2. Rhune
Rhune
She looks like an angel.
When I first viewed her in the woods, I was convinced she was one. Angels have been extinct for centuries, and I was thrilled at the possibility of sighting one—but when I scented her, the muted sweetness identified the female as human.
For a moment, I was disappointed. But then it happened.
My soul sang.
It was like being struck by blue lightning, like something long dormant in me finally woke up. Suddenly, I was no longer hungry. At least, not for food.
I drag a clawed finger over the human’s rounded cheek, marveling at the softness, the fragility of her skin.
I’m fascinated by the weightlessness, the fragility of her bones beneath my palms. Her flesh is so soft and smooth everywhere—not just on her face—and it’s more wondrous than anything I’ve felt in my entire existence.
Though, it offers little protection from the ice storm raging around us.
She has a mane of deep brown that flows down her back and slips between my fingers like water, and her eyes—gods, her eyes.
They are the most daring shade of green, identical to the magnolia trees in the human realm.
There is nothing that exists in this land with that color, making her even more rare and beautiful.
My gaze dips, taking in the flowing white gown that clings to her supple curves, accentuating her attractive body.
My eyes trail to the mounds on her chest, and my cock twitches to life as I fight the urge to trace the deep crevice between them.
I’ve never been this close to a human before, and there’s something about this one in particular that calls to me like a siren.
Mate.
That word rings again in my mind, and I hug the fragile creature tighter to my chest, a wave of possessiveness taking hold.
The glittering gemstones covering her dress press against my chest with the motion, scratching and irritating the bare skin.
I pull back slightly, taking in the way the garment clings to her curves, the shimmering white fabric flowing down her legs and splaying out across the ice like Dravik’s long hair does in the healing pools.
She truly does look like an angel.
There are many humans out there, but this one is mine, I decide. She is the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on—human or not—and I know she is special. I will feed her and take care of her, and no one will be able to take her from me.
Yes, my heart says. This is a grand plan, indeed.
I have been lonely for so long. There is no one to share the cycles with apart from my brothers, and over time, I have grown… desperate. For connection. For a mate to call my own, after so many years in solitude.
And the best one possible dropped right into my lap.
A purr rumbles in my throat as I lean down, nuzzling my cheek against hers. It is just as soft as it was beneath my finger—perhaps more so—but it has also grown suspiciously cold.
I frown, tilting her head side to side gently. Her lips, once so plump and rosy, have turned a deep purple color, and the warmth that was emanating from her skin has turned to ice. Her breathing has slowed, and her heartbeat seems weak—the blood moving slowly in her veins.
She’s freezing to death.
Perhaps she is even more fragile than I thought…
She’s barely been here thirty minutes, and already her body is succumbing to the elements.
Worry clenches my chest as my familiar, Sasu, chirrups from his spot at my feet.
He pushes his rounded nose against my ankle, desperately trying to get my attention.
The sounds grow more insistent, he paws at my leg, and when that doesn’t work, he bites me.
“Ow! What is wrong with you?”
Sasu is now trying to climb my leg. The unfortunate reality of Sasu’s anatomy doesn’t allow him to do much more than annoy me, but his desperation is clear.
“Are you worried about her?” I gesture to the female in my arms, and he lets out a chitter I take as a “yes.”
“I’m worried too, Sasu. We’ll take her home and get her warm. Okay?”
Sasu tilts his head back, and a happy chirp fills the space, joining the sound of my wings beating the air. It’s the only choice I have. If I don’t bring her back to my den immediately, she will most certainly die.
Which means I’ll have to share my beautiful prize.
I land softly on the ground, my wings flapping hard against the gust of the blizzard in order to stabilize my large frame. The human in my arms has ceased shivering, but that is far more worrisome than anything else that has happened.
If my actions have caused her harm, I will never forgive myself.
Desperation clawing up my throat, I launch my body through the tunnel carved into the frozen ground, tucking my wings in tight around my body as the wind howls in my ears, gravity tugging me and my mate deep below the surface.
When I emerge on the other side of the tunnel, my wings snap out, beating hard against the air to stop my momentum.
I land in the center of a large, circular cavern, the walls, floor and ceiling made up entirely of the glowing blue ice-rock that makes up this world.
It shimmers brilliantly, but I don’t have time to stop and admire it like I normally do—my human needs warmth.
My feet have barely touched the ground before I’m racing toward the tunnel at the far end of the room, holding my fragile human close to my chest to give her as much heat as I’m able.
“Rhune? What are you doing?” The voice of my soul-brother, Dravik, rings out through the tunnel, tinged with confusion. But I don’t have time for him.
“Can’t talk! Busy!” I grip my human tighter as I descend into a deeper portion of the tunnels. The air grows warmer, almost stifling, and the tunnel opens up into a large rounded chamber. At the center sits a shimmering pool of heated water, and I waste zero time climbing in.
I hold her in the water for a long while, watching intently as some of the color returns to her face.
The magic energy living in the pool wicks away the dirt and blood clinging to her skin, leaving her soft and clean.
Eventually, the healing properties of the water begin working, and the wound on her hand closes, leaving a thin pink line where the bleeding gash once was.
The same goes for the split skin at the back of her skull, and soon, my precious human is clean, healed, and warm.
“What did you bring home this time?”
My throat rumbles with a low growl as my wings curl around my body, concealing the human in my arms. “Go away, Dravik.”
Instead, he steps closer, scenting the air. Dravik’s broad shoulders are taut, his powerful orange wings rustling at his back in irritation.
“What are you hiding? It smells sweet.” He sniffs once more, and his eyes narrow. “It smells human…”
“It’s not what you think.”
“I don’t care! No matter the circumstance, it does not give you the right to eat her! I could expect this from Cin, but not you.” He shakes his head, letting out an exasperated sigh. “We need to take her back to the human realm. She doesn’t belong here.”
I snarl, my eyes flashing dark pink as I turn to glare at Dravik. His sunset-colored eyes flare with surprise as he takes in the possessiveness painted clearly across my face, and he takes a step back.
“She’s mine.” My voice is a deadly warning. “Do not try to take her from me.”
“I will not allow you to harm her. That is what he would do.”
“I’m not going to hurt her,” I say, holding her tight to my chest. “I want… I’m going to take care of her.”
Dravik blinks slowly. “You didn’t bring her here to eat her?”
“Of course not! I would never.” My mouth presses into a thin line, my stomach twisting painfully at the mere thought of consuming her soul. “I took the pact just like you. I don’t know how you could think that.”
He shrugs. “You went to hunt and returned with a human. I assumed your convictions had wavered. It’s not such a preposterous thought given how long it’s been since we ate properly.”
He has a point. I sigh, staring down lovingly at the small human female. “Now that you know I won’t hurt her… can I keep her?”
Dravik scoffs. “Keep her? No, you cannot.”
A low whine builds in my chest. “I can take care of her, though! I’ll feed her and clothe her and bathe her and make sure she has plenty of mental stimulation.”
“She is a fully sentient being, Rhune. Not a pet. You need to take her back to where you found her.”
I grip her tighter. “I don’t want to.”
Dravik sighs. “She looks half-dead, Rhune. Her body is clearly not built to withstand this place. You’re going to get her hurt, or killed. Take her back.”
With that, he turns and leaves the bathing chamber, leaving me alone with my precious human. I lean down, nuzzling her face.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper. “Dravik is just being narrow-minded. You belong to me now. And I’m never letting you go.”