Hive Queen by Sinclair, Grayson (ereader iphone .TXT) 📗

hunch was correct as around twenty minutes later, they came bounding out of the underbrush, carrying the carcass of a small doe.

"Look what we caught!" they both shouted in unison. I smiled over at them; they were so proud of themselves that I couldn't help but be happy for them.

"I can see that! Good job, both of you. We'll eat well tonight because of you two."

Gil stood up from beside the fire and walked over to us, kneeling by the deer and giving the children a bright smile. "Good work!" he said, speaking slowly.

Tegen and Cheira couldn't speak the language of humans, but they understood enough to know that Gil was praising them. Though they were still frightened by the giant, they both managed to return Gil's smile.

Tegen had dried blood on his hands, so I led them over to the fire and wiped them clean with some fresh water.

I passed the time until dinner by watching the fire. There was something mesmerizing about watching the flicking flames as they devoured whatever they touched with abandon. I stared into the smoldering coals for long enough that my eyes started to water, and I was brought out of my reverie by a curse from Gil.

"Oh, shit!" Gil yelled.

"What?" both Adam and Makenna asked at the same time.

Gil just held up his hand and stood up from preparing the deer. His hand went to his interface, and he started babbling.

"Hey! D, are you okay?"

My heart leapt into my throat, and I jumped to my feet. "Sam!"

Gil looked up at my shirt and nodded, before holding up his finger, telling me to wait. I didn't want to wait. I wanted to tackle him and demand answers, but I sat back down while my mind ran in circles trying to keep pace with my heart rate.

He kept speaking in low tones, so I couldn't make out what was being said when Gil abruptly shouted again.

"You're doing what?!" The veins on his hands throbbed as he opened and clenched his fists. "You can't be serious! By the gods, are you insane?

"All right, all right. I won't try and talk you out of it, but you watch your ass there. Don't be reckless and get yourself killed, you hear me?"

It seemed their conversation was coming to a close, and I desperately wanted to speak to Sam, just to hear his voice. Gil noticed my distress and took pity on my sanity.

"Hey, before you go, there's someone here who wants to talk to you, and if I hold off any longer, she looks like she's going to mob me," he said and pushed an invisible button in front of him.

Out of nowhere came Sam’s voice, his handsome voice that laughed at what Gil had said.

"Hey Eris," he said, and his voice was filled with so much warmth that it made my heart melt.

"Hey, love."

"I'm sorry about cutting our connection. I didn't want to, but it was necessary," Sam said.

"It's okay; I was just worried about you. Where are you right now?"

"Gil will fill you guys in. I've had an exhausting day, but I wanted to touch base with everyone before I passed out. Don't worry, love, we'll see each other again soon."

"I'm holding you to that."

Another deep laugh. "I'd expect nothing less. I love you."

"As I love you. Until eternity, my bonded. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

When Sam’s voice cut out, Gil pressed a button and came to sit by Makenna. Before he could fully sit down, I all but screamed at him.

“Tell me everything.”

***

After Gil finished explaining the conversation that went on between him and Sam, we all stared at him, dumbfounded.

"...he's working for Magnus?" Makenna asked.

Gil nodded. "Looks like it, the damn fool."

I didn't know what Sam's reasoning was, but I knew he was no fool. If he's allied with the man that kidnapped him, there has to be a reason. We just have to figure out what. I trusted him enough to have faith that he was doing the right thing.

The others were less concerned about why he had sided with Magnus and more about his destination: Aldrust.

"He's attempting to steal Lachrymal's Heart?"

"That's what he said, but I don't see how he can even pull it off."

"Think we should help him?" Adam asked.

Evelyn shook her head. "Impossible. It'd take over a week and a half to reach Aldrust from here unless we teleported, and it's not like we can leave the little queen to fend for herself."

We were all forced to agree with her; we had our own journey to accomplish, even if we could abandon it and chase after Sam.

Everyone discussed more while Gil cleaned the meat, but I didn't join in; I had made up my mind about what I was doing, and I couldn't go back on it.

"Food should be ready in just over half an hour," Gil said.

Good, the stew from lunch hadn’t tided me over as long as I hoped. Tegen and Cheira were playing by the fire, drawing in the dirt, and I was about to sit by them when a whistling noise echoed from behind me.

I turned and caught the object that had been heading for my back. It was a sword, but wooden. Just like the real thing but wouldn't end with me getting cut to pieces.

"Nice reflexes," Evelyn called as she stepped towards me. In her hands was an identical copy of the sword she had thrust at me. "Now, come at me!"

Without hesitation, she swung, catching me on the chin with the tip of her sword. My head jerked back, and she used the opportunity to slash at my shoulder, sending me to the ground.

"Dead."

I struggled to my feet and didn't bother holding back as I swung at her. But