Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
CHERYL
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
W e arrive in Dalune, the capital of Lynx, at sunset, riding rombolos, animals that resemble buffalos but are twice as large.
The soldiers from Aquila didn’t accompany us.
They returned to their posts in Mistral, which I learned is the name of the city where Vivi and Rikkon were born, the capital of their kingdom.
Dalune is built against a tall mountain, and the houses hug the rocky wall in an upward spiraling fashion.
At the very top stands the Lynx castle. Despite coming here against my will, I can’t help the sense of wonder that takes me over as I stare at the beautiful dark stone construction straight out of a fairy tale.
In the valley below, a forest of blossoming trees with pink and lavender flowers creates a dreamlike landscape.
As the sun sinks below the horizon, the sky is painted with hues of deep purples and pinks, casting a magical glow over everything.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Castiel stops next to me on his rombolo.
“Yes, it is,” I say.
Rio coos happily in the improvised baby carrier I made from a piece of fabric. Even though he’s snug against my body, I keep one arm around him at all times.
Ronan stops on my other side with Ollie, who’s fast asleep across the broad back of his rombolo, securely fastened to the saddle.
We trade a loaded glance, and the yearning in my heart grows exponentially.
There are so many things I want to tell him, though I don’t know when we’ll have a moment alone now that we’re in Lynx. Our fate is a mystery.
We couldn’t walk the wind to get here, but the trip took only a few hours by mount. Salthollow isn’t far from the palace. The weather is a bit cooler, and when a gust of cold wind sweeps across our party, I shiver.
“Come on. Our journey is almost over.” Castiel kicks his rombolo in the sides, urging the animal forward.
I break eye contact with Ronan and follow the Nightingale prince.
Rio is getting fussy, and I can’t check on him while on top of the rombolo.
I don’t think he’s hungry, because I just fed him, but I offer him my bloodied palm again anyway.
He turns his face away from my hand, scowling. He looks downright annoyed.
“What’s wrong with him?” Ronan asks.
“I’m not sure. Maybe I need to change his diaper.”
I check and confirm the makeshift diaper is full. I wonder if they have proper diapers in the castle.
“What’s the matter?” he asks.
“Nothing. I mean, not nothing. Just thinking about practical things.”
He glances at Ollie, asleep in his saddle. “Yeah, me too.”
We both stay quiet on the way up the hill, but he keeps his mount close to mine. I’m nervous about what we’ll encounter inside the palace, but Ronan’s proximity is helping with my anxiety. Even my wolf is calmer with him near me.
In another fifteen minutes, we cross through the tall gates of the castle and enter the courtyard.
We don’t find a large greeting party here, and it quickly becomes evident why there aren’t many people mingling about.
The shadowbeasts are with us, and my guess is that, if you don’t need to be present, you make yourself scarce in their vicinity.
We’re currently in the outer courtyard where the stables for the mounts are, another gate separating us from what I guess is the inner courtyard.
Castiel dismounts first, and I take that as my cue to do the same.
But these animals are much taller than horses, and I can’t say I was ever a fan of horseback riding. This is far worse.
“Take my hand. I’ll help you down,” Ronan says from the ground. I didn’t even see him get off his rombolo.
“Where’s Ollie?” I ask to buy time. I’m such a coward when it comes to him and the feelings he evokes in me.
“I’ll get her in a second.”
Ollie is still secured to the rombolo. I glance at Ronan again, and the damn butterflies decide to wake up and wreak havoc in my belly. His pupils dilate, and I curse our bond for telling him exactly what I’m feeling. I give him my hand, and I swear electric sparks ignite upon contact.
I keep one arm pressed around Rio, even though I know he’s safe, but because of that, when I land ungraciously on the ground, I lose my balance and end up flush against Ronan.
“I got you.” His lips curl upward, and fire seems to burn inside his blue eyes.
I should look away, or better yet, step back, but I’m frozen, ensnared by his scorching gaze.
The fluttering in my belly travels south, and my hormones take control.
I feel cold and hot at the same time. He seems to be moving closer—he’s leaning in.
Oh my God. Is he going to kiss me in front of all these strangers? And am I going to let him?
Yes, yes, I am.
But Rio has other ideas and wails at the top of his tiny lungs. Thank goodness.
Ronan steps back and peers at the bundle in my arms. “Do you think he’s hungry?”
“He’s probably unhappy that I haven’t changed his diaper yet.”
The shadowbeasts in our party growl, making the soldiers around us more uneasy. A shadowbeast breaks from the pack and moves in our direction in an unfriendly way, even though Castiel is supposed to be controlling them. I whip my face toward the monster and growl, baring my fangs.
Immediately, the shadowbeast stops and—holy shit—retreats back to its friends, tail between its legs.
“Impressive,” Castiel says.
“Keep your creatures away from us,” Ronan tells him, baring his fangs as well.
Castiel’s brows arch, but he refrains from making a comment.
He looks at the shadowbeasts, and a moment later, they veer toward a building on the opposite side of the stables.
It seems he can control the monsters with his mind.
An iron gate opens, and once the shadowbeasts disappear inside the building’s dark interior, the gate shuts again.
Ronan stares at him through narrowed eyes. “Tell me, Castiel, can you see the beasts you control?”
He meets Ronan’s gaze and holds it before looking away. “No.”
Hell. I can’t tell if he just lied to our faces or if he’s annoyed to confess he can’t see the monsters that could end his life in the blink of an eye. What if he can’t make those monsters obey him any longer? That’s a troubling thought.
Ronan turns to his rombolo and takes Ollie into his arms. The little girl barely stirs. She rests one rosy cheek against his shoulder while sucking her thumb. My heart melts at the sight. She needs parents who will cherish her and make sure she’s safe, just like Rio does.
“You and the vampire would make a beautiful family,” Castiel says next to me.
I didn’t even see him move. He probably walked the wind, because I’d swear he was already at the gate.
“We’re not together,” I grit out.
“Hmm… you don’t act as if you aren’t.”
The second gate opens, and I don’t have a chance to retort.
A greeting party emerges, and my guess is that they were waiting for the shadowbeasts to be contained.
A regal couple leads the party, and I can say without a doubt that they’re the most beautiful Nightingales I’ve ever seen—and that’s saying a lot, considering how ethereal this race is.
The soldiers and Castiel all bow their heads, clueing me in that they must be Castiel’s parents, the king and queen of the Lynx Kingdom.
The king has teal-colored hair and light blue skin that make me think of a sunny day by the beach.
His wife is his opposite, with dark blue skin and white hair.
If the king is the day, she’s the night.
“My son. It’s good to see you.” The king opens his arms and kisses Castiel on both cheeks.
“Father. It’s good to be home.”
The queen moves closer, looking relieved but also sad. “You’ve found him?”
Castiel swallows hard and nods. He turns toward the iron-barred carriage where Indigo is presently sitting with his knees up and his face hidden from view.
The queen sighs. “Were the rumors true, then?”
Castiel’s face is as hard as rock. “Unfortunately, yes.”
Seeing Lord Indigo in so small a cage makes me pity him.
I know too well how it feels to be shunned by the people who are supposed to be there for you.
I will never forget what my parents did to Karl and me.
But once Lord Indigo lifts his head and stares at his parents and brother with nothing but pure hatred, my heart turns into stone.
His situation isn’t the same as mine. When Karl was left for dead and we sought refuge with the vampires, we didn’t do despicable things to survive.
If Lord Indigo was indeed responsible for all the kidnappings and forced breedings, he doesn’t deserve my pity.
The queen’s lips press into a thin, flat line, and something hardens behind her eyes—like watching a door being bolted from the inside. “How could you?”
Lord Indigo’s lips part slowly, the corners curling upward without crinkling his eyes, revealing teeth too white against the shadow of his face.
“You look at me as if I’m a monster, but I’m not any different than your beloved Castiel.
All I did was procure a few vampires for protection against the monsters he brought back to life. ”
“You didn’t procure vampires,” I grit out. “You stole them from their families, kept them prisoners, and whored them out to Lord Valkor’s disgusting followers.”
Ronan whips his face to mine, burning my cheeks with his intense stare. I didn’t have a chance to tell him much about my ordeal, and thanks to our connection, I know his pulse is accelerated. I also know he wants to rip Lord Indigo’s heart out with his bare hands.
“A small price to pay for their restored health. If it weren’t for me, those younglings wouldn’t even exist.”
I take a step back, holding Rio tighter, as if by doing so, I’m shielding him from the ugly truth of Lord Indigo’s words. If he hadn’t done all the atrocious deeds he’s been accused of, then Ollie and Rio wouldn’t have been born.
“And yet, if your brother hadn’t rescued us, you would have condemned these poor souls to a life of captivity and misery,” Ronan retorts. “You’re no hero.”
Lord Indigo chuckles. “I never claimed to be one. But don’t be fooled—in Ellnesari, heroes don’t exist. Everyone here is a different shade of gray with hidden agendas.”
“Silence!” the king commands. “You’ve soiled the name of our family enough.” He glances at the soldiers manning Lord Indigo’s carriage. “Take him to the dungeons. I don’t want to see his face until the trial.”
Lord Indigo’s expression falls, his aristocratic features collapsing like a sandcastle.
The careful mask of arrogance slips away, revealing the vulnerable male beneath.
I see true fear shining in his eyes—those blue irises now rimmed with white, pupils contracted to pinpoints despite the approaching nightfall.
He doesn’t struggle when the soldiers remove him from his cage—not that he could go far with chains around his ankles, hands, and neck.
We all watch him be taken away, but I feel no satisfaction.
My heart is heavy, and I feel like crying.
I’m homesick, and I never thought I’d miss Salem as much as I do now.
With Lord Indigo gone, the king and queen of Lynx turn their attention to us. “Are you going to introduce your guests to us, my dear?” the queen asks.
“Naturally. This is Cheryl Eriksson and Ronan McLaren. They’re friends of Rikkon’s from the human world.”
I’m surprised that Castiel knows our full names. I know I never told him mine, and I’m not sure Rikkon would have disclosed them either.
“Welcome to the Lynx court,” the king says. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Yes, we wish that too,” Ronan replies.
“Come. There’s much to do before King Ruel arrives.”
Uneasiness takes hold of me. King Ruel is Rikkon’s father. He couldn’t get rid of us fast enough the last time we saw him. I can’t imagine he’ll be happy to see us back in Ellnesari.