Charmed By The Fox's Heart: Superhero Reverse Harem Romance (Cosmic Guardians Book 1), стр. 51
“Because there is no water,” Astra answers.
I blink down at her, frustrated at myself for not being more prepared. Once I saw the desert in the mirror, I should have realized we would need supplies. Inwardly, I curse myself for not thinking of it before now. “I should have brought our waterskins,” I mumble under my breath.
Astra shakes her head. “Not everything can come through the portals.”
Her words suggest there may be several things that cannot be brought through and while I’m eager to know more about this world, she doesn’t explain any further and I’m too tired to ask right now.
The relentless heat of the sun beats down upon us, leaving me physically drained. I can hardly wait to make it to our destination and rest for the night. But as I lift my gaze and scan the desert ahead, the oasis still looks so very far away. My muscles burn in protest with each step, but I force myself to continue.
I glance at Kyra and then gently squeeze her hand.
She turns and gives me a faint smile, but it is easy to read the fatigue in her expression.
“Does this place feel familiar to you at all?” I ask, curious to know if she remembers anything new.
Her small brow furrows softly. “I have some memory of this place, but I… do not think it was always a desert as it is now.”
She’s right. Images rush through my mind like waves crashing against rock. “This place used to be green and full of life. But something happened to change it.” I look down at the ground, trying hard to recall what happened here, but I cannot remember. When I lift my gaze back to Kyra, I notice her staring into the desert with a faraway look.
“Whatever it was,” she begins. “I feel as if it has something to do with a castle. There is something there that…” her gaze sweeps over the vast expanse of barren land, “caused all of this.”
The moment the words leave her mouth, dread settles like a heavy stone in my gut. There is an evil presence here. Something that feeds off of life—that took from the area all around it and made it into a desert wasteland.
Whatever it is, I am not eager to find it. But deep in my heart, I know it is somehow tied to the gemstone. I worry that when we find the stone, we’ll find the evil that inhabits this place.
Chapter 32
Kyra
Cael and Lynx are bickering off to the side, and I laugh as the fox arches a condescending brow.
“I did not lie to you.”
“You withheld the truth, so that’s kind of the same thing, don’t you think?” Cael counters.
Lynx rolls his eyes. “I could not tell you things you weren’t ready for. You must understand that.”
“Well, I know someone who’s not going to get any bacon anytime soon.”
Lynx’s jaw drops. “You cannot mean that.”
“I do.”
Lynx gasps. “You wouldn’t.”
“Think again,” Cael smirks.
“Fine.” Lynx tips up his head. “I will simply ask Kyra. She is kind and will not treat me so cruelly as to deny me food.”
“Oh, I’m not denying you food.” Cael grins. “Just bacon.”
Lynx turns to me, and I laugh before he even opens his mouth. He’s so cute with his white fur and mischievous blue eyes as he blinks up at me with a pitiful look.
“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “I’ll give you bacon.”
Cael’s jaw drops, and I gesture at Lynx.
“How can you say no to that face?”
“And what about me?” Astra asks. “I love fish.”
I smile. “Then, fish you will have.”
“You’re going to spoil them,” Cael grumbles.
“How can she spoil us?” Lynx asks. “We are part of both of you, so, technically, you are caring for yourselves.”
“Wait,” Cael’s brow furrows in confusion. “What do you mean when you say you are part of us?”
Lynx gives him a guilty grin. “Oh, about that… I was going to explain…”
“You’re withholding something else?” Cael asks accusingly. “What now?”
“It’s not like that,” Lynx protests, then rolls his eyes. “Really, Cael, you wound me. I merely forgot to mention it. I was withholding nothing.”
“What is it?” I ask.
Astra turns to me. “Since we are your familiars, you can join with us and increase your powers, including your ability to heal.” She looks at Cael. “I would assume you have already discovered your ability to shift?”
I blink down at her. “How do you know that?”
She gives me a hesitant look. “We may have seen it when we were checking in on you both.”
My jaw drops as I stare at her in shock. “You saw us…” I stop, unable to say the rest. I’m so embarrassed they were watching us when Cael shifted.
She nods. “Do not worry. It is nothing I have not seen before.”
“That’s an invasion of my privacy,” I counter.
“I am your familiar, Kyra. I know everything about you, just as Lynx knows everything about Cael.”
I’m not sure how I feel about this new information. I make a mental note to ask her more about it later when I’m not tired. Right now, I’m so exhausted, I can barely walk. I lift my head and notice we’re almost to the oasis.
I glance at Cael. He looks just as worn out as I feel. “Are you all right?”
He nods. “I’ll be fine.” Lifting our joined hands to his face, he presses a tender kiss to the space between my thumb and forefinger and then gives me a faint smile. “At least we’re together.”
I squeeze his hand gently in return. “At least we’re together,” I agree.
Chapter 33
Kyra
When we reach the oasis, I’m surprised by how beautiful it is. Despite how exhausted I am, a cool drink of water from the nearby pool gives me a slight burst of energy and I’m eager to explore.
Tall trees with red and purple fanned leaves remind me of palm trees on earth but these are heavily