Chapter 14
GIDEON
I scowl at the highborn fae males, comrades of mine from the Winter Court army.
One is a fellow commander, and the others are aerial scouts and soldiers.
They vanish their wings in a series of flashes and approach the protective ward, a few curious glances passing between them.
Clearly, they weren’t expecting to find this cave occupied.
After giving Isabel a reassuring look and sending her a wave of affection, I rise to my feet and face the males.
I step through the protective ward and give Commander Gray a nod in greeting.
“Commander Ashvale!” he calls with a grin. “What a pleasant surprise.” His eyes briefly dart to Isabel, and I immediately tense.
Baring my teeth, I emit a warning growl as I stare at Commander Gray.
Still growling, I peer at the other males, making sure to meet their eyes.
All but Commander Gray lower their heads in a show of understanding.
They know Isabel isn’t to be touched. They know that if they even look at her, I will end them.
“What brings you to these parts, Commander Gray?” I finally ask, and I’m relieved that he’s no longer peering at Isabel. If he dares to glance at her again, I will plunge a sword deep into his gut, commander or not.
“We’ve been tracking some soldiers that escaped Braemar during the battle. As you can see,” he says with a gesture at his bloodied clothes, “we finally found them.”
I sense Isabel’s horror, as well as her unease in the soldiers’ presence. And not for the first time, I wonder how I can bring her with me as I continue to serve in the Winter Court army. What atrocities might she witness? What violence might she be exposed to? I suppress a growl.
“Well done,” I finally say. “Am I correct in assuming you wish to make use of the bathing alcoves and spend the night in this cave?”
Commander Gray grins, revealing his sharp, blood-stained teeth. When I sense Isabel’s shock through the bond, I send her another wave of affection, but I know it doesn’t help much. She’s trembling with fear.
“Yes,” the commander says. “If it’s not an imposition, we would like to stay the night.” He grins again. “Don’t worry, we promise not to bother your pleasure slave.”
“She’s my mate,” I announce. “And if any of you so much as glance her way, let alone walk near her, I won’t hesitate to kill you.
In case you have forgotten, I’ve killed other highborn fae males before…
with ease.” I’m referring to the time the former general of the Winter Court army challenged King Theron.
While the king took care of the general, I dealt with the three commanders who’d dared to follow his plot.
Thankfully, the threat causes all five males to lower their heads, even Commander Gray.
“We will abide by your rules, Commander Ashvale. Now, if you wouldn’t mind allowing us through the barrier…” He clears his throat and nods toward the line of frost on the ground.
“Very well,” I say.
I walk through the ward and pause to stand next to Isabel. She’s still seated on the bedroll, shielding herself with a fur blanket, pale faced and trembling. I continually send her waves of affection, but it does little to calm her fears.
I hold my hand out and reshape the protective ward.
The line of frost on the floor of the cave shifts, eventually forming a circle around the fire where I stand next to Isabel.
The soldiers will be able to pass into the cave, use the bathing alcoves, and find somewhere to sleep, but they won’t be able to approach my mate.
Not that I believe they would try to hurt her—I sense their fear of me and doubt they would risk incurring my wrath—but when it comes to my little moth, I will not take any risks.
The five fae males stare straight ahead, not glancing our way once, as they walk to the narrow passageway that leads to the bathing alcoves. I release a deep sigh when they’re finally out of sight.
I sink down next to Isabel and take her in my arms.
“It’s all right,” I murmur into her ear.
She’s quiet for a while, and I have a difficult time reading her thoughts.
It’s as though she’s trying to block me.
Or perhaps the appearance of the blood-covered Winter Court soldiers has just reminded her of the violence I’ve committed against her people, causing the budding intimacy between us to suddenly grow cold and dark.
“I can’t hear your thoughts,” I say gently, my worry for her deepening. Perhaps we should get dressed, pack up our things, and find another place to sleep tonight.
“I can hear your thoughts just fine,” she whispers.
“And to answer your unspoken question, no, we don’t need to leave.
You didn’t get any sleep last night, and I would hate to make you fly through the night looking for another place where we might find shelter.
” She glances at the line of frost. “If you’re certain the protective ward will remain in place, I am fine with staying.
I just… it was a shock to see them covered in blood.
And the commander with blood on his teeth. ..” Her voice trails off.
I tighten my hold on her and press a kiss to the crown of her head, soaking up her lilac scent. Eventually, she starts to relax in my arms. Still, I keep sending her waves of warmth, wanting to reassure her of my steadfast devotion.
My sweet mate, I send down the tether, thankful that she can still hear my thoughts. My little moth. I’m sorry the sight of the blood-covered soldiers has left you shaken. If I’d known they would come here tonight, I would have selected another cave or perhaps taken you to an inn.
“I know,” she whispers. “But if I’m to live among your people, you won’t be able to shield me from the atrocities of battle forever.”
I think of Frostfall. If I were a decent male, I would take her there and leave her under the protection of my brother.
Surely Lachlan’s mate, Maelissa, would show her some kindness and make her feel at home.
Then, after my time in the Winter Court army came to an end, when my skills were no longer required to help keep the humans and orcs properly subdued, I would return for her.
When she gasps, I know she’s heard my most recent thoughts.
And at last, I can finally sense her presence in my mind.
She’s filled with despair, yet she’s trying to push it away.
But the cause of her despair isn’t what I might have guessed.
She’s not upset over the prospect of staying at my side and possibly witnessing violence against her people.
Instead, she’s upset over the prospect of being parted from me.
Cautious hope rises within me.
She doesn’t want to leave my side.
She knows what I am, and she sees me as an enemy of her people, yet she despairs over the idea of us parting ways, even temporarily.
Her conflicted thoughts continue to fill my head.
I shouldn’t want this, she thinks. I should want to run away from him.
I should beg him to leave me in Frostfall, and then maybe it would be easier to escape him.
Why does it feel like my heart is being ripped out? Gods, I don’t want these… feelings.
The voices and bawdy laughter of the fae soldiers reach us, as well as the sound of running water, a reminder that we aren’t alone.
They’ll return to this part of the cave soon to sleep, but even though they won’t be able to set foot within the perimeter of the protective ward, I can’t bear the thought of her being uncomfortable, even for just one night.
I press a kiss to her forehead, then I pull apart from her and rise to my feet. I will be right back, Isabel, I tell her.
Where are you going? she asks.
I am the highest-ranked commander in the Winter Court army, and it is within my power to make them leave, I send down the bond. Then I spin on my heel and head for the bathing alcoves, a plan solidifying in my mind.
I reach the back corridor just as Commander Gray emerges from one of the alcoves, his hair wet, all the blood washed from his body and scrubbed from his clothes.
When he smiles at me, his teeth are no longer red.
Only the glint of bloodlust that remains in his eyes reveals that he recently fought in a battle.
“Commander Gray, I have a task for the five of you, one that I’m afraid is quite urgent.”
He inclines his head briefly. “How might we be of service?”
“I’ve been in regular contact with King Theron, and in his last letter, he mentioned that he’s heard reports of possible fighting southwest of Braemar.
Aerial scouts have reported several human and orc villages burned to the ground.
We suspect the Autumn Court army might be moving closer, and we would like to verify their location.
I am ordering you and the soldiers under your command to locate the Autumn Court army and report your findings to King Theron as soon as possible,” I say in a voice loud enough that I’m certain the other soldiers can hear.
Commander Gray’s eyes spark with the satisfaction of a challenge, a task that will allow him to report directly to the king. As power hungry as he is, I don’t doubt that he’ll execute my orders to the best of his abilities.
“I understand,” he finally says, standing taller.
“Very good. I must insist that you leave immediately. Though we aren’t at war with the Autumn Court, we still don’t wish to cross paths with them.
Not when ussha is still spreading and our main focus is on protecting our people as they migrate into human and orc lands.
Do you possess the magic to summon messenger birds? ”
“Of course, we will depart immediately, and yes, I have the ability to summon messenger birds.”
“Excellent. I expect you to send daily reports about your progress to King Theron.”
“Consider it done.” He offers me a deep nod, and I’m relieved that he doesn’t seem suspicious about my order.
But the truth is, it would be helpful to learn the location of the Autumn Court army.
Just as ussha began spreading into human and orc lands, the kings of each court agreed that the four armies should remain spread across the realm.
The more spread out the armies, the better protected the new fae settlements will be.
After ensuring that the other four soldiers understand my orders, I depart the bathing alcoves and join Isabel near the fire. She shoots me a questioning look.
All is well, I tell her. They are leaving soon.
What did you say to them? Are they angry you’re making them leave? she asks.
Smirking, I reach out to smooth an errant lock of hair behind her ear. I simply ordered them to learn the whereabouts of the Autumn Court army, a task they are eager to complete, I tell her. If they are successful, it will earn them favor with King Theron.
She nods slowly, and I sense her relief through the bond. She leans into my touch and emits a soft sigh.
At the sound of footsteps, I press a quick kiss on Isabel’s forehead before rising to my feet.
I accompany my comrades to the front of the cave.
Outside, the winter wind howls and flurries drift down from the sky, a sharp contrast to the warmth inside the cavern with its blazing torches and crackling fire.
I exchange a few parting words with the males, then I step back and watch as they all summon wings and launch into the night sky. It’s a relief to see them disappear into the darkness.
After returning to Isabel’s side, I stand with my hands out as I once again reshape the boundaries of the protective ward.
The line of frost shifts into a straight line across the entrance of the cave.
Drawing upon the most powerful magic I possess, I reinforce the ward again and again until I’m nearly drained of energy.
Panting for breath, I sink down beside Isabel.
She places a hand on my shoulder and peers at me with concern. “Are you all right, Gideon?”
“I’ll be fine, little moth. Please don’t worry.” Sleep. My eyes grow heavy. I need sleep. When I wake in the morning, the full strength of my powers should be restored.
I know Isabel heard my thoughts when she starts pushing me down on the bedroll. She even tucks a pillow beneath my head and pulls one of the furs over me.
The last thing I remember before sleep claims me is Isabel leaning down to place a soft, lingering kiss on my forehead.