Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
The snow fell thicker and harder, as if it were conspiring against them.
Marcus knew the odds were against them. The Kings were split, trying to be in multiple places at once.
Some remained at Iron Hall, some stood behind him, but a few others had gone with Brandr, who chased Eurielle.
And that didn’t even count the Kings on Earth.
They had always triumphed over their adversaries because they had always been united, fighting as one. He didn’t know if this current consequence had been instigated by Sevrion or if it was just a quirk of fate. Either way, it wasn’t good.
“Well?” Sevrion asked, raising his brows.
Fedra’s face was turning purple from lack of oxygen. Marcus had to do something soon.
“Let me make it easy. You get a choice. Me.” Sevrion paused, his smile growing. “Or her.”
The instant Marcus saw Fedra being thrown over the balcony, he dove after her.
He would never catch up to her in his human form, though.
He shifted, knowing he had seconds to reach her before she hit the side of the mountain.
Since he had never been in his true form around her, he didn’t know what her ability would do to him, but he had to chance it.
He locked his eyes on her and reached out his hand, putting it between her and the mountain.
The jagged rocks slammed into his scales as he scooped her up and closed his fingers around her.
His wings snapped open to slow his descent as he soared over the treetops.
Evander dropped down to fly on one side of him while Kendrick came up on the other.
As much as Marcus wanted to find Sevrion, he had to see to Fedra first. He hoped she was unconscious, because she would panic if she saw him now.
She knew the truth, but that didn’t mean her need for revenge—or her hate—would suddenly vanish.
Con suddenly swooped down in front of him and motioned for Marcus to follow.
To his surprise, Con led them back to the terrace.
It was clear that Sevrion had gotten away.
He and Eurielle would be back, though. This fight was only getting started.
At least their enemy’s plan had been revealed. That gave him time to prepare.
Marcus landed on the balcony and tried to return to human form, but just as he had suspected, he couldn’t.
Fedra interrupted magic, and shifting from one form to another was magic.
He opened his palm to find Fedra curled on her side, unconscious.
Eurwen and Kora rushed over and took Fedra into the palace.
Marcus took to the sky again. It was futile to look for Sevrion, but he did anyway.
The Kings’ presence frightened those remaining at Stonemore and caused a large crowd to rush out into the weather.
This was twice now that the Kings hadn’t hidden themselves from the mortals.
Whether there was a war with those opposed to magic or not was something to worry about at a later date.
Right now, their main focus was Sevrion and Eurielle.
And any of the other Star People who joined them.
Fedra stretched her arms over her head as she yawned.
The cool air made her tuck herself beneath the heavy blankets.
She opened her eyes, confused to find herself surrounded by sheer curtains.
She turned her head to the side and saw the pillow she had admired earlier.
That’s when she realized she was in bed.
She heard the pop of a fire and saw the shadow play of light on the wall. Fedra sat up, hugging the covers to herself as she tried to see through the curtains. There was no movement, making her believe she was alone. She swallowed and immediately touched her throat as shooting pain filled her.
Sevrion’s hand had brutally squeezed her windpipe, and the skin felt hot to the touch, likely meaning it was bruised. Her fingers curled into the covers in panic as she recalled being thrown over the side of the railing. Yet here she was. Alive. She knew without asking who was responsible for that.
Fedra slipped from the bed and pushed aside the drapes to stand.
Her hands trailed down the sheer fabric as she walked into the room.
She was still in her clothes, but her shoes had been removed.
She looked to the side, expecting to feel the wind coming in from the balcony, but now, there were panes of glass where it had once stood open.
Fedra walked to the window and looked out at the dark sky and the white of the snow falling.
A thick layer covered the terrace floor and piled on the railing.
She turned toward the hearth on the opposite wall from the bed, across the large, expansive room. She was drawn to the fire, hoping she might find someone there. No, not someone. She hoped to see Marcus, but no one was on the couch or any of the chairs. They must have left her here.
Perhaps she should be angry or hurt by that, but she wasn’t.
Her presence harmed anyone with magic, which included Marcus.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and recalled the sight of him as both a dragon and a man.
She had never given any room for compromise.
Nor had she hidden her hatred. He must think the worst of her.
And yet, he had saved her.
Approaching footsteps caught her attention.
Shock ran through Fedra as she turned toward the sound and saw Marcus.
He paused as their gazes locked. A multitude of questions ran through her mind, but she couldn’t find her voice to speak a single word.
There was no reason for Marcus to be here.
She had been too definitive in her stance on dragons.
It wasn’t Marcus before her. It was just a mirage her mind had created because she wanted to see him so desperately.
She thought of all the times he had been there, helping her with gentle hands and kind words.
Even when he was angry, he hadn’t been overtly cruel.
Others had tried to kill her to get rid of her.
He had remained by her side, saving her time and again, all while she declared her intent to kill him and his kind.
What a horrible human she was to repay his compassion with such vitriol.
Her vision swam with unshed tears when she recalled how he had held her in his arms, knowing full well who she was.
He had kept the truth about himself hidden because she had been too consumed by hate.
The tears fell unheeded, rolling down her face and dripping from her chin.
The illusion walked toward her, closing the distance between them until he stood in front of her. She looked into his beautiful green eyes, wanting to take back all the dreadful things she had said. She wanted to apologize and repay the kindness he’d shown to her.
“I’m sorry.” The words came out as a croak, her throat constricting.
He took her hand and led her to a table. She frowned down at their joined hands. A vision shouldn’t be able to touch her, should it? Her eyes snapped to his face as he softly nudged her to sit.
“No more talking until your throat heals,” he stated and placed a bowl in front of her.
Fedra parted her lips to ask if he was real, but he put a finger to her mouth and shook his head.
“No more talking until your throat is healed,” he repeated. “Eat up. Sian added some herbs to the soup that will help your throat.”
She stared at him for another minute before she looked down at the bowl.
Since she was thirsty, she tested a spoonful.
It tasted wonderful, but the burn as it went down her throat made her hesitant to eat more.
Marcus nudged the bowl and nodded when she looked up at him.
She relented and continued to eat. With each spoonful, the pain lessened, and she realized just how hungry she was.
“I know you have questions,” Marcus said as he took the seat across from her. “I’ll answer all of them, but remember, doona speak for a while.”
She nodded and jerked her chin to the terrace.
He sighed, his lips twisting ruefully. “Both Sevrion and Eurielle got away, unfortunately. It would’ve been good had we stopped both of them, but we only planned for Eurielle.
We were no’ prepared for Sevrion. His arrival complicates things.
And, we have to consider that more of their siblings will show up. ”
Fedra touched the back of her neck and ran her fingers along the scar.
“I doona know what he did, but Ryder is building an X-ray machine so we can find out if you want.”
She frowned, lowered her spoon, then mouthed, “Why?”
“Because figuring it out might help us prevent Sevrion from being able to use his power around you. He wasna joking about that. No’ even Eurielle could call to her magic. I did notice that he seemed to attempt to use his when she was clutching at him and it didna work, though.”
Fedra’s eyes widened, and she nodded excitedly.
“You saw that, too?” he asked.
She nodded again.
“It’ll take a few days for Ryder to get everything up and running. There is no technology on Zora. He’s using the power source from the stasis pod. I’ve no’ seen him this excited about a project in a long time. If there’s a way to uncover what Sevrion put in your neck, Ryder will find it.”
Once she had finished the soup, she sat back. The more she thought about all the things she had said, the more awkward and embarrassed she became. She looked away, trying to find a way to tell him how sorry she was.
Marcus glanced at the floor and got to his feet. “I understand that I make you uncomfortable. I’ll leave. No one will disturb you.”
Fedra lunged forward, her hands wrapped around his arm to stop him. He looked down at her, a slow frown forming on his brow.
“Don’t go,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to go.”
He turned toward her. “You may no’ have seen things clearly, and I didna tell you, but—”
This time, she was the one who put her finger to his lips and nodded. “I know.”
His frown deepened as he studied her face.
“Can you forgive me?” she asked in a soft voice.
He wiped away a tear with his thumb. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
She gave him a stern look, knowing full well there was.
“We can talk about it later. You shouldna be using your voice. Come. Let me show you something I think you’ll enjoy.”
Fedra smiled when he took her hand and led her into another connected chamber, where she found a square raised tub big enough for at least twenty people.
Steam wafted from the water as red flower petals floated on its surface, creating a welcoming sight.
He walked her to the steps and turned to leave.
“Stay,” she called.
To her surprise, he stopped, but he didn’t face her.
So much had happened since she’d woken from stasis—so much that she hadn’t even had time to digest it yet, much less try to understand it.
But the one thing that had been constant was her feelings for Marcus.
She could no longer deny that she wanted him, craved him with an overwhelming need that stole her breath.
If he left, she might never see him again. This could be her last chance.
She stared at his back as she began to undress.