CHAPTER THREE
THE ECHOING OF TALYN'S CELL door lingers in my ears as I stare at the entrance to the dungeon.
The fear I feel for him is nauseating. What he described was the Soul Stone.
If the Soul Stone is manipulating his mind to do his fathers bidding, does that mean Craven is doing it to the others too? To the Dragons?
“Fuck, breathe Ravina,” Killian growls, dropping to his knees in front of me, making him almost my height.
“We will figure it out and get him safe. Aemon’s going to come talk to him in the morning, but it’s been a long, hard flight and you need rest. You’re exhausted, Little Warrior,” he rumbles.
He’s not touching me, but he’s close enough that the heat radiating off his body makes me want to sink into his hold and soak up his comfort.
I suck in a breath. “Can I hug you?” He nods, and his touch is exactly what I need right now, but I know this is all he’s willing to give me, so I’ll take it. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, I just—”
“You needed to see your asshole mate with your own eyes.”
I nod against his shoulder and whisper the thought that I fear might be true. “I think his father used the Soul Stone on him.”
He squeezes me tightly. “Fuck. We should go tell the others.” He lets me go and then rises back to his towering height.
Taking a deep breath, I nod before squaring my shoulders and composing myself.
I haven’t felt like myself since everything that happened at the cabin.
I haven’t wanted to speak about it, either.
My friends and I have been taking comfort in each other whenever we weren’t riding our beasts.
Either that, or I was curled up with Jesper or Aemon, letting them comfort me.
The only place I feel okay with being vulnerable is in their arms. They make it feel okay to not have to be strong every second of the day, but even so, we haven’t talked about the guest who is now staying here, recovering.
And I haven’t asked. I don’t even think it’s real.
I know I’m going to have to face her sooner rather than later, but I thought she was dead, and I have so many questions.
The sounds of our soft breaths and boots against the stone steps leading back up into the main part of the castle is oddly comforting.
Killian has always been my quiet comfort—someone I can lean on without having to talk things out.
The fact that he is still like that after all these years clicks another piece of normalcy into place—even if my ‘normal’ now is missing a key part of my family.
I remember losing Gretchen when I was younger.
The grief of being alone was almost unbearable.
This time feels different because I’m not alone; in fact, this is the least I’ve been alone in my entire life—but sometimes it feels like I’m in a bubble, and I can hear people talking but it’s like I can’t make out the words.
Just as we reach the top of the stairs Killian collapses. “Jesper! You fucking mangey beast, knock it off!” he bellows as he flails around on the floor as if he’s falling.
Jesper’s laughter peels out of him as he clutches his belly. “Just keeping you on your toes. I can’t have my Queen’s protector neglecting his duties. I think you need to be a bit more vigilant. Think of this as Jesper’s Training one-oh-one.”
A small laugh leaves my lips as I reach into my well of magick and cancel out Jesper’s illusion.
“Thank you, oh kind sir,” I tease. “But I fear that your training is unnecessary. I think I’m more than capable of protecting myself.
” It takes me a second to realize I think that is the first joke I’ve made since everything happened.
Jesp has been trying his damndest to make me laugh and the absurdity of this finally did it. His eyes light up as he pushes past Killian, almost knocking my poor male back over as he rushes towards me.
He picks me up and spins me around. “There’s my Little Beastie.” His lips brush mine, a promise for later. His voice turns grave, soft even. “I came to find you. Aemon has arranged everything for the funerals. Pyres are down on the beach.”
My heart clenches. I knew this was the plan but we haven’t even been back an hour. My mate must have been arranging everything while he’s been blinking back and forth. He has to be exhausted. I need to make sure he rests.
“Hey now,” Jesper whispers, holding me close. “I can see those gears turning out of control in that brilliant little mind of yours. One thing at a time, right?”
I blow out a breath. “Right.” One step at a time.
Jesper takes my hand and Killian remains vigilant at my back as we make our way down to the beach.
As we step outside the sun is shining, and the weather seems far too happy for what’s about to happen.
Mel would have loved it though—she always wanted to be out in the sun.
My fingers tense around Jesper’s hand and he squeezes mine back. One step at a time.
As we get closer to the beach I see three pyres set up.
Mel, Millie and Skylark—Mel’s gryphon. After we blinked back to the encampment, we noticed that Skylark was struggling to breathe, move and eat, and the gryphon passed from a broken bond later that evening.
I won’t ever forget the mourning cries of Lennox and his gryphon.
The moment Ember sees us she comes running over, her black bob wind-tousled as she tries to keep the loose strands out of her face. “How did it go?” she asks, and I know she means Talyn.
I shake my head. “It’s probably something we should all talk about later.”
Her eyes fill with worry but her face stays as stoic as most Vopn Fo I know.
When I’m close enough I give Jesper’s hand one last squeeze before moving to Lennox, wrapping him in a tight hug. “How are you holding up? Is there anything I can do?”
He shakes his head, squeezing me hard back.
“I just really fucking miss her. You know how we grew up in separate households?” I nod.
“We hated it, we constantly snuck out to go explore or practice magick. Our parents only allowed us to visit once a week for an hour, or until they got sick of being in each other’s company.
Even then we always found a way to see each other, and now no matter how much I try…
I’ll never see her again,” his whispering voice croaks as he chokes on silent sobs.
Roz and Ember each lay a hand on him for support as I rub his back. “You will see her again. Maybe not for a long time, but I have a strong feeling death isn’t the end after our time in this realm. She’s just waiting for you to go on your next adventure together.”
I pull away and reach up to wipe his tears, giving him a watery smile of my own. “Shall we say our goodbyes?” The words barely leave my mouth because no one ever wants to say goodbye to the fae we love, but I know that this is the first step in healing.
Aemon clears his throat softly from behind me and I turn to go to him until he speaks into my mind. “Stay with your friends. They will need you.”
I dip my chin and step into Lennox’s side and Ember joins me as we grieve together.
The ground shakes as our dragons land behind us and Nero takes his place on my shoulder. I take a steady breath as I take comfort in my bonds, both beast and fae. My chosen family.
Aemon stands in front of the pyres looking grim.
His white hair is stark against the darkened wood as he begins to speak.
“Today we come together not to be saddened by death, but to celebrate the life of those we lost. It’s a great tragedy that these lives were taken from us far too soon, but the Fates always have a plan.
And these three must have completed the plan laid out for them to be called home so soon.
” He pauses, his gaze meeting each of us before he continues.
“Mel was a kind and gentle soul who could wield her magick as fiercely as any seasoned warrior. Her sunny personality could always brighten up a room, and her friends and brother loved her dearly. Skylark, her fearsome gryphon, loved her bonded rider so much and she will continue to protect her in the afterlife. Apart from these two, I have never seen a gryphon not bite their riders for plucking out feathers. Their bond was unmatched.” A few sobbed chuckles quietly carry away with the gentle brush of the wind.
Mel was bad for accidentally plucking Skylark while training—something Lennox always teased her about—yet the beast had the patience to never snap at her.
“And Millie. I may not have known you personally other than in passing moments, and I know Talyn wishes he could be here to say goodbye. From the stories I have heard, you were always there for him when we weren’t, whether that be caring for him, feeding him, loving him or saving him from his own bloodline. You will have a warrior’s honor.”
My heart feels torn to shreds. Talyn should be here for this, but he refuses to leave his self-imposed shackles. So even though we aren’t bonded, he is still my mate and I will stand in for him.
Aemon passes Lennox, Roz and myself a torch and we slowly move towards the dragons.
When I reach Vasari, I glance up at her, meeting her serpentine eyes.
“Would you do me the honor of lighting my torch?” I know we could use our own flames, but something feels right about including the dragons, something we talked about on the way here.
We are all family in the chosen kind of way, and Lennox agreed. His sister would want them included.
“I would be honored, Lost One.”
I hold the torch high above my head and she lets out a small stream of flame, just enough to catch it alight. Then one by one, we make our way over to the pyres and we each whisper our final words.
“Thank you Millie. Thank you for caring for Talyn when I couldn’t. I will save him, this I promise.” And then I set the pyre on fire and watch as the flames set our friends’ souls free, and a familiar warmth fills my body like a mothers hug.