Chapter 686 Chapter 686
They walked down the slope into the trees. Deva was good with being out of sight before shifting.
“Your Alliance has many places.”
She nodded. “I don’t know the ins and outs of that part of it, but I guess they do have many resources.”
“It is I that has to find a safe place for people I help.”
She hadn’t thought of that part of what he did. “You’re good at it. I know you’ve gotten a few over for Deacon and Gia’s clan.”
“Ah, the tall fox.” He nodded. “There are more. My man tells me this. We have to go slow, and no make the authorities know what we do.”
“There’s more to come over?”
“Many. Not just the tall fox peoples, but many more kinds.”
She touched his arm so he’d stop and look at her. “That’s amazing. You know what you do is amazing, right?”
He searched her face. “I do what needs to be.” He shrugged. “I do it before deal with king and will no stop until all are free.”
Deva sucked in a breath slowly. “We’ve all—those working for the Alliance teams, have said the same, but we had no idea it was so far spread…”
“You will still do it?”
She gave him a surprised look. “Oh, yeah. I’m in it until it’s done.” She nodded. “What I meant was we have all the resources available to us, and you—and your men, you’ve been doing it on your own. It’s amazing.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “I like this amazing word when it come from you.” He reached and took her hand and started walking. “I no do any of it to be amazing; I do it for it be the right thing.”
“I know. That’s the part that makes you amazing, Taggart.” Her heart jerked in her chest. She may not be sure what the next steps were to the whole mating process, but she did know that Taggart was a very honorable man. He was a very brave man as well—that part had her wary because she knew he didn’t stop to think about the consequences when he jumped into things.
“You think very deep.”
She glanced to see he was watching her. “Deep thoughts are my thing.”
He stopped walking pulled the run pack over his head and lowered it to the ground. “I think you are my thing.” He winked at her and then motioned to the large tree beside her. “You have privacy. I wait here.”
He even thought about that. “Thanks.” She went over behind it. Once there, she leaned back against it and stared at the space in front of her. Her cat stirred, reminding her that she was here to go for a run. They both needed one. Pulling her run pack over her head, she made fast work of stripping down.
Picking up the pack, she put it over her head and arm through it. Adjusting how it would be once she shifted, she knelt down. A run would help to burn off the never-ending thoughts. Blowing out a breath, she dropped her head down and let her animal take over.
~
Deva jumped over the rock and then took a sharp turn to avoid colliding with Taggart. He was faster than her, but her more petite body allowed her to maneuver in a way he couldn’t. It had been at least six months since she’d run with her own clan, and this was so much better than going for a run with animals that couldn’t do what she could. The only one on the team that she didn’t mind running with was Gia. The others were powerhouses or masters of speed that left her feeling out of place. Being with Taggart reminded her of the joy of racing through the trees and bounding over obstacles.
She skid to a halt when he came rushing out of the trees a few feet in front of her. The best part was that he wasn’t holding back and giving her the lead. She looked ahead and saw a tree that had fallen but was leaning on another that had stopped it from reaching the ground. Giving her animal the all-go, she knew she could do this—had done it many times in her adult life. She ran up the tree, not even having to hesitate for footing. When she saw the fur beneath her, she stretched her stride and used her powerful back legs to jump. Hitting the ground was nothing. Her body was built to absorb the impact. With a twist, she spun just before she hit the ground. Taggart slid sideways and landed on his side.
Getting to his feet, he shook his head and then stood there staring her down. She could see the humor in his animal’s eyes and knew she had succeeded in surprising him. He looked over his shoulder and then back to her. Issuing a blunt bark, he turned his body. Basically, it equated to ‘they had to go back.’ He was right. There were many others who wanted to go stretch their animal side.
With a soft bark, she took off in the direction they had come. The pace back wasn’t as rushed, she didn’t want to be half-starved when they got back, but she also wanted just a few more moments to think. Taggart was honorable and brave; that part wasn’t a question in her mind. The one that she kept avoiding seriously thinking about was practically a flashing neon sign right now. Would Taggart stop doing what he did? After Tomas and his associates were dealt with—and any ambassadors that needed it, were removed—would he stop continent hopping and taking all the risks? How did she find out the answer to this? She may not have been all dreamy and wanting of the happily-ever-mated life, but if she was going there, she wanted the mate to live a long life with her. Having witnessed how hollow a person was that lost their mate, she knew she didn’t want to go there.