.

  “Fuck you,” I whispered at the door, but I knew he felt and heard it.

  I turned around to the kitchen, picking up Bitzy and heading for the table, setting her down on some cotton balls. “Where’s Opie?”

  “Oh, he’s found my trunk.” Ash pointed to the far corner. The lid was open.

  “What’s in there?” I asked right when Opie popped out.

  “Fishy!”

  “Oh, gods.” I rubbed my eyes.

  Opie had designed a knee-length skirt out of bay leaves, which fanned out as he twirled around. His chest was bare but painted with dark crimson markings. On his back were large fairy wings made from dried calendula flowers and leaves; his eyelids were painted the same berry red. His beard was braided with leather ties and flowers, and on top of his head he wore a spray of lavender fanning out like a crown.

  “Wow.” I blinked.

  “I know, right?” He scrambled onto the table. “This has to be one of my best.” He spun again, the leaves dancing in the air.

  “Like you are ready for a ball.” In Carnal Row.

  Chirp. Bitzy laid on her back, reaching at things in the air that weren’t there.

  “No, she wasn’t speaking of that kind of ball.” Opie huffed at her. “And that was a misunderstanding too.”

  Chirp.

  “It was!” Opie stomped his foot. “You came in at the wrong moment. It wasn’t what it looked like.”

  “Toast.” Ash came around, setting a plate and cup in front of me.

  “Oh, thank gods.” I didn’t want to know any more about this “ball” incident.

  “Sorry, only tea.” Ash slid down next to me, leaning his back against the table.

  “Suddenly, Halálház isn’t looking so bad.” I smirked, taking a bite of my butter and jelly toast, trying not to moan as it melted on my tongue. “At least there they served coffee.”

  “I could see how it might make you want to go back,” he teased back. “It’s rough here.”

  Shoving more bread into my mouth, I snorted at his comment.

  “Can I?” He motioned to my wound.

  At my consent, Ash unwrapped the gauze around my waist, sucking in sharply.

  “I thought so,” he muttered, his fingers grazing my side.

  “Thought what?” I looked down, toast getting stuck in my throat. The wound that had split open the night before was healed shut. As though the injury was weeks or even months old.

  “That you would be completely healed this morning.”

  “What the fuck?” My hand prodded at the raised skin, a permanent scar on my side. I healed faster than ordinary people, but this was way beyond my normal.

  “How?”

  “I think whatever supposedly didn’t happen last night with you and Warwick healed your wounds.” Ash’s eyebrows tipped up, mocking.

  I blinked at him.

  “Certain fae have the power to heal through sex.”

  “We didn’t have sex. Nor am I fae.”

  “Well, whatever connection you guys share, it seems to diminish each other’s pain and help you both heal. The power I felt coming from you two last night must have done the trick.” He shook his head, ripping off the rest of my bandages and tossing them onto the bench, no longer needed. “Warwick told me he healed from the injuries he got escaping Killian’s far quicker than normal. And you should have died the night you came here. I watched with my own eyes as Warwick bore some of your pain. I think he also helped keep you alive.”

  My head fell forward, my shoulders slouching. Another thing linking us together. It was starting to twist and coil so much, I couldn’t see a way out.

  “Don’t think about it right now. You need to eat. You’re still weak.”

  Ash was quiet, watching me pick at my breakfast before he spoke again.

  “I thought we could work with the book again today; maybe it will show you more.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded, sipping the milky tea. “Sure.”

  “He’ll be back.” Ash propped his elbow on the table, slanting more toward me. “Warwick’s always been an island unto himself, even more after he ‘died.’” Ash curled his fingers in quotes. “He’s harsh, violent, rude, deadly, and arrogant. He kills and tortures without thought. But if he deems you part of his family, he will fight to the death for you. There is nothing Warwick won’t do for those he cares about. It’s why I’ve been friends with him so long. He’s more like my brother, and I would die on any sword for him as well.”

  I set the cup down, lapping up every insight I could on Warwick. “Tell me more.”

  “Knowing him before and after his death, I saw the fierce part of his personality only intensify. He used to laugh a lot easier, smile, have fun, was passionate about things. When he came back from death, he seemed to lose the joy of life. I thought those qualities were gone for good.” Ash tipped his head, his meaningful gaze hitting mine. “But around you, I see them coming out again. I feel the fire and drive he used to have.”

  I scoffed. “Most of the time he can’t stand me, nor I him. We’re always at each other’s throats.”

  “Exactly,” Ash smirked. “He never cared enough before to argue with anyone. He certainly wouldn’t have given up his liberty from Killian’s hold to save simply anyone.”

  “Where is he going?” I stared at my plate.

  “To the reason he turned you over to Killian in the first place.” Ash tucked his wavy hair behind his ear. “But that’s his story to tell you.”

  I pushed away my p
late, not sure how to respond.

  “I’m just saying, you saved his life twenty years ago, but you are also bringing him to life now.”

  Dressed and fed later that morning, Ash and I sat at the table, the book lying before us. Nerves braided in my stomach and seemed to twist up my throat. This time I understood what I was getting into. What the book could do.

  What if this time it took me and didn’t let me go?

  “I will be here next to you the whole time.” Ash intertwined our fingers. “If you get scared or uncomfortable, focus on my touch. Remember, this is your reality, not whatever the book is showing you.”

  I nodded, my throat dry. I took in the imp passed out on my breakfast plate, her tongue out, crumbs of toast covering her mouth, a spot of jelly on her ear. Opie had disappeared in Ash’s trunk again, probably designing his next outfit.

  Thick fog and angry skies outside dimmed the light in the room. The weather was turning colder daily, but the crackling fire warmed the space. I lost count of days the moment I left HDF, though autumn had definitely arrived.

  “You ready?” Ash squeezed my fingers.

  “Sure,” I breathed out, a hint of a crazed laugh following. Terrified didn’t even cover it, but I needed to know more, to figure out what happened that night and how I was involved.

  “Who knows… it might not even let you in today. It can be finicky like that.” Ash tried to ease my fears, his small smile producing one from me.

  “Okay.” I swallowed, lifting our joined hands toward the open cover.

  “Be open to whatever it wants to show you, but also remember it’s not real. I am.” His serious green eyes met mine.

  I licked my lips, my fingers lowering slowly.

  The book hummed with energy, and I had the sense it was conscious of me, clamoring for my touch.

  My fingertips made contact with the page.

  I gasped as I felt myself tumble, energy bursting through me as the book yanked me down, bile burning up my throat.

  “Brexley Kovacs.” The same raspy inhuman voice said my name like it had been waiting for me to come back. “The girl who challenges nature’s laws.”

  Images and voices flipped so quickly in front of me, I curled over, covering my eyes with my hands.

  The spinning stopped as loud screams, metal clanging, and booms of guns yanked up my head. My attention darted around, soaking in the same scene as the time before, the book returning me to the battle. Out in the dark field, death lay all around me, and the bitter smells of blood, urine, and fear soaked the earth. The vibrant colors of the Otherworld’s magic ripped Earth’s atmosphere almost to shreds. Pops and crackles hissed in the air, and the press of heavy magic on my bones was so dense I could taste it. The barrier was scarcely there, just webs holding it together, the final thread barely hanging on.

  Turning toward where Ash and Janos had come, I waited for them to reenter, but the scene felt a little off. A different location. It also seemed to be later in the night than the last time I’d come.

  “Scorpion!” A guy’s voice boomed as he ran past me, jerking my attention to a man I knew. Maddox. Dressed in all black, wounds and blood covering him, his dark hair knotted on his head with only a single tattoo inked on his neck, not the multiple ones he had now. He called out his friend’s name again, my gaze shooting to a figure in the distance fighting a creature that had to be part giant.

  I ran, catching up with Maddox. We were yards away when the beast’s ax swung down for Scorpion. He was too close to get out of the way.

  “Scorp!” Maddox wailed, watching the blade slice into his friend. A scream wrenched from my throat as I watched the axe drive all the way through with a sickening sound of tissue, muscle, and matter being hacked before the blade came to a crunching halt when it hit Scorpion’s spine. The monster roared, yanking his blade out, leaving a gaping hole in Scorpion’s form. The monster didn’t even wait for the body to drop before he stomped off, battling his next victim.

  “No!” Maddox screamed, sprinting forward as Scorpion’s body plunged for the ground.

  A booming crack splintered through the night like lightning, more magic slamming into us. A bolt of light tore across the field, coming sideways instead of from above. Energy scraped at my skin with a strange familiarity.

  As Scorpion’s corpse dropped, the bolt of energy collided with him at the same moment. I could feel its power crackling through me, taste the magic in my mouth… And I recognized the thick bittersweet smell. Dirt on a spring morning, a bloom at midnight. The darkest chocolate with a sprinkle of salt.

  It smelled like both life and death. Like when everything is coming back to life after a long winter.

  My heart slammed in my chest, seeing the energy strike his body. Electricity ignited his frame, charging through and flapping him like a fish before he hit the dirt. One second slower or faster, and it would have missed him completely.

  “Scorpion!” Maddox dove to his knees, his dirty and bloody hands fumbling to turn Scorpion onto his back. “Fuck! No, man, don’t fuckin’ die on me!”

  But I could see by his demeanor he already knew his friend was dead.

  There was no way anyone could survive that.

  Maddox’s gaze went over him. It was hard to see in the dark, but I knew from its location the ax had taken out Scorpion’s entire side and his vital organs with it.

  Gutted him.

  Maddox sat back on his heels, peering up at the sky, taking in a shaky breath. The sorrow and grief of losing his friend was etched on his face, his chest shaking with sadness.

  But then, with a sharp inhale, Scorpion’s frame jerked, his eyes opening, his body jackknifing up. Maddox lurched back on his ass, a scream wrenching up his throat.

  Scorpion sucked in long draws of air, his eyes wild, his head jerking around as if he didn’t know where he was.

  “Scorpion?” Maddox’s voice shook with hope and terror. “What the…?” Maddox gaped, looking around as if something was going to give him a logical answer. “You-you’re alive? How the hell… I watched you get sliced in half.”

  Scorpion’s head lifted, his hands clawing where he had been axed, as if he recalled the same thing. He tugged at what was left of his shredded shirt. I could see a deep cut, tissue and blood oozing out, but most of his side was intact.

  “What. The. Fuck.” Maddox sucked in, fear lacing his tone. “How is that possible?”

  Scorpion’s wide eyes met Maddox, his head shaking.

  I knew. Me.

  I curved around, peering through the darkness and the moving figures. I couldn’t see, but I knew, the same way the book knew that Warwick and I were not far away… The bolt that happened to hit Scorpion was from me.

  It was why the book brought me here. To show me. My connection to Scorpion. Our link had been forged on this same night. Nowhere near as strong, but it was there just the same.

  The commotion was quieting slightly as though the war was coming to an end. In the distance, a baby’s wail rang in the air, piercing through me and snapping my spine straight.

  A gasp burst from my lungs, the sound touching something deep inside me. Chills ran over my body, and my stomach dropped, a fluttering of understanding tapping the back of my mind.

  I could feel the pull as the baby cried again, my feet moving…

  Whoosh.

  Darkness cloaked me, everything spinning and moving as I felt the book shoving me out.

  With a scream, I went flying back onto the wood floor with a thud, my lungs scrambling for air as my eyes flew open.

  Two figures stood over me.

  “Barely any improvement from yesterday.” Opie shook his head, his hands on his hips. “Sorry, I still only give you a two, maybe a two and a half. The head bounce was a nice touch.”

  “You all right?” Ash reached down and helped me sit up, ignoring Opie.

  “Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my head, my stomach swaying like an ocean. “Just nauseous.”

  “I’ll get y
ou some ginger tea.” Ash pulled me the rest of the way up, plunking me down on the bench I’d fallen off. “How about next time we move to a chair with a back.” He massaged my shoulder before heading for the kitchen.

  “Have any more of those tea biscuits?” Opie bounded onto the table next to me, his skirt swishing, the sharp smell of the bay leaves flicking my nose.

  “Gone,” Ash grumbled.

  “What? You had a jar full yesterday,” Opie exclaimed.

  “Yeah, someone got the munchies.” Ash’s lids narrowed on the passed-out imp on the table.

  “Oh, is that why her farts smell like cookies?” Opie replied.

  Ash shook his head, returning to making the tea. “So, what did it show you?”

  I stared down at my fingers. Neither Warwick nor Ash knew about Scorpion, and for some reason, I felt protective of him. He was innocent in this. One more moment, and he would have missed the magic current. He would have died. Good or bad, he was still a victim of whatever the hell I had done that night.

  “More of the same,” I said evenly, my mind going back to the scene, something itching at the back of my neck. I felt restless and antsy, as if I was on the verge of something, but I couldn’t see what yet.

  “Here you go.” Ash set down the steaming cup next to me, along with some crackers, and pulled up a chair beside me.

  “Thanks.” I grabbed the tea, giving half a cracker to Opie, my stomach not wanting anything in it.

  “Is this sweet?” He sniffed at it.

  “No, it’s a cracker.” Ash kneaded his temples. “Salty.”

  “Brownies prefer sweets. You sure you don’t have any more cookies? Pie? Scones? Cake?”

  Ash dropped his head onto his arms. “I’m getting a cat.”

  “Cat! Where?”

  Their voices swirled around me, but I was no longer listening. My knee bounced, the aggravation in my limbs too much to contain. My insides crawled with the need to move. Irritated. Aggravated.

  “I’m gonna go for a walk.” I bounded up, desperate to move. “I haven’t been outside in days.”

  “I’ll go with you.” Ash stood up.

  “No.” I moved to the coatrack, grabbing the jacket Warwick brought me. The fabric was heavy and thick. “The last few days, hell, few months… have been a lot. I just need a moment by myself.”