Chapter 34
Maddox
“Females are terrifying.”
— Maddox Finch, An Observation
Raven traces a finger down my arm that has not been wounded, her smile warm and welcoming. “You are very brave to face a wolf on your own.”
I was not on my own. Nia was with me. I glance over my shoulder but can no longer see my Seelie fae. Unease settles in my stomach, next to the emptiness. As soon as these wounds are healed, I will return to her side, and all will be well once more.
Who knew there was an entire clan of Unseelie females right under our noses? Our chieftain will be most pleased to hear of this, as will the unmated males in our clan. They are sure to begin building a ladder to the bottom of the canyon as soon as I bring this news to them.
I take a step to my left, removing myself from Raven’s touch. “Where is your healer?”
If she is offended by my actions, her face does not show it. She has a fine face, but it is not as fine as Nia’s.
“This way.” She leads me from the riverbank into one of the many caverns lining the cliff.
Whoever thought to build inside the walls was a true genius.
Their shore is on a height, but with a heavy rain, the valley could still flood.
These caverns are high enough that the Unseelie within should not have any trouble avoiding the rising waters.
I duck my head to keep from hitting it on the low stalactites clinging to the ceiling. The deeper we go, the wider the path grows. The air here is damp but not cold. Very different from where we spent last night.
Was it only last night that I held Nia in my arms, discovering her most intimate places? What joys will tonight bring? What new discoveries?
The cavern branches off into three different paths. Raven takes the one to the right that leads to a set of stairs carved into the stone. A warm fog clings to the air as we step into a large cavern with what looks like a boiling pond in the center.
Here, there are many females, all of them disrobed. Some are carrying younglings in their rounded stomachs while others are not.
Their curious gazes prickle against my skin.
I should be used to attention; the Seelie usually stare when I am in Rosehill. Except, there is a hunger in these eyes that makes me want to turn and run straight back out of the cavern.
A female whose hair is threaded with silver meets us at the edge of the pool, her pierced lips widening into a smile. “Raven, it is good to see you this day. Who is this stranger you have brought to us?”
Raven steps a little too close for my liking, her shoulder bumping mine. “Fawn, this is Mad-dox. He hails from above the cliffs.”
The silver-haired female’s brow furrows. “Above the cliffs? How can this be? You are not Seelie.”
“I am from a small clan on the eastern side of the canyon.”
“Are there more males like you?” one of the females in the pool asks, her shiny black hair piled on top of her head like one of the Seelie cinnamon buns I have seen in bakery windows.
Our own females wear their hair much shorter.
The silver-haired female, Fawn, scowls down at the one who spoke. “Hush, Laurel,” she snaps before offering me another kind smile. “How did you earn your wounds, Mad-dox?”
“He slayed a wolf using only a dagger,” Raven answers for me.
“On his own?” another asks, this one wearing polished green stones around her throat.
Raven nods. “Mad-dox is very brave.”
They would not think me brave if they knew how terrified I had been of facing that wolf. Not only for my own life but for Nia’s. We were lucky indeed that Raven found us. I dare not think about our fate had she not.
The other females swim closer to the pool’s edge, their smiles growing.
Is this how Ever felt when all the females in our clan had their sights set upon him? I do not like it one bit. “You have healing water?” I ask Fawn.
“His voice is so deep,” a female near the far wall says with a shiver, her chest bobbing above the waterline.
Raven tugs me toward the pool. “The water in these springs is that which heals.”
The females in the water swim back, giving me room to enter. Something in my gut tells me not to. “Is there any to drink?” I can drink the water, splash some on my shoulder and arm, and then be on my way.
“I could sew your wounds if you would prefer,” Laurel offers through a coy smile. “My cave is nearby, and I am skilled with a needle.”
“The pool would be best,” I say quickly so they do not let these ideas take root.
My arm throbs as I remove my boots. Fresh blood trickles down my bicep, catching in the crook of my elbow as I step down into the water.
“Your trousers will get wet,” Raven says, as if I do not already know this is what will happen.
“Then they will be clean.” Two birds, one pool.
Laurel grabs for my belt. “I will wash them for you.”
I clutch the buckle before she can unfasten it. “No. Thank you.”
Fawn chuckles. “Give him a moment to breathe. Otherwise, you will scare him away. My apologies, Mad-dox. We have many females who are anxious for mating.”
There is only one female with whom I wish to mate, and she is not in this room.
I turn to find Raven staring openly at me, not even bothering to hide the hunger in her gaze. “Did you ask Fern to feed Nia?” I do not wish for my Seelie to go hungry.
“Who is Nia?” Laurel asks.
“Is there another male with you?” one says with such obvious hope on her face, her hands clasped beneath her chin as if praying to the gods.
Raven’s expression darkens. “Mad-dox was traveling with a Seelie female.”
Their faces fall.
“Why is this?” Laurel demands.
“You cannot mate with a Seelie,” Fawn scoffs.
Raven nods as if this is fact. “There is no fear of this. Nia is too old for mating.”
What is this nonsense? “She has only been alive twenty-four years.”
“If this is true, then why is her hair white?”
“White hair,” someone giggles.
I love Nia’s hair, especially the way her wild curls feel against my skin when she is in my arms.
“Regardless, her womb is not strong enough to bear an Unseelie child. She is a twig that will snap in half.” Raven holds out her hands, mimicking said snapping.
Nia is not a twig.
She is thin, yes, but she is strong. Her strength has only grown during our time in the canyon.
We have not discussed mating, but I will forever cling to my hope.
Regardless, their opinions do not matter. They do not know what I know. Do not feel what I feel. These females simply do not understand what it is to be in love.
“How are your wounds?” Fawn asks.
I turn my arm, thankful the pain has receded to a dull throb. My shoulder looks better as well.
“No more than scars.” Now it is time for me to return to Nia. I slip from the water. A towel is handed to me, followed by a pair of wool trousers that look as if they should fit.
Nakedness has never bothered me before; I have disrobed in front of our entire clan many times. Still, the thought of changing into these clothes with so many prying eyes watching makes me feel uneasy.
Especially when the females have lined up at the edge of the pool, their arms folded on the stone shore, dark gazes locked on where I stand. Smiles on lips. Fire in eyes.
Who knew a room full of females could be more frightening than facing a wolf?
I clutch the offerings to my dripping chest. “I would like to return to Nia now.”
Frowning faces fill the cavern.
Raven’s eyes narrow. “Come, then. I will bring you to her.”
My trousers cling to my skin as we traverse back the way we came and emerge into the bright day.
Females line both sides of the path, extending bowls and plates of food toward me.
Names are thrown my way and chests are thrust forward.
Hunger gnaws at my gut, but I cannot accept any of these gifts for fear of offering false hopes.
My Seelie, with her mane of white curls, waits at the end of the gauntlet, her arms folded over a faded green dress. Did Fern give it to her?
Something must be terribly wrong, because Nia refuses to meet my gaze as I am led to one of the many ladders.
I reach for Nia’s hand to draw her closer, nodding up at the waiting cavern high above us. “Females first.”
All those gathered start chattering at once. The volume of their protests makes it difficult to decipher what they’re saying, but when I do, my jaw clamps in irritation.
They want Nia to stay with the other unmated females and promise to keep her safe, but I will not allow this. I have chosen to trust these fae of Riverglade, but my trust only extends so far. “Nia will stay with me, or we will not stay at all.”
The silver-haired female from the healing pool pushes through the crowd, her lips pursed in disapproval. “This Seelie is your mate?”
I want nothing more than to say yes, but she is not. Not yet. “Nia stays with me.”
Fawn’s eyes flash, but she nods, and the rest of the females slink away, untouched food still clutched in their hands.
I urge Nia to climb, and once we are both inside the small cavern, I bring the ladder up as well so that no one will follow without some warning.
The dwelling is small but comfortable enough, with a mattress stuffed with sweet grass and running water in the privy. There is a fireplace with a chimney cut into the stone to take away the smoke. The only thing that is missing is glass for the small windows.
I head into the privy to take off my wet trousers, rub my legs with the rough towel, and throw on the new ones. They are a bit tight across the thighs but will suffice this night. If I hang mine by the fire, they should be dry by the morning.
I find Nia standing next to the bed, studying the rust-colored wall. When she hears me enter, she turns, her expression one I do not recognize.
“What were they saying to you?” she asks in a small voice that sounds as if it belongs to someone else.
I sink onto the edge of the mattress. Stiff but many times better than the ground where we have spent each night since we landed in this unknown land. “They wanted you to stay with the unmated females.” From the corner of my eye, I see her stiffen. “I told them you stay with me, or we leave.”
She runs her hands down her skirts, a habit she has for when she is uneasy. This place is strange to us both, but as long as we are together, there is nothing to fear.
“I could’ve stayed with them if you wanted,” she says, refusing to meet my gaze.
“Why would I want this?”
She braces her hands on her hips, a waterfall of white spilling across her shoulders as she tilts her head. “You know why.”
“If I knew, I would not have asked.” Does she not wish to spend this night with me? Why did I not consider this?
We have been stuck together for many days, after all. Even my friends tell me that my presence can be draining. Perhaps she needs a break. I should have asked before assuming.
“They all had food, Maddox. Clearly, they’re wanting you to choose them as a mate.”
Now I understand. Her concern is not because she does not wish to be with me but because she wrongly believes that I do not wish to be with her.
I do not know those females. My blood does not sing for them. Surely, she must recognize this by now.
A ridiculous thought strikes me, leaving my lips before I can stop the words. “Is this jealousy?”
Her nose wrinkles. “What? No. I’m just saying you can do what you want.”
The pink on her cheeks calls her a liar.
This lie does not offend me. Nia is a prideful female. She would not wish to admit such a thing. But I know the signs. I have had jealousy ever since I first saw her with the Nolan.
I tap my chin, pretending to think this through. “Can I?”
Her springy hair shudders when she nods. “Yes.”
Well, then . . .
I hook my finger into her sash and yank. She stumbles forward, her knees colliding with mine. With another tug, the bow is gone, and the strap dangles free.
Cold hands brace against my shoulders, nails digging into my fresh scars. “Wh-what are you doing?”
“You say I can do what I want. This is what I want.” To have her bare beneath me.
My hands shake as I unfasten the tiny buttons one at a time and push the arms of her dress down until it is a puddle of green at her dainty feet.
“You can’t possibly. They’re beautiful and all of them want to mate with you.”
Not all. I doubt the ones whose bellies are swollen with younglings are interested in me. The ones with silver-streaked hair did not seem intrigued either.
I press a kiss to the swell of her breast, right above her fluttering heart. “And I want to mate with you.”
“Maddox—”
“Nia.”
Her mouth snaps shut.
“I am going to take this off.” I slip my finger beneath the flimsy strap of her bra. “These will be next.” I trace along the delicate line of lace beneath her navel. “If you do not wish for me to do this, I suggest you tell me now.”