37. Dryston
Chapter 37
Dryston
P ort Arro was a bustling city even at night. Dryston knew that he had an alliance with King Leeth and, assuming that was still held, he should be safe in the elven territories. But he didn’t want to take any chances. He’d asked Silenus for the name of an inn in Port Arro that would provide discretion, then he’d told Kalen and Maria to meet him there.
He hoped he hadn’t missed them already.
Lights shone from streetlamps, lighting his way past taverns bursting with sailor songs and the sour scent of ale and rye bread. He kept to the shadows, knowing that it was futile to try and sneak. Elves were larger than humans, but their physique tended toward slender and willowy, not stocky like his. Not to mention his wings, horns, and tail.
No one seemed to notice, though, as he passed by drunken patrons and an assortment of other people who seemed more than happy to turn a blind eye if he returned the favor. He came to the inn, The Fish and Net, and stared at the outside. It was worn down, the sign cracked and fading to the point that he had to stare for a while before piecing together what it said. An enchanted light flickered inside, old and worn. He opened the creaking door and entered. The tavern was crowded as well, but the people here only gave him wary looks and then turned back to their tables, sticking to strict cliques.
He pulled his hood down and came to the bar. The barkeep, an older satyr, tall and strong with a slashing scar over his chin, was filling tankards as he approached. When he finished, he came up, looking Dryston over with a quick, scrutinizing glance. Thankfully, he had no chains on him and was wearing clothes Tannin had scrounged up for him. They were ill-fitting, but that wasn’t apparent under his cloak.
“What can I do ya for?” the satyr asked.
“Have two other demons come through here, a male and female?” Dryston asked.
The satyr gave a curt nod. “They’re upstairs. Arrived two days ago. I suppose you’re the one they’ve been asking about every day?”
Dryston gave a flat-lipped smile. He’d hoped for more caution, but Silenus had assured him that the innkeeper used discretion and enforced it lethally because otherwise his business would dwindle to nothing.
“I suppose I am,” he responded.
The satyr reached under the bar and grabbed a key, handing it to him. “They’re in this room.”
Dryston thanked him, sliding several gold coins to him that Silenus had given him. “Silenus says hello.”
The satyr’s features softened a bit, but all he gave was an approving grunt before turning back to his work.
Dryston made his way up the stairs to the room carved on the key ring. Coming to the door, he fingered the dagger Onora had handed him. She’d placed it in his hand, telling him that he needed some form of protection. She’d said it brusquely, quickly, not looking at him. But he felt the weight of the gesture even as he touched it at his waist now.
He hoped she was safe and happy. Now reunited with her people. The thought felt bitter but he tamped it down. The way she’d said they were her people—as if she and him were worlds apart, unable to bridge that gap. Maybe she was right. Maybe the mate bond had been some magical mishap. Some binding that had slipped through, ancient and strong, from that portal Enid had opened up.
She was a Hunter, trained from childhood to kill his kind. And he was a demon—a being she hated. Even if those two nights had shaken his belief in that. Even if he couldn’t claim hatred for her anymore. She’d left, acting like his offer to come to The Darkened City was ridiculous.
Shaking his head, he knocked on the door. It did no good to dwell on it. He’d have plenty enough time to try and fill that aching, bruised void of his mate’s absence when he was back home.
Scuffling sounded in the room, hushed voices, then the door cracked open and Kalen’s face appeared before him, harsh and calculating, falling away to a mad relief. He flung the door wide and yanked Dryston in, shutting the door behind him and locking it, then shoving a trunk in front of it.
“Well, hello to you, too,” Dryston said.
Kalen pulled him into a hug and said with a voice thick with worry, “Gods, we feared the worst.”
Maria was close behind, her eyes lining with tears as she gave him a quick hug and pulled back, turning to discreetly wipe a tear away. Dryston swallowed down the emotion that lumped in his throat.
“I did, too,” he said, voice cracking.
“We’ll leave in the dawn hours,” Maria said, already beginning to pack up their items. “We can’t tarry here much longer.”
“Tell me what’s happened while I’ve been gone,” Dryston said.
Kalen closed his eyes, shuddering out a breath. “A lot. The human king has declared war on the Shadow Realm. He’s said that anyone who aids you or demons will meet his wrath.”
The hair on his arms stood up. “Were you safe in Orc Haven?”
Maria nodded. “Yes. Lord Killgan has issued a warning to the king that if he tries anything in the orc realm they will retaliate.”
Dryston rubbed a hand over his face. So much strife caused by this all. “And King Leeth?”
Kalen shook his head. “He’s been silent. Pointedly so. We can’t make out what it means.”
“He could be holding off, not wanting to start a war until he can talk to you,” Maria said. “For now, the Hunters haven’t been able to cross the borders into orc lands without being arrested.”
Dryston let out a sigh of relief. “The sooner we can head home, the better ...” He rubbed his jaw. “Onora received a letter from a friend saying that the chief Hunter had called off the hunt. Saying they realized it wasn’t us.”
Kalen scoffed. “Did she fall for that? That’s not true in the slightest. This morning in the market someone told me to leave soon, as the Hunters would start killing any demon indiscriminately. The chief sent out yesterday a decree to kill any demon on sight, and to bring Lieutenant Onora in dead or alive.”
Dryston’s blood ran cold. “The letter was a farce?”
“Yes, and good riddance, I suppose,” Kalen said with a growl. “If I ever see her again she’d better pray to any god she worships because I’ll take her and?—”
Kalen’s words gurgled to a stop as Dryston’s hand wrapped around his throat, lifting the demon off his feet. Shock filled his features as his wings tucked in and he grasped at Dryston’s arm.
“You’ll what, Kalen?” Dyrston’s growl was lower and filled the room less, but somehow it was far more threatening. He dropped the male and Kalen stumbled back, grasping at his throat. Dryston’s chest rose rapidly. His nostrils flared as shadows burst from around him, threatening and poised toward Kalen. “You’ll do what to her?”
Maria placed a hand on his arm and he drew in several breaths, calming himself. Kalen rubbed his throat, a twin look of hurt and anger in his eyes.
Dryston was silent for a moment longer, both of them waiting patiently for an explanation.
“She’s my mate,” he said through gritted teeth.
Shock rippled over their features.
“Oh shit,” Kalen spat under his breath.
“Where is she, then?” Maria asked.
“She went back to the Hunters. The ones who apparently want to recapture her.”
Fuck.
“I have to find her.”
Kalen grabbed his arm before he could leave. “She made a choice, Drys. You have to let her go.”
“She didn’t know. She was fooled by them,” he said gruffly, and Kalen drew his hands back, throwing them up in defeat.
“It’s folly to leave now. She will be captured and taken, and you have a realm to lead. You have a family and colony who need you.”
Dryston rubbed his jaw as his mind reeled. He had no clue where she was. He had no idea how to find her.
Yet something tugged in his gut. Like a rope tied around his waist, pulling him in a direction he could almost see. He jolted, turning to the door the moment he heard a commotion below them.
He yanked the trunk out of the way and rushed down the stairs. The innkeeper was holding someone limp in his arms, a head full of blond hair and an arrow sticking out of her. Others crowded around him, a man coming to help lift her. Dryston shoved through the others, carefully taking her out of their arms. She blinked, grasping his shirt weakly.
“I didn’t know where else to go,” she croaked out.
“You came to the exact right place,” he said, holding her tighter against him.
“She’s poisoned,” the satyr said.
“I can help,” the man said. “I know healing spells.”
Dryston snarled, and the man threw up his hands.
“He’s overprotective of her,” Kalen said, his words clipped in annoyance.
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” Dryston said to the man, ignoring Kalen.
“You can trust anyone here, son,” the satyr said, crossing his arms. “As long as you keep your own mouth shut.”
Dryston looked at the faces staring at him, every muscle in his body tensing. It was a gamble, but she needed healing. Finally, he nodded, the man grabbing supplies from the satyr and following him up the stairs.
The man worked a while on her, taking out the arrow with Dryston’s help, then cleaning the wound as she babbled incoherently, her skin clammy and pale. Then he muttered a spell, slow and soothing. When he finished, he turned to Dryston.
“She’ll probably sleep for a few days, but she should be good.”
“Thank you,” Dryston said.
“Can we transport her?” Maria asked.
Dryston shot her a glare, and she shrugged.
“We need to leave—soon.”
The man nodded. “Yes. She’s fine, but the spell puts the person to sleep for a while so that the healing isn’t painful. Once that wears off, she will wake. It’s different for each person, and humans usually take longer. But she won’t be harmed by traveling.”
Dryston pulled out a few more gold coins and handed them to the man. “That’s all I have now. But I can get you more and—” He pushed Dryston’s hand away.
“No, thank you,” he said. “We take care of each other here. I beg your discretion in exchange for the services rendered, and I’ll keep your secrets as well, Lord Dryston.”
Dryston nodded. “I thank you.”
The man stood. “You don’t have to worry about anyone here reporting you, but she was riding a horse through the streets, muttering loudly. I don’t know the state of things too well, but conflict is brewing and it’s best if you all get back to the Shadow Realm before it reaches a boiling point.”
“We leave tonight,” Dryston replied, looking down at Onora.
Hopefully she would like The Darkened City. Because she had no other option now.