Chapter 21
VALEEN
“ G o, Valeen,” Presco said, rolling onto his knees.
“There could be more of them nearby. I can’t leave you.”
“You must make sure Hel stops that man from telling anyone about you and Varlett. That’s more important than me.”
She grabbed under his arm and heaved to help him to his feet. Worry gnawed at her gut, twisting her insides. “No, it’s not. You’re not some disposable piece of trash.”
The roar of a dragon above made every muscle in her body seem to light with fire.
She gripped Zythara and looked up to the breaks in the trees above.
Raindrops burned her eyes, but she spotted the black dragon and a rider.
They dropped in, shaking the ground as they landed.
Onyx scales glistened with water; it was Varlett, then Thane dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch.
He rushed to close the distance between them and immediately took hold of her hand, running his fingertips across her palm where she’d stabbed herself. The scab looked like a little pink scar now. His green eyes lifted to her face. “Are you hurt? Varlett’s hand…”
“I’m alright. I was trying to heal Presco. He went down hard.”
He gave Presco a once over then with an accusatory glare, he said, “What happened?”
“The other dragon had the power of invisibility and caught us off guard. It’s not his fault.
” Valeen stepped away from Presco’s side and started toward the portal.
The moss and mud squashed loudly under their boots.
“But he knows about Varlett and me. Take Presco home. Make sure he gets rest and something to eat.”
Thane stepped along with her. “Where are you going?”
“To stop him before he can spill my secret. Hel went after him.”
“I’ll go.”
“I know you want to keep me safe but?—”
“Val…”
“Thane.” Her eyes softened and she lifted her chin in the direction of the castle. “There could be more of them back there, and what if they found Synick? They need you here. Make sure Katana and the others are safe. I’ll be fine. Hel is there.”
He grimaced at that. It wasn’t how she meant it but saying she didn’t need him anymore because she had Hel clearly hurt his ego… or his heart.
When she arrived at the portal and commanded it to take her to where Hel went, she came out in a small, wooded area with massively tall trees that reminded her of Briar Hollow where she grew up.
The trunks were soft pink unlike the redwoods, but they had similar bark and leaves.
The sun was bright and there wasn’t a gray cloud in the blue sky.
Her clothes still dripped from the rainstorm she just left.
A significant amount of blood was splattered across a fern frond just to the left of the portal. Several broken and flattened vegetation led north too. Her stomach coiled; was it Hel’s blood or the bastard who hurt Presco? She drew Zythara and followed the trail.
Hel, where are you?
No answer. She quickened her pace.
Hel, he can turn invisible. Be careful.
A white butterfly fluttered before her as if leading the way. Peach-colored birds sang in the trees and bushy-tailed squirrels chittered above. The peace was deceiving. All Mother, keep him safe. You gave me back my mate, don’t take him again.
Off the trail ahead, the tips of black boots peeking out from the thick ground foliage dropped her stomach.
Her heart pounded along with her feet as she raced over the dirt trail.
She skidded to a halt, frantically shoving aside the ferns and other vegetation uncovering the body lying beneath.
It was the half dragon… missing his head.
Relief washed through her, and she finally took a deep breath.
“Hel?” she kept her voice low, searching the immediate area.
There could be any number of guards or hunters looking for her in Pricilla’s territory.
She knew it was hers because of the pink-trunked trees and even the grass seemed to have a hint of rose color at the tips. The goddess had an obsession.
If Hel had turned back, she would have run into him. With no other choice, she followed the trail further into Pricilla’s land. Had someone else been here and taken him? Why wouldn’t he have returned to the portal after he killed him?
The trail ahead opened up into a wide, sunny clearing and to a white castle tinted the lightest shade of blush.
A twenty-foot-high wall surrounded it. Sliding between a set of trees, she peeked out, counting the guards on the top.
At least ten in each of the many turrets and several more pacing in between.
With the portals open and enemies like her, Hel, and the god of war, Pricilla no doubt had upped her security.
Hel, where are you? I’m in Pricilla’s territory. I can see her castle, s he hissed into his mind. Could he not hear? Maybe he was back in Adalon. They couldn’t hear each other in different realms.
She scanned the many blooming, pale-pink trees alongside the road that led to the castle and rows of bright fuchsia flowers growing at the base of the wall.
Then you should be able to see me, he finally answered.
Her brows pinched and she shifted to the other side of the tree trunk to search for him again. She noted the guards on the walls had stopped pacing and were looking out.
There.
The breeze picked up and his black cloak waved behind him. He stood maybe a hundred yards from the wall with something in his grasp… a black-bearded head. In the other he held a pike. All Mother have mercy.
He shoved the wooden end of the weapon into the grass and then spiked the head onto the metal tip. “Is this what you wanted?” He shouted. “Is this your best? Keep sending your heirs as sacrificial lambs, Pricilla! There will be a line of heads outside your walls.”
A lady dressed in fuchsia emerged from the shadows of a turret and stared down at him, gripping the edge of the stone. The very same who’d sentenced them.
No one shot at him. No enemy magic sought him out. The eerie silence was interrupted only by a soft rustle of wind fluttering the leaves.
No other mortal would dare stand alone in the wide open before an army who wished him dead. Not even an immortal would do that. Her heart felt like it was lodged in her throat. Her mate was a free target for anyone.
Slowly, she crept out from the cover of trees. If he was brave enough to do that, she could at least stand by his side.
In a cloud of gray smoke, he vanished, then a large, warm hand pressed into her low back. She jumped and turned right into Hel’s arms. “Hel,” she breathed and melted into his chest. “You reckless fool.”
“It’s time to go.” His deep voice penetrated to her very bones, and then they were moving briskly down the path back to the portal. He didn’t push her into a run, nor did he teleport them to get there faster. It was almost as if he was taunting Pricilla to do something.
“That was stupid to stand out in the open,” she snapped, angry that he put himself in danger like that. “Anyone could have taken a shot at you. No, hundreds could have. Shit , thousands. We don’t know how many archers she has, how many dragons she could have sent. We don’t know anything!”
“I’m a little disappointed they didn’t. But that tells me they’re afraid.”
“Did you stop him before he could tell?”
He looked down at her with an arched brow. “His head is outside the wall, not inside it, love.”
Something warm and wet smeared across her palm. She pulled her hand from Hel’s to find it smeared with a deep crimson. “Are you bleeding? Or is it… his?” She quickly checked herself to make sure it wasn’t hers somehow.
“A bit of both, no doubt.” His cheeks were flushed a light pink, and sweat glistened on his brow but otherwise he appeared normal.
His black cloak could easily hide an injury though.
The stone portal surrounded by bright pink and white peonies and a waist-height picket fence came into view.
“You first.” He gestured as it hummed to life.
She pressed her hand against the iridescent white and pink marble stone and silently told it where to send her.
A moment later she stood in the quiet unnamed forest and whirled on Hel. The swirling pool snapped shut behind him. “Let me look at you.”
“I’m fine. I can heal myself, remember?”
“He hurt you? Where?”
“He nicked me,” Hel drawled, and strutted past her. “The bastard was fast and invisible. I just so happen to be able to be those things too.”
She quickly matched his long strides, though she had to take twice as many steps to keep up. “We need to take care of this Varlett problem.”
“Oh, I’m well aware of that. I’m going to gut that bitch as soon as I get the chance, but for now, she and I are going to have a little chat.”
“She’ll probably enjoy getting a rise out of you knowing you can’t do anything about it. We should spend our time looking for a way to break the link, not arguing with her.”
He took her hand and pulled her into him.
Dark-red eyes, so dark they were almost black seemed to penetrate her thoughts.
Maybe he was sliding into her mind. She was wide open to him.
He pressed his forehead to hers and let out a long breath.
“I shouldn’t have left you,” he said softly. “I’m sorry.”
She laid her head against his chest and listened to the steady drum drum drum of his heart. “There is nothing to apologize for. I’m fine.”
He slid his hand up her neck and into the back of her hair. The feel of his fingers gliding along her skin raised goosebumps. “It was too close. That scared me. Gods, you terrify me.”
“ I terrify you?” she asked, puzzled.
“Yes. You’re as strong as the ancient mountains and as delicate as a flower.
You could destroy an army if you wanted but it would only take one little dagger in the right spot to lose you.
So yes, you terrify me, Valeen.” His fingers caressed along her spine.
“After today’s events I won’t be leaving your side for a while. ”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t need a bodyguard anymore.”
“It’s not that I think you’re incapable, Val, but do you agree you’re safer with me?”
“Well, yes, but?—”
“Just ‘yes’.” He brought her knuckles to his lips.
She pulled her hand out of his grasp and started walking. “You know I don’t like to be told what to do.”
“Which is exactly why I said I wouldn’t be leaving your side, not that you wouldn’t be leaving mine.”
She glared over at him. He stared back. Remember when I threw you over my shoulder and put you in your room? he said.
Don’t even think about trying that again.
He slowly smiled, then laughed. “You should see the look on your face right now.”
“I swear to the All Mother, Hel. I will?—”
“Run? You know I like hide and seek,” he winked.
“I will beat your ass.”
“If that’s what turns you on.” He shrugged and slipped his arm around her shoulders. She elbowed him in the side. He winced and sucked in a sharp breath then coughed trying to cover it up.
“I thought you healed yourself?” she didn’t nudge him hard enough to hurt.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed his cloak and pulled him to a stop. His thick leather vest made it impossible to lift his shirt, so she started with the top buttons.
“I didn’t know you were so eager to get me naked.”
“Shhh.”
“Fine, fine, your majesty.”
Once the vest was open, she pulled his tucked undershirt from his pants and pushed it up. The left side of his ribcage was dark-purple from his armpit to nearly his hip bone. Her stomach sank. “Hel, what is this?”
“He hit really fucking hard.”
“And? I stabbed you and you healed in seconds.”
“Like I said, I’ll be fine.” He took a step back and tucked his shirt back in. He started on the buttons of his vest and briefly met her gaze. His eyes were too dark. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“You need my blood again, don’t you?”
Why hadn’t she noticed before that the tremors in his hands were back? He finished buttoning his vest and quickly pulled a civar out of the air and put it to his lips. “No, but I could use a sponge bath.” He raised his bloody palms to her. “I’m filthy. If you’re willing.”
“Hel, don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.”
“It’s been weeks since you had my blood in Presco’s apartment.”
“A night I won’t soon forget. Your moans are music to my ears.” The smoke rolled from his mouth into a heavy cloud until it drifted away on the breeze.
She pulled a knife from her belt and his hand flashed out, grabbing her wrist. “We’re not doing that.”
“Yes, we are.”
“If,” he said, holding up a finger, “we do that again, it won’t be here or now. We need to be somewhere safe, where I can enjoy tasting you.” His gaze trailed down to her collarbone and to the cleavage peeking out from her shirt. “And like I said, I need a bath.”