Charmed By The Fox's Heart: Superhero Reverse Harem Romance (Cosmic Guardians Book 1), стр. 14

Chapter 7

Kyra

We’re surrounded on all sides by a dense forest. With rich green and purple leaves and vibrant flowering plants with blooms that glow in the dark, I would think all of this is lovely if I wasn’t so scared.

The night sky is clear above us and full of stars. I study them, hoping to spot a familiar constellation. But the ones I memorized as a child are not here. So wherever this is… it’s far from home.

Cael guides me behind a row of thick and towering bushes, shielding us from any unwanted eyes. It’s not much of a hiding spot, but it’s better than nothing. At least we’re in the shadows instead of in the light provided by the glowing flowers that hang down from the many trees.

A cool breeze blows through the forest, and I shiver slightly. Cael wraps his arm around me and tugs me into his side.

“Thanks,” I whisper as I nestle against the solid warmth of his body. I lift my gaze to the sky again, surprised that I can see so many stars. In the city, it’s almost impossible to see anything beyond the harsh glow of the streetlights and buildings. But here, there are so many stars, and they are so bright, it’s incredible.

My mom always used to tell us that we should look for the good in every situation. So, despite my fear, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m trying to appreciate the beauty and wonder of this strange world, attempting to ground myself in this moment.

I may be afraid, but I have to push down my anxiety and focus. Panic will not do either of us any good here. In the morning, we can figure out where we are and come up with some sort of plan.

Astra said she and Lynx would follow us here. So, we’ll have to trust that they will. But until then, we need to keep our heads.

We lie back on the soft blanket of grass. The ground is a bit spongy beneath us, so it’s not entirely uncomfortable. Despite being in a strange new world, I’m not as worried as I probably should be. I glance at Cael. Maybe it’s because I’m not alone. Besides, there’s something about him that makes me trust him. I don’t know what it is beyond intuition. I’ve always been one to trust my instincts, and right now, they’re telling me Cael is a good guy.

I turn to face him.

He gives me a faint smile. “Are you warm enough?”

It’s hard to answer without my teeth chattering. “Not really.”

“I’m cold too.” He spreads his arms wide in invitation, and then gives me a teasing grin. “I promise I won’t bite.”

I move into the circle of his arms. He pulls me close to his chest. He’s so warm, it’s like lying next to my own personal heater, and I love it. I draw in a deep breath as I nestle into him. His masculine scent surrounds me, and it feels so comforting.

I can hardly believe I’m doing this. I’ve never even slept next to a guy before. Not that I haven’t had offers to sleep with someone… It’s just I never found anyone I liked enough to get that close to.

“Is this all right?” he asks.

I love that he’s worried about my comfort level. That’s so considerate of him.

“Yes. You?”

He nods.

He shifts and turns toward me, wincing slightly in pain.

I stare at him in concern. “How badly are you hurt?”

“Not bad. I’m just a bit sore from the landing.”

“Thank you for that. For holding me and making sure I was safe.”

“Of course,” he replies softly.

I rest my head on his shoulder.

“You said you’ve been with Lynx for the past few years and mentioned Aris had a…” I pause, searching for the right words before finally settling on, “familiar as well.”

He chuckles. “You make it sound crazy.”

“Well, isn’t it? I mean, just a bit, right?”

He shrugs. “I guess. I’ve just lived with it for so long, it feels pretty normal at this point.”

“So, what kind of animal does Aris have? Is it a fox as well?”

“No, he has a peacock.”

A soft laugh escapes me. “A peacock?”

“Yeah.” He chuckles. “I know it sounds pretty unimpressive compared to a fox, but they’re a good match, I think.”

Now that I think about it, he’s right. Peacocks are beautiful with their dazzling feathered display—the models of the bird kingdom. Aris is very handsome, so it’s only fitting that he’d be paired with a peacock.

“They have psychic abilities, he and that bird of his,” Cael says, a bitter edge to his tone.

I prop myself up on one elbow and grin down at him. “That bothers you?”

“I definitely can’t keep any secrets from him.” He rolls his eyes in mock frustration. “It makes it really hard to surprise him on his birthday. All they have to do is touch someone, and they know pretty much everything about them.”

“Wow. That has to be overwhelming.”

“I think it is for him. I mean, he has to be so careful around people. The last thing he wants is to touch them and violate their privacy.” He pauses. “That’s how we met. We bumped into each other, I knocked him down, and he took my hand to help him up without thinking.”

My eyes widen. “What happened?”

“He