Chapter 146: Chapter 146: reunited
His expression tightened.
She shook her head and turned away. "I’m done with this conversation. I’m going to meet Amelia."
She had barely taken two steps when something occurred to her. Amy glanced back at him, her expression a little less stern.
"Actually, if it’s possible, you could try getting your own divine beast, too."
She tilted her head. "This might be your chance to stand in the same league as your girlfriend."
He stared after her as she kept walking with the bear. He shoved his hands into his pockets and followed at a slower pace, his thoughts far from settled.
He still believed Moonfist Territory needed every advantage it could get. Amy’s arguments hadn’t changed that. If anything, they had made him more determined to protecting his people, no matter the cost.
The moment they returned to the Forbidden Forest, he would report everything to the elders.
**
Meanwhile, the white wolf carrying Amelia raced along a wide path lined with flowering canopy trees. Pink and white blossoms drifted through the air, settling on its thick fur and catching in Amelia’s hair. She brushed a few away from her face, enjoying the cool breeze against her cheeks as the wolf slowed near a clearing.
Familiar voices reached her before she could see anyone.
She came down from the wolf, her eyes searching the path ahead. Then she caught sight of three figures standing beneath the flowering trees, each accompanied by an enormous creature.
Her face lit up.
"Enzo! Reid! Dean!"
All three brothers turned at the sound of her voice.
For a heartbeat, they simply stared at her. Then the tension left their faces, replaced by a relief none of them bothered to hide. Enzo was the first to move, followed closely by Reid and Dean, and they hurried toward her.
Enzo reached her first. His eyes swept over her face and down her arms, checking for injuries before settling on her eyes.
"Are you hurt?"
"No." Amelia smiled at him. "I’m fine."
Enzo’s hand settled briefly at her waist, drawing her a little closer. "Swifty told us you were fine," he said. "After that, it practically forced us to reunite with our divine beasts."
Amelia blinked. "Forced you?"
"That’s one way to describe it," Dean muttered.
Reid shook his head, still looking faintly offended. "I would have appreciated a little more time to process the situation before being introduced to a creature capable of biting my head off."
A low growl sounded from behind him.
Reid immediately glanced over his shoulder.
"See? It knows I’m talking about it."
Amelia followed his gaze, and her smile widened as she finally took a proper look at the three beasts waiting beneath the trees.
There was a sleek black panther, its dark coat gleaming in the filtered sunlight. Then beside it, a snow leopard, its thick white fur marked with smoky gray spots, while a massive Bengal tiger stood beside it.
They were magnificent.
Amelia looked from the beasts to the brothers, pleased to see that none of them seemed uncomfortable around their companions.
"And here I was, worried I’d have to convince you to give them a chance."
Then she stepped toward the beasts.
The moment she approached, all three turned their attention to her. The panther lowered its head, the snow leopard moved closer, and the tiger gave a deep, rumbling sound that Amelia felt more than heard.
None of them showed the slightest sign of hostility.
She reached out, running her fingers through the panther’s sleek fur before scratching gently behind the snow leopard’s ears. When she turned to the tiger, it lowered its head enough for her to rest her palm against its forehead.
Her smile softened.
"I know you all have been waiting for so long," she murmured.
These creatures had waited through years of separation, and now the brothers were finally standing beside the companions who belonged with them.
When she looked back at Enzo, Reid, and Dean, there was a quiet warmth in her eyes.
"I’m glad you found each other."
Dean’s gaze shifted toward the path she came from. "Where are Amy and Caleb?"
"They should be on their way. I left them with the brown bear."
Amelia glanced around the clearing, taking in the flowering trees and the peaceful creatures gathered beneath them. As much as she wanted to stay, she knew they couldn’t afford to waste the time they had.
"I wish we could stay here longer, but we only have one day to get familiar with our divine beasts."
Reid raised an eyebrow. "One day? Amelia, we admire how much you overestimate us, but bonding with a beast well will take more than a day."
"Time flows differently in this territory. One day here is only about an hour outside, in the Forbidden Forest."
The brothers fell quiet.
"Wait. Are you telling me we can spend an entire day here, getting to know our divine beasts, and just an hour will pass outside?"
"Exactly."
The three beasts moved at once.
The black panther padded straight to Enzo, brushing its massive shoulder against his leg. The snow leopard went to Dean. The Bengal tiger stopped in front of Reid, letting out a low, almost affectionate rumble.
They began walking out of the flowering canopy trees together. Soft petals drifted down around them. Without warning, Dean swept Amelia up into his arms, holding her against his chest as if the motion were the most natural thing in the world.
His mouth brushed close to her ear.
"Don’t you think this place would be perfect to show her his affection? Soft grass, warm air. I could lay you down right here, spread you open, and take my time tasting every inch of you."
Heat flooded Amelia’s face. She pushed lightly at his chest, trying to sound firm.
"Focus. Besides... we have company."
Reid’s lazy smile was pure sin. "Do we look like we care? This won’t be the first time we claim you with an audience watching."
The filthy words sank straight into her. A sharp throb pulsed between her legs. Her thighs pressed together instinctively, and she felt her underclothes already damp against her core.
Every nerve seemed to light up at once.