Chapter 11
AURORA
Istare up at him, my breath caught in my chest, heart thundering against my ribs. Thalric’s golden eyes pierce mine, each word he’s just spoken burning in the space between us.
But gods, Aurora, I want to try.
Before I can react, before I can even think clearly, he moves.
His grip tightens gently yet possessively on my wrist, claws grazing across my skin, sending a rush of heat spiraling through me. He leans in, his breath warm against my parted lips, and then his mouth claims mine.
His kiss is fire and tenderness, a fierce hunger tempered by barely restrained control. My fingers clutch desperately at his shoulders, needing something solid to ground me as my pulse pounds in my ears.
Something inside him snaps as I arch into him, pressing into his solid chest.
A low rumble of approval rises in his throat, reverberating through me.
His powerful arm wraps around my waist, pulling me flush against his muscular frame, wings flaring to shield us from the world.
His other hand slides through my hair, fingers gripping the silken strands as he angles my mouth up to his, deepening our kiss.
Gods, this is everything I’ve ever wanted and so much more.
He claims my mouth and my tongue like a man possessed, making me dizzy and breathless as I cling to him. My knees weaken as my body practically melts into his, but Thalric holds me tightly, pressing me against the rough stone wall behind me.
I trace my fingers over the thick planes of muscle that line his abdomen and chest before reaching up and caressing the pointed tips of his ears. His low, tortured groan sends heat pooling low in my belly.
I gasp as his fangs graze lightly against my bottom lip before he curls his tongue around mine, deepening our kiss in a dance of give and take that is both teasing and yet demanding in its intensity.
When we finally part, both of us are breathing hard. Tracing his fingers tenderly along the side of my face, his gaze holds mine as he whispers, “Savryl.”
Although I don’t understand what this word means, I understand its meaning in the way it leaves his mouth, full of sacred reverence.
Soft moonlight reflects in his eyes, turning them into molten gold. His features are chiseled and striking, like a warrior sculpted from night and stone. Reaching up, I cup his cheek. “What happens now?” I whisper softly.
He rests his larger hand over mine, leaning his face into my touch before turning his head and pressing a tender kiss to my palm. “You will be my mate,” he says, voice low and deep. “And I will be yours.”
My pulse skips. “What does that mean?”
His gaze softens. “A claiming. You would wear my mark, and I yours.” His expression shifts as a hint of uncertainty reflects in his eyes. “Or we can go to the temple, if you prefer. A priestess would bind us formally before the gods.”
“Yes,” I whisper, unable to contain my smile. “Fiora, Lyria, and Maribel would want to be there. So would our friends.”
Relief flits across his features. “Then that is what we will do. Afterward, we can go to the capital together. The mates of those training to become royal guards are allowed to stay in a separate wing, near the barracks. You could live there while I train, and you could work toward your apprenticeship to become an apothecary.”
“That would be perfect.” I’m so excited, I can barely contain my joy. “After that, we could find an apartment somewhere in the city.”
He flashes one of his rare full smiles, and I cannot help but return it with one of my own. I can hardly wait to begin our future together.
Stretching up on my toes, I press my lips to his. “We can get our families together tomorrow and announce our intent to marry.”
He drops his forehead gently to mine. “I’ll come in the morning, my savryl. We’ll tell them together.”
Unable to contain my curiosity, I ask. “What does savryl mean?”
His gaze travels over my face like a gentle caress. “It is a sacred word in the ancient tongue that means: my wings—the one I shield. It is only spoken to one’s cherished bondmate.”
Thalric folds his wings around me, pulling me closer. “A gargoyle’s wings are their most vulnerable yet most powerful part. So calling someone ‘my wings’ means you are both my strength and what I will protect at all costs.”
Warmth blossoms inside me, and I press another lingering kiss to his lips.
When I pull back, he studies me intensely.
“What is it?” I frown. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I want to remember every detail of this moment,” he murmurs. “When you first became mine.”
My heart flutters. “Oh, Thalric, I—”
A thunderous boom shakes the castle. Thalric’s head snaps up as dust rains from the arch above, followed by a cascade of rocks falling from overhead.
I barely have time to gasp before the wall gives way. The air explodes with noise and motion, stone grinding against stone, wind tearing through the shattered corridor.
“Auri!” Thalric pulls me into his arms as the ground crumbles beneath our feet, wrapping his wings around me as the floor and ceiling collapse.
Heavy blocks of stone and mortar crash down, scattering rocks and debris in thick plumes of dust.
Thalric curls his body protectively around mine, and I bury my face against his chest as the ruins cave in around us.
When the noise finally fades, it’s replaced by ringing silence. I open my eyes, but the air is still thick with debris and I can barely see anything.
Panic fills me as moonlight filters through the settling haze, catching the dark streak of blood along Thalric’s torso and left wing. “Thalric, your wing!”
“It’s fine.” He pulls back just enough to look at me, frantic as he scans my body for injury. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
I shake my head.
Lifting me into his strong arms, he carries me through the broken archway and into the cool night air. The moment we’re clear, he sets me on my feet.
“Help!” voices call out from the downed structure. “We’re trapped!”
“Reid and Sera are in there!” someone cries out.
“I’ll go,” Thalric says, already moving back toward the rubble. He glances over his shoulder. “Stay here where it’s safe, Auri. I’ll be back.”
Worry trips my heart as he disappears into the ruins, vanishing in the thick cloud of dust.
Fear and guilt twist deep within as I stand frozen, my heart pounding as I pray to every god I’ve ever heard of. The seconds stretch endlessly as the sounds of shifting stone and debris echo from the unstable structure.
This is all my fault. We wouldn’t even be here if not for me.
Through the haze, I see movement. Relief floods my veins as Thalric emerges, his arm around Reid, helping him walk as Sera limps beside him. Both are coughing but alive.
He helps them to a fallen log near the fire. “I’m fine,” Sera says as people gather around them.
“Just a bit of bruising,” Reid adds, gesturing to his leg. “But we’re okay.”
I rush toward Thalric, flinging myself into his arms.
His body goes rigid, a faint hiss escaping him as my hand brushes his left wing.
I pull back instantly, noting the dark blood running down the leathery sail. “You’re injured. We need to get you some help.”
“It’s nothing,” he says, but his face tightens as the wing droops slightly behind him.
“It’s not nothing. You need healing,” I insist. “Fiora and the others can help you.”
“No, Auri. You’ll be in trouble if they find out where you were.”
“I don’t care.” I blink back tears as worry tightens my chest. “You need a healer, and I’m taking you to them.”
His gaze holds mine, something unguarded flickering in his eyes before he exhales. “Fine.”
He’s quiet as we make our way to the cottage. That alone tells me how much pain he’s in.
As soon as we reach the back garden, I race ahead and rush toward the door. “Fiora! Lyria! Maribel!”
The door swings open before I reach it. Fiora’s eyes widen at the sight of me, covered in dust, hair tangled, and my dress slightly torn. “Aurora, what in the seven hells happened?”
“Thalric’s hurt. The ruins collapsed,” I say hurriedly. “He saved me, but he hurt his wing. Please, help him.”
Fiora ushers us inside, guiding Thalric to the table. They gather around him, Fiora’s magic winding through her fingers like wisps of red smoke and floating around his wing as she inspects his injury.
“What happened exactly?” she asks without looking away from her work.
“We were at the castle ruins, in the forest,” I explain. “Part of the structure collapsed while we were inside. Thalric sheltered me with his wings, and he got the others out alright. I—I know we shouldn’t have gone, and Thalric didn’t want to go, but I insisted. And I—”
“You could have been killed,” Fiora snaps. “Both of you.”
“I know.” My voice cracks. “And I’m sorry. But please, just heal him first. Then you can be angry at me.”
With a frustrated huff, she turns her attention back to Thalric. Lyria and Maribel do as well, each of them working to heal him. The faint hum of magic fills the air. Light spreads through the torn membrane of his wing, knitting it together until only a faint scar remains.
“Try that,” Fiora instructs.
Thalric stands and flexes the wing carefully. “It feels good. There’s no pain.”
“Oh, thank the gods,” I murmur under my breath. I wrap my arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”
His wings fold around me, warm and solid, his heart beating strong and steady beneath my ear. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper into his chest. “For everything.”
“Don’t be.” He nuzzles my temple. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
Rising up on my toes, I brush my lips to his in a tender kiss.
Lyria inhales sharply, and I’m vaguely aware of Fiora and Maribel gaping at us.
I’m sure they’re surprised, but I’m not embarrassed. Surely, it cannot be that much of a shock that I’ve fallen in love with my best friend.
When we finally part, Fiora steps forward, a stern look on her face. “You should go home, Thalric. Before your parents worry about you.”
He nods.