The Rycke: MM Fantasy Romance by Lily Mayne

Author:Lily Mayne [Mayne, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Just as Rig had described, the RV had moved closer to the treeline at some point since Mary’s arrival. The two big beasties—borolesh, Moth had called them—were still harnessed to the front of the vehicle, but now they could reach the trees. They were slowly lifting one big arm at a time to strip fistfuls of leaves from the branches, chewing lazily as they looked around with droopy beige eyes. They paid us no attention as we approached.

The other beastie—the aytorin—was already watching us. His skin was grey and mottled, and as we got closer I could see the ridges Rig had talked about. Thick, raised patterns under his skin, like there was cabling laid under there. He faced us, but I could see the black straps of a harness over his shoulders, and a thick metal chain drooping between his back and the motorhome. As we got closer, he casually swung his big war hammer up onto his shoulder with intimidating ease.

Beside me, Rig tugged on his fringed jacket and fiddled with his left glove, making sure it was snug over his fingers. I shot him an odd look but I was distracted when the RV door swung open with a rusty squeal.

Mary was wearing a red dress today, with a grey cardigan and matching red lipstick. Her dark hair looked smooth and neatly styled, but now that I was closer, I could see a few strands of grey streaking through it. I wondered how many clothes she had in that RV. These looked almost new, unlike our patched up, over-worn garments. Well, excluding Rig’s western jacket, which he lovingly kept clean.

She was holding that creepy little burgundy creature again. Its smooth, pointed head swivelled excitedly, beady black eyes roaming over us all. Its bony legs shivered as it let out that awful chittering sound.

“Hello, pets.” Mary gave us a condescending smile, smoothing stubby fingers over her pet monster’s skull. “What can I do for you?”

We all eyed Anchor. She straightened and lifted her chin. “We want to know why you’re really here.”

Mary smiled again and parted her lips to speak, but Anchor went on before she could. “We know you’re not just resting. You came here for a reason, otherwise you wouldn’t be parked right outside.”

Mary gave a tinkling little laugh, stroking painted fingernails lightly over the creature’s skull. It let out that rattling sound again. “Alright, I suppose I wasn’t the most subtle, was I?”

She quirked a thin, dark brow at us, her smile turning wry. “Have my monsters unnerved you?” she asked, then nodded at the silent aytorin, looming beside her. “Don’t let the cage scare you. Trust me, he looks better with it. He’s a big, ugly brute under there, aren’t you, pet?”

I felt Rig bristle beside me, but he stayed quiet. The aytorin didn’t react, his caged head not even moving an inch.

“He doesn’t scare us,” Anchor said, even though she’d told Moth and me that he did, less than an hour ago.

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