Strength (Curse of the Gods #4)(49)

“You’re right at home here, Willa-toy.” Yael wore a lazy grin, his eyes following the movement of my hands as I brushed them across a very bright, green leaf. “Most people wouldn’t be brave enough to touch a canterpode. They’d be worried about getting spiked.”

The moment he said its name, the canterpode I’d been touching became visible. It was the same colour as the leaf it was spread out across, it’s body segmented, almost furry. I jerked my hand back in a rush, flinching as I brushed something thorny.

Spinning around, I threw my hands in the air. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked Yael. “I thought it was a plant!”

He blinked at me like I was an idiot, before shaking his head. “It looked right at you, I figured you saw it.”

“Well, I didn’t,” I shot back, wiping my hands on my pants to try and dispel the sensation of furry bug. After that, I kept my hands to myself, and my eyes on the constant lookout for creatures. I had never imagined that Topia would be filled with so many animals. Before I had visited the realm, I had mostly pictured it as a world of gods. Nothing else, really. Just gods, standing around looking at each other. Maybe throwing some balls of fire.

“Balls of fire,” Siret snorted.

“Stop listening to my thoughts,” I told him firmly.

“Stop shouting them so loudly,” he countered. His words were softened by his actions. He was holding a really large plant—probably filled with canterpodes—back for me, keeping me from accidentally befriending more wildlife.

“We’re almost free from the Garden of Everlasting,” Rome said, using his height to peer above the landscape. “Just a few more clicks and we’ll be out.”

“How do we find the panteras then?” I asked, slightly breathless from all the hiking.

Siret was the one to answer. “We’ll call for them.”

That made me think of Leden, and the bond I’d felt with her. I wondered if she would know if I called for her. Had she felt it when I died? Would she have any answers for me?





Eleven





When we emerged into the open countryside, I fought against the urge to return to the garden. It might have been overrun by creepy, camouflaged bugs, but it held a note of safety and protection. Once free of the garden, I felt exposed and vulnerable.

The Abcurses must have picked up on my nerves, because they closed in around me. When the five of them were towering over me, some of my panic finally eased. They were better than a garden.

“Knowing Staviti is out there makes me nervous,” I admitted.

“He’ll never touch you,” Yael vowed. “Not while we’re here to protect you.”

The thought of them not being with me was enough to have the panic rushing back again. They were already immortal—I just needed them to stay that way. They had to live forever, for my sanity.

Heat brushed across the backs of both of my hands, and I ended up intertwining my fingers with Siret and Aros, who were the closest to me. Their touch instantly calmed my frazzled nerves and I felt my step grow lighter. I had no idea how they managed to soothe me the way that they did, but I wasn’t going to complain.

“I’m going to call for the panteras now,” Coen announced.

The others slowed their steps, bringing me to a halt as well.

Leden. Her name sprang to mind and I felt an almost giddy anticipation at seeing her again. She was smart and funny, more personable than most of the dwellers, sols, and gods combined. Plus, she had a sense of humour. Who didn’t like a beast with a sense of humour?

I had no idea how Coen was going to call for the panteras, so I just stood back and watched him. He had tilted his head back and was focussing his attention toward the sky. I mimicked the posture, calling out to Leden in my mind. She had been the fastest pantera, which surely meant that she would beat the others here.

Coen let out a low chuckle. “You want our panteras to race?” He directed his full attention to me, the sky forgotten.

I shrugged. “I don’t think there’ll be much of a race. Leden is superfast.”

Coen’s tolerant amusement melted into a smirk, which I ignored. I knew Leden would arrive first. A flash of white cut through the blue of the sky, then. I directed my attention upward again and the brightness blinded me for a click, until the figure loomed closer.

Leden. Most of the panteras had similar markings or features, with common shades of fur, but I knew that it was her. The brilliant, snowy white of her coat seemed unique, at least to me.

Hello, sacred one.

“Leden!” I shouted, before quickly shutting up. I had forgotten that this was supposed to be a stealth mission.

I’ve been waiting for your return. We have much to discuss.

“Can any of you hear her when she talks in my head?” I asked.

“No.” Aros briefly pulled my attention from the sky. “The panteras choose who will receive their words. Even with our bond, she can block us.”

“They’re so powerful,” I mused. “How did the gods manage to exile them from the populated areas of Topia?”

Maybe we chose to leave. Leden’s voice filled my head. To protect the main sources of this world’s power.

Usually, cryptic comments like that would have had me confused, but this time I knew exactly what she was talking about. Along with guarding a stream of water that somehow unlocked a person’s magical ability, the panteras were also the protectors of the mortal glass—whose depths of knowledge I could put no measure on. The water, the glass, and whatever else they guarded were all special. It made sense that they would prize those sources of power above all others.