Charmed By The Fox's Heart: Superhero Reverse Harem Romance (Cosmic Guardians Book 1), стр. 17

One of the abilities I picked up when I first linked with my familiar was a heightened sense of hearing, sight, and smell. Whereas, Aris’s touch telepathy grew stronger after he found Fin. I wonder what abilities Kyra may have picked up now that she has found Astra.

A sharp snap draws my attention and I immediately train my ears toward the forest. Closing my eyes I focus, listening intently. The soft crunch of leaves underfoot tells me that someone is trying very carefully to be quiet as they approach our location.

Cautiously, I lift my head and scan the area, but see nothing. Whoever it is, they are far enough away that my keen vision cannot see them. I’m not sure why there is someone in the woods here with us, or if they are even searching for us in particular. I only know that I’d rather not allow them to find us before we can determine if they’re friend or foe.

I lean down and whisper softly in Kyra’s ear. “Be as quiet as you can. Someone is coming.”

Her eyes snap open, panic and fear visible in their blue depths.

“Do not worry. They are far enough away, they have not seen us. We still have time to hide.”

She nods, and we sit up. Quietly, we move deeper into the woods. When I’m satisfied we’re not only downwind from whoever is approaching but also hidden well enough that they cannot spot us, we stop and crouch low in the underbrush.

Kyra turns to me. “Shouldn’t we keep going?” she whispers.

I scan the area and then shake my head. Behind us is a river. We may be able to cross it, but looks can be deceiving. I don’t know how deep it is nor how well Kyra can swim. The current doesn’t look very fast, but I don’t want to chance it. No. Our best bet is to hide and hope that whoever this is, will keep moving.

“They have to be close,” a man’s voice calls out. “I can sense it. Can’t you?”

“I can,” another answers. “If they are not here, they at least passed through very recently.”

I peer through the thick leaves, trying to get a visual on these men. Whoever they are, they are not here by accident. Their words suggest as much.

I frown when I notice three men, dressed in dark pants and tunics with leather boots. They carry bows and arrows, of all things. I stare at them in astonishment. They appear as if they’ve just stepped out of a fairy tale about Robin Hood.

Kyra takes my hand as her gaze remains locked on our pursuers. I squeeze it gently in return as we wait silently to see what they will do.

Whatever happens, I will protect her. I must. I turn to face her and whisper in a voice so low I’m sure the men cannot hear me. “If they find us, run to the river. Follow it downstream as fast as you can.”

Her small brow furrows softly. “What about you?”

“I will find you.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but I place a finger to her lips to silence her. I don’t want to risk any further exchange and take a chance that the others may hear us.

I turn my gaze back to the men.

One of them studies the ground where we’d been lying only a moment ago. He kneels down next to the crushed grass. “They were here.” He lifts his head, sweeping his gaze out over the forest as if searching for us. “We must find them… before the dark mages do.”

Another one steps forward. “The High Mage said they’d be nearby. You know she’s never wrong. So, that means they must still be close.”

“Yes,” another adds. “We must keep searching. If the dark mages find them, they will kill her guard and take the queen for themselves.”

The queen. My heart stops as I think about what little Lynx and Astra told us of our former lives. If there was any doubt that these men were searching for us, it has now been completely erased. These men are speaking of myself and Kyra. They have to be.

As if sensing my thoughts, Kyra looks at me, indecision easily read in her expression.

“I don’t know if I trust them,” she whispers in a voice so low I almost miss it.

“I agree,” I reply, equally as quiet. “Let’s go.”

She nods. Still holding her hand, I quietly lead her farther into the woods. Neither of us speaks as we make our way through the forest. Perhaps these men are good and actually mean us no harm, but I cannot risk it. Not until we know more about this world and why we are being hunted.

No. For now, I believe it will be safer for us to just stick together and find our own way. Hopefully, Lynx and Astra will come for us soon. I clench my jaw in frustration—that sneaky fox. All these years we’ve been together, he didn’t say anything until last night. He spoke in riddles and half-truths. I could sense it. But why? Why would he not have told me about all of this sooner? And why not tell me the whole truth at the time? Why only give me bits and pieces of information?

I do not know. I only know when I see him again, he’s going to have a lot to explain, and he’ll be lucky if he ever sees another strip of bacon for the rest of his furry little life.