Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II by Hodges, Aaron (best romance books of all time txt) 📕

Lukys shrugged, rolling his aching shoulders. The Tangata had granted them more freedom since that first night, only binding them when it came time to sleep. That did not mean they went unguarded. A flicker in the corner of his eye revealed Sophia hovering nearby. He shuddered, haunted by her words from a week before.

He had killed her mate. He should have realised it earlier—the creatures usually came in pairs. Now it was only a matter of time before she took her revenge.

Swallowing, he forced his thoughts back to Dale and the city below.

“Romaine said the city was destroyed,” he said as they started down the hillside, shepherded along by their Tangatan captors. “Why would they have spared it?”

Neither had an answer, and silence resumed between them. Lukys could feel the exhaustion dragging at him, a creeping fatigue that called for him to sleep, but he fought it off. He had no desire to draw their captors’ wrath—at least, not any more than he already had.

He hadn’t told Dale of his conversation with the Tangatan leader. That would have required revealing the truth about his newfound ability. Guilt still hung about Lukys’s shoulders at the role he had inadvertently played in bringing the Tangata down upon them.

About the role he had played in their comrades’ deaths.

Adonis had not called him again to speak, and for that Lukys was grateful. Though the Tangatan leader held a certain…civility about himself, he had proven no less vicious than the others Lukys had encountered in battle. It was as though a beast lurked in every one of the species, chained in some, set loose in others, but always there, waiting for its opportunity to strike.

It was only a short journey from the hills to the floodplains of the Selman basin, though the bridge to New Nihelm was another mile downstream. They had left the denser northern forests behind a day ago and the land before them now was of verdant grass, the open fields dotted with wandering herds of sheep and goats.

Several of the creatures grazing near the riverbanks raised curious heads at the group’s approach, but soon returned to their meal. They wore thick coats of wool, untouched for a season by the shearers of men, and Lukys felt a touch of pity for them come the summer. If left unshorn for much longer, their coats would become so heavy as to make them slow runners, easy prey for predators.

Or did the Tangata already know this? He glanced at Sophia and her companions, recalling then that most of the species wore clothing spun from wool. How had humanity come to be so ignorant of their enemy, that they had not even questioned where the creatures found their clothing?

The Tangata leading their group reached the riverbanks and turned towards the west, where the bridge beckoned. Looking into the waters swirling below, Lukys was shocked to see they were crystal clear. After spending so long around the Illmoor, he had come to assume all mainland rivers must be murky and polluted. But then, the Illmoor ran for hundreds of miles through Gemaho before reaching Flumeer. Turning his gaze to the mountains rising to the east, Lukys could see no break in their endless peaks; the waterways of Calafe must run directly off those snow-capped summits.

Looking ahead, Lukys was surprised to see a slow trickle of people moving across the bridge. The sight brought a frown to his face, but it wasn’t until they got closer that he began to recognise the smooth, balanced movements of the Tangata. He shared another glance with Dale, but neither said a word. So it was true: the Tangata had taken up residence in the husk of Calafe society. New Nihelm was their destination.

What are they doing here? he wondered, watching as the creatures left the bridge and started into the surrounding pastures.

You think us such savages, human. Lukys started as a voice whispered into his mind. Jerking around, he found their ever-present guard watching him from nearby. Sophia. Why should we not desire a place of safety for our people to shelter?

Lukys swallowed, unnerved that Sophia had heard his thoughts. He quickly turned his eyes ahead again before Dale noticed. What else could she hear—and how could he prevent the creatures from listening? He knew it was possible; otherwise he would hear more than just muffled rumblings from the other Tangata. Unfortunately, he doubted any of the creatures would be willing to instruct him.

I’m sorry. He tried to broadcast the words to where Sophia walked. I am…ignorant of your kind.

A rumble that might have been laughter—or a growl—whispered in his mind, but Sophia did not reply. He swallowed, her words from that first morning returning to him again. Just now though, she did not seem angry or vengeful, and Lukys decided to press his luck.

But…why here? he tried again, pushing the words from him in the direction of the Tangata.

To his surprise, Sophia leapt as though someone had just grabbed her by the shoulder. Landing in a close approximation of the fighting stance Romaine had taught him just a few months past, she swung around, eyes wide, teeth bared.

Lukys froze midstride, while Dale leapt backwards away from their guard and raised his fists.

“What the—” He bit back the words as the other creatures turned towards them.

Thankfully, Sophia had been walking a few paces ahead; otherwise Lukys feared she might have struck him. With the strength each of the Tangata possessed, such a blow could easily have proven fatal.

There was a moment’s tension before Sophia lowered her hands. Dale quickly did the same, his eyes on the surrounding creatures. Slowly the others relaxed, and finally one of the other Tangata gave a grunt, indicating they were to move on.

Letting out a long breath, Lukys obeyed, though as he fell into step alongside Dale, he flicked a glance at Sophia. She was still watching him, and for