Regali (A Walker Saga) by Jaymin Eve Page B

it hit the ground.
    “What happened to her?” I bit out.
    This couldn’t be from shock. The thorns had only left two small punctures.
    Brace reached out and , managing to avoid the hidden thorns, snatched one of the flowers from the bunch. He brought it close to his nose.
    “It has a scent ; it’s bitter,” he said. “I’m guessing there’s poison laced in these thorns.”
    I couldn’t help the gasp which escaped. “What do we do then? We have no idea what the poison is and how to counter it.”
    Colton reached down and pulled Lucy up into his arms. “We have to find a local. They’ll be the only ones with knowledge about what we’re dealing with.”
    Brace placed both hands on my friend’s chest, above her heart. He muttered a few words, despite the glare Colton level ed on him.
    “I ’ve slowed her heart down, just a little, which will give us more time before the poison spreads.”
    I stood on tiptoes to give him a hard kiss. “Thank you. Now let’s find a Regali native.”
    “No need to go anywhere,” Brace said, “someone ’s above us right now.”
    I remember ed him saying that before. I glanced up into the canopy. The trees were a multitude of colors, from the standard green to burnt reds, olives, browns and even some black. They looked diverse and dangerous. As if time had not touched this world. But they also looked like they would be great camouflage for anyone hiding.
    “Hello ,” I screamed up. “Please, we need some help; my friend has been hurt.”
    There was a slight rustling but no one moved into my view.
    “Can you see them?” I asked Brace , who was also peering up.
    His brow furrowed. “I think I’m seeing something, but I’m not sure it’s right.”
    “Get your ass down here, or I’m coming up and things are going to get very messy.” Colton was practically growling. His voice had lowered into a register not usually accessible to humans.
    The rustling sounded again, closer than before. I spun once , but there was nothing behind me. Well, nothing I could see. My heart rate sped up. Not only were we facing these unknown Regali inhabitants, but Lucy was still unconscious. And I didn’t like the pale nature of her face. She was losing color at a rapid rate.
    “Brace , now!” Colton barked the order at him.
    And despite the fact he was the new Princeps of Abernath , he obeyed his friend without question or even a glare. I blinked once and Brace was gone. Almost immediately the noises started in earnest around us: screeches, falling debris and this odd thumping beat.
    “How is she?” I asked Colton, my words tense.
    “Pulse is weak.” He wiped at her brow. “She’s cold and her skin is leaking fluid.”
    Typical Walker, unused to the frailties of a normal human body. Cold and sweaty didn’t sound like a good combination. I caught a flash of white in the upper trees . It looked like Brace’s shirt. Suddenly a large branch was visible over our heads, falling at a rapid rate. Colton was ten times faster than me, shoving me clear and still managing to move and stay on his feet with Lucy.
    I landed on my hands and knees about three feet from where I’d stood. The leaves and thin branches had crashed onto my legs and for a moment I was trapped. I struggled and was just about to wiggle free when a thump landed in front of my downturned face. Two objects moved into my vision. I lifted my head slowly, wondering if I was seeing correctly. I was pretty sure the objects were feet, but they weren’t human.
    “Abby, you have to move now.” Colton words blasted through me .
    I managed to jag my legs free and rolled to the left as a pair of heavy hands came down near my face.
    Hands that matched the feet. They were paws, like those of a large lion, but they were clearly bipedal.
    I lifted my head to take in the entire image.
    It was furry. A short dense golden-colored fur covering its entire body. It was male – the fur partially concealed it’s very obvious male genitalia –