Chimera Awakened

Chapter Twenty

Three days after the challenge with the late Lord Edwin, I stood in the forest within the castle walls with Broderick, Graham and Hale. We each had a pack filled with various provisions while Graham and Broderick were armed to the teeth. They each wore a baldric and had a long sword at their backs, and I was pretty sure they also had daggers in their boots but wasn't sure. Hale and I carried a couple small daggers attached to our waists and thighs. We didn't know what would be waiting for us at Bete Grise but we were as prepared as possible.

"Who's first?" Graham asked.

Only one of us could be transported at a time and we all looked to Broderick for guidance.

"I'll go first," Broderick said and gripped his friend's hand.

"Alright," Graham said, "this will take a few moments."

Broderick sent me a wink before he and Graham disappeared into a swirl of golden mist. I gasped and took a step back. I wasn't sure what I was expecting but watching them disappear before my eyes was nothing like I imagined.

"Unsettling, isn't it?" Hale murmured.

"Yes," I agreed.

"Are you nervous?"

I looked out into the forest that I had ridden through with Alastor many times during my time here and wondered if I would do it again.

"Yes," I answered quietly.

"Just remember your training and you'll be fine."

We stood in silence, listening to the birds sing and flap their wings. I let myself feel their joy to distract myself and was grateful for it.

Suddenly, Graham appeared in a cloud of golden mist and held out a hand to me. "Brod says you're next."

I nodded and took his hand, sending Hale a small smile.

The mist swirled around me and I felt it tug at me. It was an odd sensation, like I was watching time stand still. I felt Graham's hand squeeze mine reassuringly as the mist blew through my hair. I felt weightless and empty for a moment as the mist seemed to seep into me. It was almost like I didn't exist. Then I saw Broderick, leaning against a tree with his arms and ankles crossed.

"How was it?" he asked.

"It was... strange."

"Yeah, it is," he agreed.

"Alright, one more," Graham said and that golden mist swirled around him.

Broderick pushed off the tree and prowled toward me. Thanks to one of the military's healers that had finally arrived at the castle, he was fully healed. I was grateful for that. Seeing him hurt, bloodied and bruised, pained me.

"So," he drawled, "what should we do for the next few minutes?"

I laughed at his obvious insinuation and he firmly gripped my bottom and pulled me against him. I felt his erection push against my stomach and my breath hitched.

"Brod..." I breathed.

"I like it when you call me that," he murmured in my ear.

I ran a hand between us and rubbed him through his pants, eliciting a groan.

"I've gone too long without being inside of you, Evelyn."

We hadn't been together since his fight in the arena. I was too scared to see him like that, to see the bruises that could have easily led to his death. So I made excuses and he just held me against him in the night, content to sleep pressed against me.