“It’s been a weird day, Em. You were caught up in the moment. And Braxim is a very handsome guy.” Who just happened to be a centaur with two brothers who liked to share. “But you’re okay? I mean it all, well, worked out? Physically?”
Emily snorted. “Oddly enough, it did. It’s just this wasn’t the way I was planning to spend my weekend. And I certainly wasn’t expecting to like it so much,” she paused and glanced over toward the tent flap where they both knew Braxim was hovering. “What if he doesn’t want to do it again?”
And there it was. Dorothy smiled.
“Braxim obviously wants to spend more time with you. He was so worried about you he came looking for me.”
“He was? He did?” Was that hope in her cynical step-sibling’s voice?
“He did. I think he’s afraid that he went too far. That you don’t like him. You were looking pretty rough when I first got here.”
“But I do,” she insisted. “He’s the nicest guy I’ve dated in…ever. And he’s so strong, Dee. At one point I think he was holding me up with one arm when he—”
“Let’s not share everything,” Dorothy interrupted swiftly. “You should spend some time with him, with or without the saddle. I’m not sure how long we can stay before they send us home again. I’m assuming as long as it takes for me to reason with Aunt Glin.”
“Your aunt is here? The mean one? How did that happen?”
Dorothy got to her feet, straightening the long white shirt Kansas had retrieved for her, along with a comfortable pair of men’s pants. He was her best friend for a reason. “It’s a long story, Em. I’m not sure I understand much of what’s going on myself, but once I have some answers I’ll tell you everything I can. Are you going to be okay if I leave now?”
She stood and Emily joined her, walking toward the edge of the Equus tents where Braxim stood silent vigil. “I’ll be fine. I think I just needed to talk to someone. You, as usual.” She gave Dorothy a spontaneous hug. “I don’t know why you’ve been so nice to me. I’ve always been a jealous, nasty brat about you. I don’t deserve you as a sister, but I’m grateful to have you.”
Dorothy was in a new world with strange creatures. Her missing friend Kansas was married to the king, and her aunt was trying to kill all the wizards and turn everyone back into inanimate straw. Yet it was this moment, this embrace from Emily that blew Dorothy’s mind the most. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” she stammered and patted Emily’s back uncertainly.
What a world.
Wandering through the groupings of tents, she tried to get her bearings. If she could get back to the king’s tents, maybe she could find Z. How long did it take to send a message anyway?
“You shouldn’t be here. Why the king doesn’t make an example out of you, I’ll never know. But I’m not afraid to do it for him.” The growling male voice sent a spike of fear through her gut. Dorothy spun around, realizing the voice wasn’t directed at her, but it was coming from behind a nearby tent. She moved closer.
“I don’t belong to their clan anymore, Lorn. You know I’m loyal to our king.” The female’s voice quavered, but pushed on. “Lenard and I are—”
“Abominations. A pussy Felix and a Glider who can’t get it up in the wing department. They don’t want you. We don’t want you. No one would miss you, little Fenna, if I got rid of you for good. No one at all.”
Dorothy peered around the corner. Wasn’t Fenna the one Kansas had told her about over dinner? The one who’d saved his life and brought him to the king?
The Lion-O wannabe beside her was huge. Fenna didn’t stand a chance by herself. Dorothy had to do something. “I would miss her.”
The Felix whirled to face her and Dorothy sent out her power, the wind whipping around Fenna, ruffling her feathers and lifting her high in the air. Fenna gasped, but spread her wings instinctively, gliding over the campsite and away from harm with a little extra push from Dorothy.
She couldn’t guarantee a soft landing, but at least she’d be safe.
“You shouldn’t have done that, you human bitch.”
Uh oh. Before she could use her power again he had her by the throat, pressing her against the nearest tree with his large, terrifying claws.
Sharp teeth glinted in the moonlight. “You are pretty, aren’t you? All this round, pale skin. Pale as cream. Will you taste as sweet?”
He shredded her shirt with his other claw, and Dorothy panicked. Fear had scattered her focus. The wind picked up a bit, raising his hackles. “I heard about you. I bet you won’t be able to call the wind if I knock you out cold. Then I can do whatever I want and no one will be able to stop me.”
He raised his clawed hand above his head.
“Nothing will save you from me if you do. Then again, nothing can save you from me now.”
She choked on a lungful of sweet air as the fist around her throat unclenched and released her to slide boneless down the tree. She looked up in time to see the Felix hovering, angry and helpless, in the air.
Z’s smile was sinister. “You know what I can do and yet you begged for death by touching what is mine.”
Was it possible for fur to pale? “I didn’t know she belonged to you, my lord. Please forgive my ignorance.”