14. Chapter 14
T he view before me went unnoticed as I stood on the granite walls of the fortress. The harsh mountain wind tugged at my dress, wrapping it tight around my legs. I wish I’d gone to see Vahin the moment I woke up instead of listening to Orm and staying in bed.
That damn man had used my recovery to fly to the mines without me. I knew why he’d done it, but being away from my Anchor felt wrong . Besides, I had proved I could help with the Vel when I had dispatched that swarm of spectrae.
Why couldn’t he have waited for a few more hours?
He’d need to explain himself because I didn’t intend to let this go. Especially since, in his absence, I wasn’t sure what I should do. I’d spent the last few days aimlessly wandering around, with occasional visits to the town with Alaric as my only company.
‘Are you feeling restless again, Ani?’ I hadn’t heard him approaching, but Alaric appeared by my side, seemingly out of nowhere. As a warm cloak landed on my shoulders, I turned my head to the side to smile at the dark fae.
After our rocky start, he had done his best to keep me entertained; but with Ormond and Tomma gone, he was left in charge—and the local population was giving him enough trouble to take up most of his time.
‘A little. I tried to read the book you showed me, but I’m desperate for a break and needed to feel the wind on my face.’
Alaric had explained the situation the second I had noticed Orm’s absence. Just before the commander came to Zalesie, the court had sent a letter and a group of miners, finally granting his request to reopen the old dwarven adit. However, he was only given a week to ensure the mine was viable and that the men were safe there. If the place was not secure in time—or empty of crystals—the workers had to return to the capital.
Orm had sent a contingent of soldiers to escort the miners and ordered the search for a replacement crystal within moments. Unfortunately, he’d received reports of an incident so had left to investigate at the first opportunity. The wounded soldiers sent back to the fortress had told Alaric that the search had been unsuccessful thus far, and constant fights with Vel demons had delayed the operation.
I tried to make myself useful, helping Alaric, ignoring how awkward it felt without Orm’s presence. My days were consumed with researching how to link magical artefacts. And in the evenings, I would put aside my worries and enjoyed the dark fae’s company.
Except for that one time in the bath, Alaric hadn’t mention Anchoring me, and I was grateful for that small mercy. I was even more grateful when he explained his other idea to me, and we focused on something he called the ‘tethering glyph.’
It was still a work in progress, but—in theory—it could replicate the Anchor bond. As a conduit, I could help by describing how the flow of aether was influenced when Alaric experimented with the lines of the sigil or the wording of the tethering spell.
There was a problem, though. The glyph was meant to be created with high magic, and not just any form of high magic—the highest order of descriptive magic; and even during my university days I hadn’t come close to understanding the subject.
Alaric could do something similar with the blood sacrifice of the Foul Order, but it would only allow him to draw from me, and the one-sided link didn’t fit our purpose. To say I disliked the idea of attempting to learn such a complex topic at my age was an understatement.
Once, when I’d thought I’d grasped the concept and had added my own lines to the construct, something in the drawing changed, and the next thing I knew, I had been zapped by a string of red aether so hard it had thrown me against the opposite wall. Dazed and angry, I had cursed up a storm while a laughing Alaric healed my scrapes. ‘Calm down, my lovely apprentice. There’s a learning curve, for both of us,’ he’d said with a laugh.
I smiled at my reminiscence before I heard him say, ‘If you need a break, then you shall have a break. Still, standing here won’t make them return any sooner.’ A gust of wind raised dust from the floor. I blew out a breath, squeezing my eyes, and Alaric stepped in front of me, sheltering me with his body. ‘Don’t worry, Ani, Orm always returns. It doesn’t matter how difficult the situation is; he will prevail.’
‘You’re assuming I miss Ormond, but the one I’m waiting for is Vahin,’ I retorted, raising my head, unwilling to admit I was waiting for them both, only to see that all-knowing smirk again.
‘Of course, Ani, if you say so. How about we go to the waterfall, and you can miss the dragon there? Or we can return to the library—but instead of studying, I could read something for you. I’ve noticed several books about star-crossed lovers in there … We could even recreate some of the more interesting scenes.’
Here we go again, I thought. During these few days in his company, I had learned that Alaric’s mood was often unpredictable—fluctuating from serious to mischievous, from brooding to outright seductive. I never knew where I stood, but I could say I’d never been bored.
Alaric knew that the library had become my favourite place. If I’d known Varta Fortress held such a wealth of knowledge and ancient texts, I would have hiked up here years ago. That was why he proposed it now, while we stood overlooking the breathtaking landscape. Of course, I couldn’t let his teasing go unanswered.
‘Recreate … really ?’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Unless you mean the scenes where the hero dies a tragic death and the heroine becomes the sole queen of the kingdom?’
My companion threw his head back and laughed. ‘Well, I would prefer scenes where the hero loses himself between her thighs, but I can play an incredibly good-looking corpse if you desire.’ I sighed, pretending to be offended by the suggestion.
‘I don’t want to go to the library, but if you are up for a walk, we can go to town,’ I suggested, and he nodded, extending his arm. I rested my hand on it, and as we strolled down the weathered steps, I asked the question that had plagued me the last few days. ‘I know it’s not my place to ask, but the servants’ gossip, and with me still sleeping in Orm’s bedroom, I just have to know for sure.’
‘Let me guess. Someone told you I’m Orm’s lover.’
‘Well, yes. So … are you?’
‘No. I’m his friend, and we are close, but not that close; and even if we were, it wouldn’t cause any issues. What do you know about the dark fae?’ he probed, and I shrugged.
‘Next to nothing. Your race isn’t exactly open to sharing knowledge or welcoming visitors, and since the Necromancer’s War, diplomatic relations between our kingdom and yours have been … well, strained would be underplaying the situation.’
‘Indeed. Then let me tell you why I’d be comfortable sharing a woman with him if we were together. Dark fae women—our dominae , as we call them—are rare and precious, and they rule our society. They choose who they mate with, and that includes how many at any given time. Dark fae males like to serve their lady, and the more powerful the woman is, the more elevated the status of the male; but just as the king in your country needs more than one guard or advisor, dark fae females need more consorts. We like to share, and sometimes bond not only with our females but with each other.’
‘You mean, like … intimately?’ I asked, trying to calm my racing heart and the unexpected flood of yearning.
‘Yes, although it doesn’t happen often; but the households in which that harmony is achieved are envied by the rest of dark fae society. My father couldn’t stand the power women have, so he chose a human mage for himself—and was considered an abomination for it.’
I felt my cheeks warm as I recalled my past and how I had chosen my Anchors. Cautiously, I broached the subject that had caused Tal and Arno no end of difficulty. ‘But Orm isn’t a woman or a dark fae.’ Alaric laughed.
‘He certainly isn’t, but one day, he will choose his mate; and if we were together, I would most likely share him with her—well, if they didn’t mind. I would enjoy it, Annika, having a family like that, having people I could trust.’ The last words were said quietly and with strange vulnerability.
The moment passed, his usual mask slipping back on, and a casual mischief replaced the longing I had glimpsed in his eyes. ‘Still, if you’re worried, why not move to my room?’ he added, biting his lip when my eyes widened at such innuendo.
‘Will you stop this endless flirting? All you’d get from me visiting your room is a critique of the décor,’ I said, because we’d entered the town square. ‘It will be better for everyone if you don’t see me as a woman you could both enjoy.’
‘I know, but you are mistaken. I see you as a woman who could enjoy us both … not the other way around,’ he asserted before placing his hand on mine.
‘Ani, when—or rather, if—our miners find a replacement for the keystone, I will ask you once again to consider Anchoring me. Even if we succeed with the glyph, it may still be needed in order to draw enough power for the spell to work. I know you’re drawn to Orm. I just want you to know that bonding with me doesn’t mean you would need to choose.’ Alaric didn’t bother to lower his voice, and I saw the curious stares of the citizens as we passed, noting the gleeful look in his eyes as he tested my patience.
‘But it would be …’
‘A sacrifice, I know. I’m dark fae, after all. Mages wouldn’t want the taint of my power touching them.’ His tight, crooked smile exposed his feelings. I saw the flicker of pain that flashed in his eyes before he smirked. ‘Still, I can guarantee our intimacy would leave you asking for more. My kind know all the sweet and perverted ways to please their women.’
‘What? Gods! You are a menace, a bloody menace,’ I snapped, and he laughed. ‘You asked about dark fae customs. I just wanted you to know about our hidden skills. It is your decision what you do with that knowledge.’ He said.
‘Oh, really? I’ll tell you what I’m going to do: I’m going to go to the tavern and drink enough mead to scrub what you just said from my mind. How does that sound? Yeah, you know what? That’s the best idea I’ve had all day.’ I headed for the second-best place in the fortress as Alaric strolled behind me.
‘Splendid, give me a tankard of wine, and I will tell you about our mating. It is quite spectacular, unless you’re repulsed by blood,’ Ari teased, and I shook my head in disbelief.
I’ll give him a tankard, or even several, just to shut him up.
He enjoyed goading me far too much.
We returned to the castle late; at least, I did—Alaric had to be carried back by two soldiers. Much to my amusement, his capacity for holding his liquor didn’t match his boastful attitude. However, the dark fae was interesting and entertaining while drunk, even if I occasionally caught him looking at me as if he saw something precious but out of his reach.
I couldn’t remember a time I’d laughed so much. My good mood, though, was washed away when an irate Agnes complained about my unladylike manners as I headed straight to bed. It seemed I would never be able to live up to my maid’s expectations.
I hoped the copious amount of alcohol I had ingested would bring me some peace and not another unsettling night. I still didn’t know how Vahin had been affected by our rushed and traumatic bonding, and I desperately wanted to talk to him.
All I knew was that the pain of losing my Anchors had eased, and I guiltily realised that for the past few days, I’d barely thought about Tal and Arno. Their marks had disappeared from my chest, replaced by a striking dragon.
That itself didn’t bother me, but their faces fading from my memories and our love fading into a bittersweet ache did. I didn’t want to lose them to the distance of time, yet those overwhelming emotions I’d held close all these years now seemed to be replaced by a welcoming, diffuse sadness. Like time had finally healed my festering wound.
Despite my worries, I slept like the dead until a presence in my dreams called me back to awareness, and I heard a quiet growl that made me shiver. I realised I was holding Orm’s pillow, and I clutched it to my chest even though his scent had long since faded, replaced by the smell of verbena.
The flowers filled a vase beside me, and the light of the dying flames in the fireplace lit the source of the noise. A man was sprawled on the chaise lounge, snoring lightly. I recognised the commander by the unruly hair hanging over the headrest, and I knew he would regret sleeping there later.
A tugging sensation in my chest diverted my attention from him. The presence that had—I now realised—woken me, pulsated and called for me. Vahin was here, too. He was unsettled, and in his distress, was calling for me. Murmuring a quiet spell, I attuned my eyes to the darkness, the translucent glow of swirling aether lighting my surroundings.
The chill floor made me gasp when my feet touched the stones. I wore only a nightgown, and I grabbed a woollen blanket from the end of the bed, wrapping it around my shoulders, clutching the quilted duvet with my other hand before going to where the pull led me.
I briefly stopped in front of Orm. I shouldn’t have missed him, but I had. With sleep easing the constant frown, his face looked so peaceful, softened by the flames in the fireplace. I reached out, stroking his cheek ever so slightly, resisting the urge to trail my finger along his lips.
He was a handsome man—and a kind one, despite his rough exterior. I wished I’d gone with him to the mines. I’d felt the call of the hunt burning inside me for some time, and it would have been the perfect opportunity. I was going to grill him to find out what happened during his investigation, but that could wait until tomorrow.
I carefully placed the quilt around him. ‘Shh … rest,’ I whispered, freezing when he murmured in his sleep, but when he didn’t wake, I left.
I wish I hadn’t given Agnes my boots to clean because now they were nowhere to be seen. I trembled each time my bare feet touched the polished stones of the corridor, but I kept walking, unable to resist the call of my Anchor. Endless dark passages lit by aether and the occasional torch led me down through the castle. With each step, the pull grew stronger, as if I was approaching the end of my journey.
Finally, I stood in front of a staircase. The steps disappeared into the darkness, looking more like a bottomless pit than an ordinary spiral stairwell, but I knew I had to go down. With a moment’s concentration, I conjured the pulsar light that swirled around and washed down into the depths, lighting my way, and I took that first difficult step, smiling when nothing grabbed me as I kept going.
The steps were so slippery that it had taken forever to get to the bottom. Now, in the belly of the beast, I couldn’t help smiling as the familiar pattern of Vahin’s scales moved before me. The dragon’s enormous head turned in my direction, and nothing could stop me from jumping forward and embracing him.
‘Vahin,’ I whispered, fighting back tears. My cheek rested next to his, and I breathed in the heavy metallic scent of his body. I knew that touching him would make me feel complete. Gods, it felt so good to be around him.
‘Hello, Little Flame. What are you doing here in the middle of the night? And how did you sneak past Orm? He was so frantic to see you.’ The deep voice, soft and rich like molasses, with a slight hiss that prolonged the last vowels, rumbled in the air.
‘I could feel your need, a pull on my soul. You called me,’ I said, feeling awestruck at hearing Vahin speak.
‘My dreams … they … I’m sorry, but the aether currents are strong tonight. It always sets me on edge.’ His vertical pupil narrowed, gazing at my feet. ‘You came here barefoot? You are shivering, come here.’ The commanding tone of his voice had me stepping closer until, with a gentle nudge from his snout, Vahin pushed me towards his leg. Then, with another, less gentle push, the dragon encouraged me to climb up.
‘It’s lucky you’re so beautiful,’ I mumbled, following his command.
‘Agnes took my boots to clean, and I wanted to see you,’ I said a little louder, nestling against his warm body. ‘Vahin, I’m sorry I made you my Anchor in such dire circumstances. I didn’t even ask whether you wanted to be bonded to me. Alaric said it was a punishing night because I refused to let you in. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.’
I sighed with guilty pleasure as my feet warmed up. Vahin’s body felt like a polished rock heated by the sun, and I promptly snuggled in, trying to absorb as much warmth as possible. He watched me, and I felt his amusement radiating through the thought bond.
‘Don’t apologise. It was harder for you than it was for me. Plus, I’m delighted, Little Flame. The world is so much brighter with the light of your soul within mine. Would you like me to cover you?’ he asked, but before I could answer, my body was sheltered beneath the soft membrane of his wing. I shifted a little to get more comfortable before peeking over to look back at the dragon.
‘I was worried. Our bond shouldn’t have happened like that, but I didn’t have a choice. I’m so sorry I took away your decision.’ A deep rumble shook me and my snug perch.
‘Why do you think I regret it, Little Flame? I should thank you for bringing my voice back. For awakening the part of me I’d forgotten existed. You brought me back from my slumber, and I forbid you to ever apologise for it.’
I was confused, but Vahin seemed to be overjoyed at becoming my Anchor, so out of sheer curiosity I asked, ‘What do you mean by “awakening?”’
‘You gave a beast back his personality, his identity. Dragons live for millennia. I’ve seen many races rise and fall. I have witnessed the advancement of humanity. I’ve carried countless riders and have lost them all; one after another, they’ve passed through the streams of time. It is easier to be a beast—to not think, not remember. To only feel a little and soar through a sky where time doesn’t exist. When a rider dies, their dragon feels it all, and it breaks our hearts every single time. So we hide. We let our minds slumber and give control to the men on our backs, almost as if we were nothing more than winged horses. You touched the part of my soul that lay asleep for centuries, and it feels good to see the world in all its glory again.’
What Vahin said was surprising but made perfect sense. When I lost my Anchors, it almost killed me, and for years, I’d lived on as an empty shell. Now, it felt like a faded nightmare, most likely thanks to this wonderful being becoming my Anchor.
Had I, too, tried to hide all these years? Did bonding with Vahin finally bring me back to life? He must have lost untold riders. I could understand why he preferred not to feel or think.
I stroked the skin of Vahin’s wing, trying to comfort both him and myself. I needed to touch him, and I knew that no matter what, I would not sleep alone tonight. ‘I’m glad that I could help,’ I murmured, and his body rumbled again.
‘And I’m glad that I could help you. Now rest. I’m not letting you return barefoot and shivering—Orm would rip my scales off.’
Now, it was my turn to laugh, but I nodded sheepishly.
‘Pfft, no one could move me from here. I’m sleeping with you, and I don’t care what anyone thinks. For the record, I can’t believe the spectacular Vahin would ever tremble before the human commander,’ I teased, and the dragon laughed.
‘Wait until you see him angry; then you can make fun,’ he retorted, and I buried myself under his massive wing.
‘Do you know what happened after I Anchored you?’ I asked quietly.
‘No, all I know is that I was exhausted after the spectrae attack—so much so I couldn’t communicate with you, even when I felt some part of you rejecting my presence,’ he offered with a quiet rumble. ‘I felt my fire burning through your body, and I could do nothing to help. I was afraid, Little Flame. I was afraid for us both.’
‘I’m sorry.’ I whispered.
‘It’s all in the past now. I have you, and you will never lose me. I will give you my all—my fire, my magic, and my life. Just stay with me. I don’t want to dwell in the dark again.’
I had so many questions, but more importantly, I just wanted to be with him. Even if I had Anchored him in an unorthodox way, I felt like he was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Conduit mages choose their Anchors carefully, knowing that they would possess a part of their soul. One touch of Vahin’s spirit, and I knew I’d happily give him it all.
He was mine, and I belonged to him: my mighty, scaled guardian, the one who called to me in his dreams.