A Tangle of Hearts (A Shade of Vampire #44)(28)

I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. A shower would do me wonders.

About twenty minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom fresh and ready. To do what exactly, I didn’t know. But I couldn’t sit still.

I went to one of the windows and pulled the dusty curtains aside. The sun inundated the room. I looked outside.

Draven and Serena were in the garden out front, standing next to a couple of duffel bags and talking. Serena pointed at the house. Out came Bijarki with Anjani leaning against him for support. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, helping her walk, and the other he used to hold what looked like a couple of short crossbows.

I didn’t like that image.

I didn’t like staying in the mansion while they were out trekking through the jungle either.

“No way I’m getting left behind,” I growled beneath my breath. I grabbed my coat and rushed downstairs.

I went outside and found the four of them congregating around the duffel bags. Serena held one of the crossbows, looking at it with interest. Anjani had a leather quiver filled with short arrows. Their brightly colored feather ends drew my attention.

“What’s going on here?” I asked as I reached the group.

Anjani didn’t bother to look at me, keeping her eyes fixed on the quiver.

“We’re getting ready to go out,” Bijarki answered.

Serena kept turning the crossbow over to get a better look at the details. “This looks really cool,” she said with a smile.

I’d forgotten about her fascination with ancient weaponry. Serena used to come with Aida and me when our parents took us to war museums in the human world. It was one of the few combat-related passions that she’d shared with Aida since they were little. I found it endearing that she still marveled at this kind of stuff.

“Crossbows, huh?” I quipped.

“Yeah, Anjani’s taught us some nifty tricks when dealing with shape-shifters.” Serena radiated excitement as she gave me the crossbow to look at for myself.

I stole a glance to see Anjani watching me. The sunlight made her shimmer, and her eyes were two emerald fires burning into me. I shifted my focus back to the crossbow.

“What’s so special about this?” I asked, taking in all the sculpted details on the handmade weapon. The core structure was made of a lightweight black metal, on which cherry wood plaques with fine engravings had been mounted. My eyes followed the swirling patterns along the handle. This crossbow was meant to be shot with one hand, and the reloading mechanism was simple for the sake of speed.

“The arrows are laced with a special blend of poisons that are incredibly toxic to shape-shifters,” Anjani explained. “The Druid’s greenhouse has a few hidden treasures.”

Draven smirked, his hand on Serena’s shoulder. “We need to get moving, while it’s still early,” he said. “I reckon we have a day and a half before we reach the Red Tribe.”

Serena took one of the duffel bags and hung it from her shoulder. Bijarki took the other one, and Anjani still held on to him.

“I’m coming with you,” I announced.

All four of them stilled and looked at me, except for the Druid. But I was only interested in Anjani’s reaction.

“There’s no need. You’d just be in the way,” she replied with a lifted eyebrow.

“That’s nonsense. Draven’s blind, relying on Serena. You’re wounded as well. You need an extra pair of hands on deck for protection,” I insisted. Tension bunched in my shoulders.

Bijarki narrowed his eyes.

I had completely disregarded him.

He cleared his throat as if to politely remind me that he was still there.

“My point stands,” I told him. “You can’t protect Anjani and fight shape-shifters.”

“You’d be surprised at what I can do.” Bijarki’s smirk irritated me further.

“I don’t really care. I am coming along. You need all the help you can get, while the mansion is safe under the shield. I’m of better use to you on the road than in there.” I nodded toward the house.

A moment passed, while they reflected on my arguments. Anjani didn’t seem pleased at all, pursing her lips and looking anywhere but at me. It amused me to notice how I’d gotten to her. Her mighty warrior demeanor was something I was keen to unravel. I wanted to see her soften up. What would that look like?

“We didn’t pack enough food for an extra person,” Anjani said, trying one last time to persuade me to quit. She didn’t know me very well. She didn’t know Serena very well either.

“Actually we’ve got a couple of extra loaves in the bag, just in case,” my dearest, always-prepared cousin interjected with a smile.

“There you have it. We’re good to go.” I took a deep, well-deserved breath. “Are the girls watching over Phoenix?” I asked Serena.

“Yeah, hopefully he’ll wake up by the time we get back,” she replied. “Besides, Field’s with them.”

I nodded and stepped in front of Bijarki and Anjani, straightening my back.

“I’ll take the succubus. You need your full strength and balance to carry that bag and shoot arrows at shape-shifters through the jungle.” I smiled smugly.

Bijarki looked at me, then at Anjani, and back at me before he surrendered and left her wobbling on one leg. She looked so uncomfortable. I chuckled on the inside.