But not too far, and the golden path led to it in a straight line with no twists or turns at all.
“She’s right,” Tem said, after squinting for a moment.
“I see it too.” Rive nodded. “It’s a straight shot this time—we should be able to get there in under ten minutes.”
“Well, this might be our easiest world, then,” Terra said brightly, still trying to lighten the mood. “We can just run right across and—”
“I don’t like it,” V’rone growled, speaking up for the first time.
“What?” Terra turned to face him. It was still disorienting that she couldn’t really see him because of the way he blended into the forest.
“It’s too fuckin’ easy—there has to be a catch,” he said. “Think about it—this path has been leading us straight through the most dangerous parts of every world we go into. Last world, it led us right through the Froozles. And on DY-12, it led us right to the fucking Watcher! So if it’s showing us a door that’s so close we can get there in next to no time…”
“There must something really dangerous between us and the door,” Rive finished for him.
“Do you really think so?” Terra felt her stomach do a little flip-flop.
“Afraid so, my Lady. V’rone has an excellent instinct for these things,” Tem said reluctantly.
“Well, at least it’s good to see the three of you talking and working together again,” Terra said, trying to make the best of what was apparently a bad situation.
“We’re only working together to keep you safe, little Terra.” V’rone’s voice was tight. “As soon as we complete this mission, I’m leaving the colony.”
“What?” Terra exclaimed, glaring at him—or at the spot she was fairly sure he was standing, anyway. “What are you talking about? Haven’t the three of you been together for years?”
“We have,” Tem said heavily. “But what V’rone did is considered unforgivable.”
“It’s his right to leave the colony if he wishes,” Rive added.
“But it’s not his fault!” Terra exclaimed. “How can you let this break the three of you up when you’ve been together so long?”
“Abusing and forcing the Queen is the highest crime in any colony,” V’rone said roughly. “I took you without your permission, little Terra—for that I deserve to lose all that is dear to me.”
“I don’t agree with this!” Terra said hotly. “I don’t want to be the reason the three of you split up! Especially when I’m probably not even the right one for you. I mean, you need someone younger—someone who wants to have kids…”
She trailed off because the looks on all their faces were so grim and sad it made her heart ache.
“We understand why you don’t wish to bond with us now, my Lady,” Tem said quietly. “And we do not blame you.”
“Tem, it’s not—” she began, trying to explain.
“It’s not just that V’rone took you forcefully,” Rive said in a low voice. “It’s that he tried to seed your womb without your permission, Terra. He came deep in your pussy and tried to knot you without asking you first. When I came in your mouth and Tem came on your clit, it was only because you had given us permission first. Coming inside the Queen without asking first is almost as bad as forcing her in the first place. ”
“But I said it was all right for him to…to come inside me!” Terra felt her cheeks getting warm when she remembered how hot she’d gotten from the rough, unbridled sex.
“You said that to me and to Rive,” Tem pointed out. “Not to V’rone himself. You couldn’t give him permission in the state he was in—not that he asked,” he added, shooting a glance at V’rone. Or the place he presumably was standing, anyway.
“But I don’t think—“ Terra began.
“Look, the longer we stand here yapping, the longer some predator out there has to target us,” V’rone growled. “We need to fucking get going—as carefully as possible, of course,” he added.
“Agreed.” Rive nodded. “How do you want to do this?” he asked V’rone.
“We surround Terra to keep her safe and go as quickly as we can,” V’rone said. “The main thing is to get to that door before something smells our scent and comes hunting for us.”
“Agreed,” Rive said again and Tem nodded.
“Let’s get going.”
Terra wanted to protest that they needed to talk things out—she’d had no idea that the rough sex between herself and V’rone would end up breaking up their colony. But none of the guys seemed willing to listen. They were all business now, surrounding her in the three-man phalanx she was getting used to and moving forward into the jungle.
V’rone went first—she could actually see him fairly well, because he was so close to her—his broad back right in her face. Rive and Tem were on either side of her with their arms linked behind her back, doing their best to shield her as much as possible.