Page 47 of Kiss of Embers
I jerked my head up. Zara gasped, then shoved at my chest until I stumbled backward.
Struan glared at the tent opening over my shoulder. “Gargoyle,” he muttered, the word more growl than actual speech.
Crimson-faced, Zara yanked her shirt down. “I have to go,” she said, then darted for the opening.
“Wait—” I reached for her, but my hand closed on air. The tent flaps fell into place.
Zara was gone.
Damn. She was faster than I’d thought.
The gargoyle’s voice sounded from outside. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Zara said. “Let’s go.” Rapid footsteps drifted through the canvas, the sound fading quickly.
Struan went to the table and leaned over it, his head bent and one fist pressed to the surface.
“You okay?” I asked.
He grunted. “Just getting my bearings. If we need an extra tent pole, my dick can handle the job.”
“That’s a visual.”
“You asked me.”
“I’m not doing much better,” I confessed, adjusting my own erection.
The first notes of “Imperial March” filled the air.
Struan jerked his head up. We stared at each other.
“Niall,” we said at the same time.
I started toward Struan. “Where’s your phone?”
“I’ve got it.” He raced to his pack and dug his phone from the front pocket. He shot me an anxious look before swiping the screen. “Consort.”
“MacLure,” Niall rasped over the line. His voice was even more strained than the first time he’d called. “Nice work winning the first challenge.”
Struan gulped. “Thanks.” He gave me a wide-eyed look and mouthed,How does he know that?
I shrugged as I moved to his side. Niall’s powers were a mystery to everyone, especially now that he was more or less the de facto king of the witches. For all I knew, he’d spent the first challenge hanging out in a cloud of water vapor.
“It appears other congratulations are in order,” Niall said.
Struan and I both tensed—and, suddenly, I knew why Niall had phoned us.
“Consort,” I said, “I want to assure you that Struan and I are committed to securing the elixir. Finding Zara hasn’t changed our goal. We’re going to win the Games.”
Niall’s voice softened. “I appreciate that, Finn. And I won’t pretend to understand what you’re up against. Your female is competing alongside you. The urge to protect her must be overwhelming. But I need you both focused on that elixir.” He paused. “Isolde continues to decline. She’s too weak to talknow.” Another pause. “I’m losing my grip on Cormac. The situation couldn’t be more dire.”
And the stakes had just soared impossibly high. The gods were having a hearty laugh at my and Struan’s expense. But we’d found Zara—and if the past ten minutes were any indication, she wanted us as much as we wanted her. Whatever happened, she was our fated mate. That wasn’t going to change.
“We understand,” Struan said. “We’re focused. You have our word.”
Niall exhaled, then switched to Gaelic. “I believe you. And I thank you for the service you’re doing for me…and for all of us.” He ended the call.
Struan lowered the phone. His tight smile didn’t quite conceal the anxiety in his eyes. “No pressure, right?”