Chapter 23 – Neve
Chapter 23
NEVE
W e’d eased Vidar into one of the last sanctuary beds before complete and utter chaos descended. One after the other, soldiers were assisting fae victims of the rebel attack into the sanctuary.
Vidar’s wounds were more serious than most, so the healers set to enchanting his injury. The moment they were sure he was stable, the ancient Master Healer on duty relayed that to the group and suggested we leave the overcrowded sanctuary. As she did so, I couldn’t help but notice the long necklace she wore outside her tunic. The same eight-spoked wheel beneath four stars in the shape of the goddess of healing’s constellation. The symbol I’d seen outside the sanctuary. It clicked then that the symbol must be that of the healing profession.
“Let me know if he needs anything. Or if something changes,” Vale said to Sayyida, who was not about to leave her brother’s side, despite the Master Healer’ s urgings. Saga, too, was remaining to support the Virtoris siblings.
“I will. Thank you, Vale. I”—Sayyida swallowed—“I couldn’t have held off so many if you hadn’t come.”
He nodded. “You were doing well, but there were too many.”
“I need to double down on my training.” Sayyida’s face hardened. “They almost took Vidar and, well, he’ll be an amazing Lord of Virtoris Island one day, and he has powerful magic, but . . .”
“He could do with some additional lessons too,” Vale said kindly. “Your brother was always better at captaining a ship and diplomacy than sword work.”
“Stars, I’ve always told him that.” Sayyida gave a soft smile. It was so far from the sassy one I’d seen spread across her face the day she’d taunted Vidar over being a better swordsfae. At yet another event destroyed by the rebels.
“We’ll go. Have you sent word to your mother, Sayyida?” I looped my arm through Vale’s, only to find his sleeve drenched in blood. Vidar’s blood. That should have repulsed me, but I seemed to have become desensitized. Probably because I, too, was covered in rebel blood.
“A few minutes ago. I’m sure she’ll be here as soon as she receives it.”
“Good.” I angled Vale toward the door. “We’ll check on him later.”
“Thank you. Truly.” Sayyida turned to her brother and Saga, watching her betrothed on the bed with red-rimmed eyes .
My heart gave a hard squeeze for the princess. I was certain that Saga preferred Sayyida to Vidar, but as she was royal and such a match could not create heirs, the king would not make it. Despite that complication of the heart, Saga did care for Vidar.
As Vale and I exited the healer’s sanctuary, I heaved a heavy breath. “I hope he heals quickly.”
“He will,” Vale said, his voice tight. “The healers won’t let him down.”
“It must be difficult having two close friends in there.”
“More than you know.”
Silence fell over us as we walked down the hallway, arm in arm, our pace slower than usual.
“Is that common?” I asked.
“Is what common?”
“Rebels attacking events. It’s happened twice since I’ve been here.”
Vale snorted. “The Courting Festival is drawing them out. Before this, we’d have rebel attacks, or more minor issues, once every six moons. The deepening cold is provoking them to attack more often.”
The fae I’d killed had mentioned the cold, right before I’d taken her life, a fact that I was trying desperately to forget.
Vale stopped, and because we were attached by the arms, I did too. “I didn’t ask how you were.”
I blinked. “What?”
“When we got to the sanctuary, I didn’t check on you. Are you well?”
My teeth dug into my bottom lip. When Vale said things like that, it was even harder to deny how wonderful he was. How much I didn’t want to leave him.
“No,” I answered with a long exhale. “I don’t think I am.”
Suddenly, more soldiers appeared, helping the injured fae. My mouth shut, not about to talk about what happened with others around.
As if sensing the reason for my hesitancy, Vale pulled me into a room off the hallway. From the looks of it, the space was used to store healing supplies. A long table littered with cauldrons, bundled herbs, and books dominated the center of the room.
“Tell me, Neve. What happened?”
I drifted over to the table, picked up a sprig of dried lavender, and exhaled. “Well, I killed someone.”
“One of us.”
He meant not a vampire.
“Yes.”
“I’ve done more killing than I like to recall—even if it was for a noble cause. Only time will heal what you feel, and even then, not completely.”
“Yes, but that’s not the only thing that’s getting me down.” Not only was it true, but I wished to move on from the topic of the rebel quickly. Intellectually, I knew that had I not killed her, she would have ended my life, but my body still felt heavy with remorse for killing a fae. Hence, I welcomed the distraction that had been plaguing my mind.
He arched an eyebrow and waited .
“For the last few days, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my family.”
“Anna? Those in the Blood Court?”
“No, though they’re family too. I mean my blood family, if I have any left here.” My voice wobbled, and Vale was there, wrapping me in his muscular arms.
“I’m so sorry.”
A tear tracked down my cheek. “You’ve helped me more than anyone else. I-I.” I paused and drew in a breath, needing to share more with him, to unload. “Did you see that female during the attack? The rebel who looked like me?”
He drew back. “Where?”
“The archer.” I peered up at him. “She had black hair and blue eyes, but we looked alike in other ways. That, and things people have said, I guess it has gotten to me.”
He lifted a hand and wiped away the wet streak the tears had left before moving up to my temple and caressing the scar there with such tender care. One would think his big hands, calloused from battles, could not be so gentle, but they were.
“Neve, I am your family,” Vale whispered so devoutly that the words sent chills down my spine. “Even if this ends with you running as far as you can from Winter’s Realm, which I would not blame you for, we’re family . I’ll never be able to stop thinking about you.” He swallowed. “I’ll always care for you.”
His brown eyes softened as if he wanted to say more, as if he was holding back something important. I had a hunch of what that might be, and though it scared me to death, it also invigorated me.
Vale, the male I’d married, a prince of the realm, had feelings for me. As I did for him. We’d started off distrusting the other, moved on to vague dislike, then intrigue. Trust and caring had snuck up on me. Now, what did we have?
My breathing deepened as his gaze intensified.
Married, by law, and even in the eyes of the Faetia, but were our hearts inching closer?
The Faetia had blessed our union, and yet we’d brushed it off. Said that we’d follow through with our plan.
Were we fools?
Before I questioned that too, Vale’s head dipped, and his lips caught mine.
A soft whimper of pleasure left me and deep inside, something stirred. A feeling that had never been awoken in me, one I wanted more of. By the dead gods and the Fates and the stars and the Faetia and whatever else there was, his kisses were pure magic. Nothing like the other kisses I’d shared with boys and then human men. Nothing like I imagined.
They wiped away the pain, the sadness, and allowed me to exist in the moment. As messed up as that might be after what we’d seen, I allowed myself that small mercy and leaned into him.
Vale’s tongue swept into my mouth, and I accepted it, met it with a dance of my own as his hand found my back and somehow pulled me closer .
How did I feel so protected with him? I’d only known Vale for less than two weeks, and yet it was like I knew him, deep inside. And he knew me too. Wanted me. Try as I might to remind myself that I had to leave this court, had to flee at the first chance, I wanted him too.
Stars, I was in so much trouble.
He pulled away with a sharp intake of breath, though he remained close enough that I still felt his exhale graze my lips. “Neve,” Vale whispered. “Are we sure?”
A laugh trilled out of me. “ Sure? I’m not sure of much, but I know one thing.” My fist wrapped around the front of his shirt, stained with blood from the fight, just as I was. Not that I cared. Perhaps later I’d feel disgusted, but right now, all that mattered was him and me and our pounding blood rushing through our bodies as we found a moment of peace together. “If you stop kissing me like that again, I’m going to have to teach you a lesson during training.”
A devilish smile spread across his face. “Promise?”
“You’re impossible.” I lured him in slowly.
As our lips met again, Vale’s hands moved down and around me. He cupped my rear, his fingers digging into my flesh.
“Bleeding skies, I love this arse,” he growled.
“There’s a lot of it to love,” I said, my voice breathy at the rough passion in his touch.
“Thank the dead gods for that,” he murmured and lifted me.
I squealed and my legs wrapped around his middle as he carried me to the table. With one hand, Vale swept aside the bundles of herbs and books, clattering them to the floor before he set me down as gently as one would a porcelain object.
The pulse of pleasure inside me was tightening, the pressure building, and my eyelids fell closed as my hands tangled in his black hair. Beneath the long top layer, my fingers grazed the shaved portion. He didn’t wear it up often, but when he did, he looked even more like a warrior than usual and always set my heart racing.
His hands traveled from where they’d been exploring my arse up, to my wings, where his touch became more delicate, reverent, as he explored their contours.
I shivered. Faerie wings were already sensitive and, for that reason, usually kept pressed down our backs, covered up, or vanished. Vale’s touch, though, seemed to make mine a thousand times more tender. Needy. Craving more, I pressed my wings into his hands, hoping he’d linger.
Instead, he paused and pulled away again.
“What did I tell you about pulling away?” I murmured, surprised to hear my voice was deeper, almost a growl to match that of the prince’s.
“Neve, you’re glowing but not your hands. Your whole body.”
My eyelids flew open, and I gasped.
He was right. I was glowing, this time more strongly than before. Perhaps differently too?
“It’s your magic,” Vale said, his hand moving to my chest and pressing into my heaving bosom. “It’s unraveling. Desperate to get out. Pulsing within you.” His dark brown eyes lifted to meet mine. “You’ve never felt that before, have you? ”
“No. The potion has always worked the same way, never failing. But since coming here, I’ve sometimes felt different. I’ve glowed a few other times too. Just my hands though.”
“I think it’s because you’re home. You belong in this kingdom and the magic recognizes you, Neve.” His hand drifted to my cheek and cupped it. “You’re going to be stronger than you could have imagined.”
“It’s good that Duran is making that potion, then.”
“It would be harder to hide the change. Your magic might adjust silently, but it might also explode out of you when given the chance. Like when younglings go through their magical changes.”
“I’m a few turns late.” I laughed, shifting in a way that rubbed against him, making me instantly aware of the long, hard length in his trousers.
My eyes widened, as that same length twitched, and suddenly, my magic, vibrant as it may be, was forgotten and we were kissing again, our hands exploring one another’s body. We stayed that way for a few blissful moments before Vale changed it up, his lips moving down to trail tiny kisses down my throat.
I tipped my head back, heart thundering, blood pounding in my ears. Fire flushed through me, heating me everywhere and depositing that flame spreading between my legs.
“Vale,” I panted, unable to take the teasing for another moment, “I want you inside me.”
An animalistic sound left his throat, and he ground me closer, rubbing at the flames between my legs, electrifying me. A thrill ran through me at the thought of him filling me, of our bodies connecting so deeply.
“Now,” I added, in case he hadn’t gotten the message. “If you don’t, I’ll have to leave and take care of things myself.”
“I swear, if you did that in my suite, I would go mad. You couldn’t keep me off you.”
“Then why aren’t you on me now ?”
A rumble of a laugh left him and his powerful hands spread my legs farther. I lifted myself a bit as those deft fingers moved beneath my skirts, tugged at my undergarments, and pulled them down. They were off and on the floor in an instant.
Vale went to undo his pants, desire gleaming in his eyes, and I sought to help him, to feel him as soon as possible.
We’d not even gotten the top button undone when the door to the healers’ closet flew open.
“Blazing moon!” I pulled Vale closer to cover the parts of me that were exposed, cheeks blazing hot.
“By the dead gods!” the same ancient Master Healer we’d spoken to in the sanctuary covered her eyes. “Prince Vale, I pulled you from your mother, wiped your nose, and set your bones as a youngling, but this is too far. As if you and your new wife don’t have the entire palace to couple . Can you please find another place to carry on? In case you haven’t noticed, the sanctuary is in an uproar, and we need supplies!”
There was far more annoyance in her voice than embarrassment .
That was fine. I had enough embarrassment for both of us. Vale too, judging by the redness blooming on his cheeks.
“Master Healer Nissa, I’m so sorry. We?—”
“Are newlywed and went through a harrowing experience that has your emotions running high. Yes, yes, I understand, Prince Vale. What I don’t understand is why you’re still in my healers’ closet and not far away where I can go about gathering supplies for the injured and pretend like this didn’t happen.”
“We’ll leave right away.” Hand extended, Vale helped me off the table. We were nearly out the door when Nissa cleared her throat.
“Your wife has left something behind.”
We twisted and somehow Vale’s cheeks became even redder when Nissa pointed to my lacy undergarments.
The old healer’s eyes dipped to our bloody attire. “And might I suggest cleaning up before you engage in any other sexual activities? It’s quite unhygienic.”
I bit my lip, trying not to die laughing as I ran out of the room and left Vale to retrieve my undergarments.
I’d passed three doors by the time Vale caught up.
“You left me!”
“Of course I did. That was mortifying.” I let out a nervous laugh. “And also, somehow . . . hilarious?”
“ For you .” He patted his pocket. “Whereas I’m trying to hide my erection while picking up your soaked undergarments.”
That sent me over the cliff. Laughter bubbled out of me, and though Vale still looked like someone had painted his cheeks red, the lines of his face relaxed a touch. “You’re finding too much joy in this.”
“All we can do is laugh, right? It’ll be a story to tell one day!”
His face split into a grin. “One day, huh? Are you making plans to stick around?”
I stopped laughing. I’d been envisioning Vale and me, whispering and chuckling over some shared joke as younglings played around us. Younglings with my hair and his dark, warm eyes.
My heart clenched at the vision, no matter how unrealistic. How unwise and dangerous. If I stayed here, I’d be on edge for the rest of my life. Or at least until his father, mother, and even Rhistel died.
Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to wish for that vision to disappear.
“I’m not sure.” I watched his eyes light up from within. “I?—”
Fast footsteps came down a connected corridor, and a young dwarf soldier covered in blood rounded the corner. “Prince! The king has been looking for you.”
Vale’s expression changed. “Did he make it out without injury? What of my mother and Rhistel?”
The soldier nodded. “They’re all fine, my prince. That’s not why I’ve been sent to find you. The king has called a meeting of lords and ladies.”
“Right now?” Vale asked.
“They’re all waiting for you, my prince.”
Vale looked at me, and I understood. I wanted him to stay too. But he couldn’t, so I laid a hand on his arm. “Go. This soldier will escort me back to the suite.”
“And guard the door,” Vale said. “Most Clawsguards were detained at the theater. You will watch over my wife.”
The soldier’s eyes bulged. Watching over Vale’s wife was, no doubt, one of the biggest responsibilities in his career.
“I’ll guard her with my life, my prince.”
Vale took my hand and kissed it. “When I return, we can revisit our conversation.”