Bound to Earth

22: Perfect Hunt

We only stayed at the burn site long enough to ensure the Wendigo was truly dead. The blue flame softly glowed on the last of the Wendigo's body, even the bones had been burnt to ash.

Malachi had set me on my feet long ago, shifting into a gray wolf to scout the area. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he stripped to his boxer briefs, or even as his bones snapped and skin morphed into a new shape. The entire shift happened in a second, yet I prolonged that second for as long as possible.

I kicked the Wendigo's ashes into the dirt with a sigh as Malachi redressed. Even while focusing on the horrific ashes of the Wendigo, my core tightened at the glimpse of Malachi's bare ass. I kicked the ashes again. This time, with too much vigor. Soot smeared down Valentino's jeans. 

"Mother—" Valentino brushed the ashes from his pants, only smearing the gray and black into the material further. "You are so lucky I like you more than these pants, or it'd be your ass. This is disgusting, dead body on me."

Snickering, I left the ashes to wrap my arms around Alistar's waist. My feet were aching more than before. "Can you teleport us back?"

He scooped me into his arms, no hesitation. "I don't have enough magic left to teleport us to the cabin, but I can carry you." If he was tired, he didn't show any signs. 

I let go of him to stand. Though I was tired, I wouldn't strain him anymore for my selfish needs. His arms tightened around me, preventing me from leaving. "My magic is depleted, not my energy. I can carry you."

"Fine. But when you get tired, you have to tell me." I'd ask Brynjar to carry me when that time came. I would've gone to him first, since he had the habit of being my legs. But I was sure he was hella annoyed, maybe even pissed, with me at the moment. He hadn't said a word to me, instead focusing on the smallest tasks around us.

"Of course, Princess." Alistar had at least three knives hidden under his clothes, from my knowledge. Not a single blade was noticeable, nor could I feel any through his clothes.

"Who knows, maybe you'll have to carry Alistar, Token. The old man is losing his touch. It took you what, almost 10 minutes to get the upper hand on the Wendigo." Malachi taunted Alistar, stretching his calves as if warming up.

Valentino perked up from the sideline, tuning into the conversation. Even Brynjar's lip tugged at the corner by a millimeter.

"Is that a challenge?" Alistar tucked me tighter in his arms, his voice pure amusement. This was a regular occurrence between the four, whatever was about to happen.

"We're done here, aren't we?" Malachi looked to Brynjar in conformation, who gave a single nod. Alistar's body leaned forward, ready for the challenge Malachi laid out. 

"Hold on." Valentino stopped Alistar and Malachi mid-step, both turning to Valentino in question. "If Token is joining us from now on, what's the prize?"

"This is how you guys decided who stayed behind with me on jobs?" Alistar smiled at me sheepishly, the only answer I needed. Which meant, even when Malachi severely disliked me, he kicked the other's asses to spend alone time with me. My heart warmed.

"Shit. I didn't think about that." Malachi looked at Brynjar, as if he held all the answers to the universe. There were days I felt as if Brynjar did hold all the answers, or at least some.

Brynjar thought for a second, his gaze on my comfortable body in Alistar's arm. "The prize is, who gets to carry her back after the next mission." The words barely finished slipping past Brynjar's lips before he was racing through the forest to the house. Even with his large size, he was fast enough to disappear from view within seconds.