‘’Of my course my lady, replied Arkyn and Kyique.”
“We should rest, there's only a few hours left before daylight, Drayce explained.
Everyone found a spot by the fire, some resting with eyes closed, some laying down eyes open. I don't think I'll be able to sleep, I'm too excited and nervous. Sitting up I grabbed the map out of my pack. Sitting by the fire light, I saw Macian had moved again, I hope he will be safe, and we meet soon.
‘’What are you doing?’’ Zedkiel sat up next to me looking over my shoulder.
‘’This is the map that my father gave me to reach Macian, it constantly changes with him, he changes directions so much because he is being tracked. The enemy is after him as much as they are me.’’
‘’ We will meet up with him soon Aykiz, then we can end this, he seems to be a couple days away?’’ The map changes every time, never staying the same, we need to keep looking at it to stay on the right path. The next days ahead of us could be intense Zedkiel, the enemy is close on all sides.’’
‘’we will be on guard Aykiz, you have all of us here with you, we will protect you at all costs.” That's just it Zedkeil, I don't want anyone else to be hurt because of me.”
“Someone will get hurt Aykiz before this is all over, there’s no stopping that from happening.’’
I just want to finish this Zedkiel,’’
Aykiz, this is far from over, this is only the beginning.
‘’I really fear how right you are, Zedkeil.’’
‘’Come here Aykiz, try to sleep.’’ curling up into Zedkeil arms with Shadow and Raven curled next to us, keeping us warm, my eyes grew heavy and soon sleep consumed me.
CHAPTER31
‘’Aykiz wake up, it’s time we go.” Finan shook me awake. Opening my eyes, looking around, the guys are moving around gathering up their gear, Shadow is lying next to me, Raven standing next to Zedkeil.
‘’Ugh’’ I can't wait to sleep in for once.’’ Shadow must have felt the same way, because he let out a sigh too.
‘’Soon Aykiz, Now get up silly, we got shit to do,” Z stood there looking down at me with his hands on his hips like I was a child arguing to get up for school. Right, shit to do, people to save, wolves to fight, find a Mage is like a needle in a haystack. I roll over grabbing my pack, opening it up to grab the map, Shadow gets up only to sit next to me looking at the map too. Opening the map to see where Macian is or isn't. Macian is closing in on us faster than I thought he would, about a day away now, he must have traveled through the night. “Drayce, Macian is closer to us than before, he's moving fast. I stood up walking over to Drayce and Finan, showing them the map. ‘’Do you think something is wrong? Why is he moving faster now? He was two days away yesterday.’’
‘’He could have jumped through a portal to move faster, possibly the enemy is on his heels. Replied Finan,
“We need to get a move on now, meet him in the middle, Drayce is pointing to a clearing on the map.
“Here is a good place to meet and if we need to fight, we will have an advantage here. Finan pointed to the hill cresting the clearing.
We can see them coming from here and attack if need be. Kyquie, if we get overwhelmed, I want you to take Aykiz and Macian somewhere safe, get them as close as you can to the hidden valley, complete the spell. Do you understand?”
‘’Yes sir! I will protect her with my life,” replied Kyquie.
‘’You will do no such thing Kyquie, we are in this together, no more innocent lives taken.’’ I walked away gathering up my pack, placing my daggers at my hips, I grabbed my quiver of arrows, flung them over my shoulder, bow in hand I was ready to end this.
“Aykiz, I know you don't want any more lives taken but more lives will be taken until this is over. Your life is what needs to be protected, you are the only one who can save all of us,” Drayce waving his hand around our group. My warriors were gathering up, adding more weapons to their arsenal, my best friend standing by his companions looking more of a man and determined then when he left. My brother is standing next to me. All of them are relying on me to break this spell. ‘’We will protect you Aykiz and each other, even if we give our lives to do it.’’
I reached out pulling Drayce into a hug, I love you Dryace and thank you for having my back.’’
‘’Always little Sister, now let's go kick some ass shall we.’’
CHAPTER32
We mounted our horses, with Shadow and Raven running at our sides. We were off at a steady pace, with Shadow and Raven scouting ahead. We looked like a furious lot, with our warriors surrounding us, Drayce and I in the middle with Zedkiel, all dressed for battle, our wolves blending in scouting up ahead. It was mid-day when we took a break, we found a stream surrounded by half dead trees, minimal vegetation, there were no animals running about or birds calling to one another, it was eerie quiet, almost too quiet. Everyone dismounted, horses drinking their fill with Shadow and Raven.
“Hey Zedkeil, does Shadow and Raven um shift to human?”
“Yes, Aykiz they do! Raven is a girl and shadow a boy? Zadkiel started laughing, ‘’Shadow, Raven, do you want to shift so Aykiz can meet you?” Shadow walked over to me with a nod, he shifted into a beautiful woman, with long black hair and piercing green eyes. ‘’Holy shit Shadow you're a woman, a beautiful woman. I thought you were a guy, sorry about that.’’
Nothing to be sorry about my lady, it is a pleasure to protect you.’’ ‘