Page 3 of Truth
“How would they know if shit went south?” Justice questioned.
“Well, pup, I suspect the same way you would know if things went down instead of up. Either a massive explosion of some kind, because let’s face it, where Liberty is, destruction follows, or you will feel it like the rest of us. Know in your gut.”
Liberty smirked, not bothering to deny that she has been the center of quite a few mishaps lately and instead focused on one thing, “You know boys, I haven’t asked a lot of you. Not really. But if you all could please get along and just be, that would be great. No more blood sucker. No more pup. No more mutt. No more iron eaters,” Justice smirked at that one. “I just want to get through this without listening to children bicker.”
“We don’t bicker.” I stated. I’ve always been told I am just strong willed and opinionated.
As if reading my thoughts, Ellis heightened the pitch of his voice, “My mother said I just have strong-willed opinions.”
I growled and Liberty clenched her fingers tight before releasing them. She reached up and scratched her neck. Her silence as she watched us more intimidating than any monster I’d ever faced. I swallowed, feeling a lump get stuck in my throat, “We’re sorry.”
The other men nodded their head profusely. Even Oak and he hardly ever steps out of line. “Good. Now let’s go.”
They waited until Ellis and I found our locations and were up in a tree. Then they moved forward, over the empty field, then through a garden before approaching the cottage door. My heart picked up, panic already setting in before Oak even rose his hand to knock, the sound faintly heard from where I waited, breaking the silence in the forest and sending streams of birds into the air. It was eerie, the heavy feeling that settled over space as they waited for the door to open. One second went by, then two, and it felt like a lifetime, before the door swung open and they stepped inside.
Chapter 3
LIBERTY
The momentwe broke through the tree lines and onto the field, I felt it. I felt the sheer strength and power surrounding this land, coating my body as it danced over my skin. It was exhilarating to feel so alive. Tentacles of magic I didn’t know existed stretched toward it, pulling me toward the cottage.
The closer we got, the quicker my breathing became, until my foot touched the planks of wood on the porch and we stood in front of the door. Oak’s eyes touched every part of me, checking me over, “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I inhaled, “It’s just –“
“It will be fine.” He reassured me before his knuckles met the wood, the sound booming in the silence. Birds scattered and screeched nearby, the sound of their wings frantically fluttering sent chills down my spine. The footsteps inside thundered as they slowly walked toward the door, each slow step hitting the floor inside like a brick.
The door pulled open, and I froze at the man looming in front of us. Man? No, that couldn’t be right. Not when his jade skin stretched to a towering height, and small tusks protruded past his plump lips.
His grey eyes found mine, and I felt the sudden urge to squirm. As if I didn’t already have enough men in my life, my lady bits suddenly buzzed under his gaze. “I saw you coming. Please come in.”
His voice was grave, probably from lack of use, and the sound did nothing to ease that spark of desire I felt under his gaze. He turned, a long black rope of braided hair whipped with the movement and settled against the back of the tunic he wore. My gaze followed the braid down to his ass, which was the perfect bubble in his cloth pants.
Justice leaned over, his breath a whisper in my ear that caused me to shiver, “Did you . . . did you just check out his ass?”
My back straightened, embarrassed from being caught. “No. Did you?”
Did you? What the hell was I thinking even asking that. But there was a long pause before he responded, “Absolutely not.”
“Okay then.”
Oak stepped into the house first. Then I went, followed by Justice, who let the door slam shut behind us. The slam of the door caused the whole dwelling to shake. I grabbed onto Oak’s fingers as I followed him; the darkness making it nearly impossible to see. He squeezed my fingers for reassurance, but I could feel that his entire body was tight with tension, ready to attack at a moment’s notice.
The dark was cut by the lighting of a candle the being had in his hand. He cleared his throat. Not like it did much good. When he spoke, his voice still scratched as he pushed the words out. “What do you need?”
“We are seeking a man called Truth.” Oak answered.
“What do you need?” He sat his hand down on a table as he repeated his questions.
“Are you Truth?” Oak probed.
“Am I truth? No. But some call me as so. If it is visions you seek, I will give you none. My visions are gifted to me, I can not seek them out.” His eyes found me again, then Justice.
“We need your help.” Oak started but was cut off.
“Because you are carrying around my stolen book? Or because one of your friends picked a tree with a beehive?”
“My bet’s on Sterling.” Justice mumbled, and I elbowed him.