Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Dimitri held Sam close, eyes also bright with tears. “Amaru, you better be sure of this.”
Irany held a hand up. “I can see it too. Granted, it’s not something you’d be able to discern unless you were trained for this. Amaru and I both are.”
Sora’s eyes were narrowed. “You can tell all of this without even an examination?”
“Curse breaking is one of my specialties.” Amaru shrugged like this was no big deal. His delight in seeing Sam’s and Dimitri’s reactions was subtle, nothing more than a curve of his lips. “But the iara’s song and caipora’s howl are in part for you, Sam. Which means I need to finally go out hunting for these elements.”
Amaru slapped his hands against his thighs, like that wrapped up the meeting and he was ready to go now.
Evora held up a hand to stay him. “Wait, wait. Why you?”
“Two reasons. One, it’s Irany’s turn to deal with this mess, since it’s his fault to begin with.”
Irany winced, hunching down in his chair again.
“Two, who better than me to go? You don’t remember how to collect any of these elements. I do. My two mates are very familiar with Brazilian geography and are expert trackers.”
Luka had to admit that was sound logic all the way around. “I think he’s right. I know several places where caiporas and iaras like to nest or lure in victims. With travel times, it might take us, hmm, two or three days?”
“Which means”—Amaru looked over at Irany—“you have three days, max, in order to get up to speed and set everything up. We’ve got our clan to wake up and cores to heal, no time for slacking.”
Irany seemed past the point of protesting. He just groaned an acknowledgment.
“I’ll take that as agreement.”
“Keep me posted,” Evora requested. “And if you need more hands, call us. I’ll send in support.”
“Will do.”
Vasily stuck his head inside the tent. “We ready to go yet?”
Luka twisted in his seat to look at his mate, who really did look all kitted out and ready to head into a rainforest. “Is that what you were doing with the Jeep? Getting ready to go?”
“Sure. Well, I was pulling out everything we need from the Jeep and repacking it into the rig.” Vasily seemed amused at Luka’s surprise. “Come on, this isn’t rocket science. I’ve heard mages muttering about needing different spell elements for days now, and Amaru kept rattling off the same ones. I figured a trip into the rainforest was inevitable.”
“Look how smart you are.” Amaru hopped up from his seat to give Vasily a loud smacking kiss. “And you’re entirely right. I just need, like, three things from the mages’ tent and then we’re ready to go. Are we flying?”
“You can ride me,” Vasily offered.
“Yes, I certainly can,” Amaru purred back.
So, from the sounds of it, they’d be having hot monkey sex while in the rainforest. At least, Luka fervently prayed that was what he was hearing from those two. Sex with no interruptions from people would be lovely.
Vasily better have packed enough lube. Luka was not above making him fly home to get more.
He headed for the baggage rig, as he’d need to carry it if Vasily had Amaru.
Luka heard more than saw Amaru double back to the tent and give a parting shot. “And Irany, leave my screwdrivers alone!”
What was it with him and screwdrivers?
Vasily smirked at Luka, who chuckled softly and shook his head. Something had changed in Amaru since they’d set up camp in this section of the rainforest. It wasn’t confidence—Amaru had woken up with plenty of that. There was just something about the way he walked ahead of them, humming a tune to himself as he climbed over fallen logs and wove his way between the trees. In the distance, they could easily hear the rush of water from the stream that was a favorite hunting ground of the iara.
“Do you think it’s because he got laid?” Luka asked in a whisper.
Vasily shrugged. “You tend to walk with an extra spring in your step after getting some.”
Luka snorted. “You’re confusing spring with limp. I’m usually limping after one of your frisky nights.”
“Who’s limping?” Amaru wrapped one arm loosely around a slender tree and used it to spin to face them.
“I was teasing Luka,” Vasily replied.
“We noticed you seemed extra perky,” Luka added.
“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m hunting ingredients with my two charming and handsome mates. We’re alone. And very soon, we’re going to break that damn machine so we can wake up my clan.”
Vasily paused and rubbed his chin to hide his smile. “Huh. Here I thought it was because you got laid.”
Amaru skipped over and hopped up on a fallen log so he was now the same height as Vasily. A wide, wicked grin spread across his face, causing Vasily’s heart to skip. “Well, I won’t deny that sex with you and Luka definitely keeps me in a good mood.”