Twenty-Three
Aeryn
Next up was Portia and Rodrik Brandenburg, Raina”s parents. They”d brought an entire entourage of personal guards. They weren”t the only ones traveling with security. Far from it, but their excess came across as a flaunting of wealth and power.
“Slight overkill,” I whispered to Nox.
“Showing off is a way of life for them. Even my own formal cloak pin doesn”t have the size or number of jewels as Rodrik”s. And I”m the fucking king.”
“I”ve never seen you wear it.”
“That”s because it”s too garish for my tastes and I rarely wear a cloak.”
My stomach churned at the sight of them. Nox detested them and their daughter, but I”d hoped, for both Raina and Liam”s sakes, peace could be made between them.
“Be on guard, kitten. Portia”s tongue is just as sharp as her blade.”
Raina walked behind them, not even attempting to force a smile. Her pale hair shining under the sun”s rays. She wore it half down, with the sides pulled back. It made her look more feminine despite the black combat attire she”d chosen.
Portia had the same hair and structural features as her daughter, but the derisive look on her face made her unattractive. Which was saying a lot, considering how gorgeous I thought Raina was.
Neither of her parents had hugged her when they”d exited their coach. I had a suspicion they never had. In fact, what little I had seen of their initial exchange had Raina”s jaw clenched and skin blotted red.
“You are a complete and total embarrassment,” Portia hissed icily from the bottom step, loud enough to reach our ears. “We expected more from our investment in you.”
Raina”s light purple eyes darkened. “You shouldn”t have bothered.”
“No, we shouldn”t have,” Rodrik agreed. “But as we told you, we”ll have our investment back soon enough.”
Nox and I shared a look.
They strode up the stairs until they stood on the veranda before us. Rodrik bowed gracefully and the two females curtsied.
“Lady Portia. Sir Rodrik. Thank you for coming. It”s been a long time.”
“Too long, Your Highness,” Rodrik replied smoothly.
“The pleasure is ours, My King,” Portia purred. “Though we must admit some surprise. The trials ending so abruptly, and you choosing a bride so quickly …” She trailed off leadingly.
Nox”s hand tightened around mine as he said coolly, “The trials served their purpose. I found more than I had hoped for. Much more.”
“And how wonderful that must have been for you,” Portia said, extending her hands to clasp mine, her face a mask of pleasantness. “Congratulations, on your new station, Lady Aeryn. I”m sure it”s more than you could have ever imagined for yourself.”
The dig fell away like a crumb off of bread, tiny and insignificant.
Her touch sparked a vision, a memory. Portia and Rodrik sat in a shadowy room with three others, listening as they were informed that King Orson was dead. Triumph and greed twisted their features.
Another memory flashed, news Nox still lived. Rodrik killing the messenger in a fit of rage. Then news of the trials. A new plan.
If Raina could have done her job and won this thing it would be so much easier to get to him. Curses to the poor soul who buys her at auction.
“Raina …” I whispered. As much as she loathed them, this revelation would still hurt.
“Is something amiss?” Portia asked, tilting her head, tightening her grip on my hands.
Panic flooded through my veins.
“Lady Aeryn?” she grinned sinisterly, pushing subtle energy into the skin where we were joined. “Are you alright?”
Raina said something I couldn”t catch.
The magic was stealing my senses. My baast hissed and forced my neck to turn to my mate. The wild shoved at the magic subduing me and gave Nox the signal.
Nox didn”t hesitate when he saw my eyes flash to amber. His claws extended as he swung for Portia. He met a spear of ice instead.
“Now!” Rodrick screamed, forming another weapon and swinging it in a wide arc.
My mate shoved me aside, finally breaking me free of that bitch, as he hastily threw up a shield between us and Rodrik. The ice blade shattered against it, shards spraying across the stone steps.
Chaos erupted as hidden fae and mages emerged from the crowd. Others poured in through the gate dressed as common citizens, attacking the guards and other fae who rushed to defend us.
Nox swore, grabbing my arm to pull me back as a blast of fire nearly singed us. “Stay close!”
Lorne and Liam were fighting off enemies coming from the sides. The royal guards did the same at our backs. Our reinforcements spilled into the courtyard, having been on standby for this very reason.
My heart lodged in my throat, torn between the urge to fight and the desire to flee. But Nox needed me, so I gritted my teeth and remained behind his shield to deflect incoming spells.
Rodrik hurled another spear of ice at us, fury contorting his features. Nox deflected it and I felt his magic shift as he prepared a counterattack, only to stagger, a knife hilt protruding from his thigh.
“Nox!” I screamed, reaching for his leg. Blood seeped between my fingers where I gripped him, the metallic scent of it filling my senses.
A growl rumbled in Nox”s chest as his eyes began to glow, the whites leaching into amber. “Shift,” he gritted out. “Shift and protect yourself.”
I called to my beast. She hissed and spat, but felt muted, like a sound underwater. I looked at my hands, trying to force claws to extend. They shook, unable to do my bidding.
Nox pulled the blade free from his thigh and threw it into the eye of an attacker who”d almost reached me. My spine stiffened.
“Shift, damn it!” he snarled, voice dropping into a register that made my hair stand on end.
“I can”t! Portia did something to me!”
Nox cursed. “Then pull your daggers.”
My hands were wrapping around their handles when he kissed me quickly. “Don”t get dead, kitten.”
“Same.”
His nails lengthened into talons as shadows warped around him, his magic altering him into something feral and deadly. The umbral emerged with a roar just as Nox dropped the shield. He launched his body at Rodrik.
I followed close behind as they tumbled down the steps.
Movement caught in my peripheral and I turned to find a new opponent, guard up and adrenaline thrumming through my veins. No one would get near Nox while I still drew breath.
Raina let out a yell as a spell shot towards Nox”s back, icy magic forming into sharp spears that flew with deadly accuracy. She shot out her own to intercept.
I darted forward, snarling, glaring at the fae who dared attack my mate. His beady eyes widened at the sight of me, like he hadn”t expected me to fight back, like he”d believed me weak.
I bared my teeth in a mockery of a smile and lunged, one dagger stabbing into his shoulder. He howled in pain, the sound cut short as Raina froze him solid, her magic wrapping him in unforgiving ice.
“Thanks,” Raina said breathlessly, glaring down at the body. Recognition, then guilt registered in her eyes. “Fuck you, Wesley.”
Her voice came out small, when she said, “He taught me how to ride a horse.”
“You did what was necessary,” I said firmly.
Raina hesitated before nodding. I could see the effort it took for her to steel herself, and could understand why she struggled to take a life she knew, even in self-defense.
A roar echoed through the courtyard, Nox”s fury and pain entwined into a sound that raised the hair on the back of my neck. I whipped around to find him battling Rodrik and three others, shadows and ice clashing in a maelstrom of power.
“Where are our guards?” I frantically looked around, searching for Lorne or Liam. Anyone assigned to stick close.
“Fighting for their lives,” Raina answered.
She was right. Nox”s soldiers were taking on the bulk of the attackers, keeping most of them at a safe distance. I then noticed Lorne cutting through several trying to get to Nox.
Gripping my daggers tightly, I started towards the fight.
Raina followed, forming long ice blades and firing them as we went. She took out one of Nox”s opponents easily then engaged the other, giving me a window.
I lunged at Rodrik, blades slicing towards his throat. He turned just in time, my daggers cutting deep furrows into his shoulder instead. He howled, his uninjured arm flying up, hand clutching at the wounds.
Nox continued his assault, chest heaving and claws flying while I tried to find another opening to cut our enemy down. I”d just angled my wrist when a weight slammed into me from behind.
Portia screamed with vengeance as she pinned me down. Unhinged, with spittle flying from her lips, she screeched in my face.
“You stupid whore! I will put you in the ground right beside the fucking ki—”
Her body jolted violently before a jagged spear of ice erupted from her mouth. Splatters of warm gore landed on my face and neck. A torrent of blood spewed out in thick, sticky ribbons drenching my chest and neck.
Her struggling gurgles mixed with the wet tearing noise of the icy spike being yanked out through flesh and bone. A heavy wave of nausea rolled through me.
When her body fell forward I panicked, struggling to get out from under it.
“Nooo!” Rodrik cried, sprinting towards me. His hands began to glow with power.
I tensed, ready to dodge whatever spell he threw at me. The magic never came. Rodrik”s face froze in a silent scream, dropping to his knees and clutching his throat. Blood spurted between his fingers as his body crumpled, revealing my mate behind him, claws dripping red.
Nox ran to me, pulling me up from the ground and frantically searching for a wound.
“It”s not mine. It”s not mine,” I repeated as much for my own reassurance as his.
“Thank the gods,” he said, pulling me into his embrace. “You”re shaking.”
Still holding on to me, he maneuvered us over to the stairs, lowering to sit with me against the bottom step. Nox kept me tucked close.
Slowly, the shakes faded to small tremors. But my brain wasn”t fully comprehending what had just happened.
Nox moved and knelt in front of me, rubbing my arms. “I want to check you for injuries again. The excitement of battle can mask pain.”
I gave no argument. While he touched me from head to toe, I looked around and found the courtyard deserted save for the dead and dying. It didn”t look real, more like actors on a stage.
I had no reaction. The experience left a horrid numbness behind.
Lorne stalked over to us, expression grim. “The castle and its grounds are secure. I”ve sent for a healer to tend our wounded.”
His gaze flicked to me, tightening with concern. “Are you dying?”
“N-not today,” I managed to get out.
He nodded.
“Sofiya?” I asked.
Lorne”s chin lifted toward the top of the stairs. “With her parents inside. She”s fine. Pissed at me because I assigned someone to carry her inside in case of an attack, but physically fine.”
I released a breath, sagging into Nox. It was over, at least for now. We had survived.
Liam stalked over, expression grim, dragging Raina by her bicep. Though he was handling her roughly, she didn”t fight him.
“What would you like me to do with the last Brandenburg traitor?” Liam asked bluntly.
Fury burned through the icy block containing my emotions. A surge of protective instinct propelled me to my feet. “She”s not involved in this, Liam, and you damn well know it.”
“I know her parents just tried to kill my king and his mate. I know they put her through training her entire life to be able to fight.”
“So did Zoriyah”s,” I retorted.
“They waited until they were reunited and within close distance as a family to strike.”
“She saved my life and your king”s!”
His jaw ticked. “Conveniently saving her own hide because they were losing.”
“For gods” sakes, Liam. Get over the past and—”
“Aeryn, stop,” Raina shook her head, eyes shadowed. “It”s fine.”
“It is not fine!” Angry tears threatened to spill.
Nox slid his arm around my waist. Yes, my mate would fix this.
He studied Raina as she stood there, eyes down, her posture resigned. Then, “Take her to the nullifying room.”
I pivoted away, out of his hold, gaping up at his stoic face. “Nox,” I whispered. “Don”t do this. Please don”t.”
I”d read her mind. I didn”t say it here, in the courtyard where anyone close by could hear. I”d agreed to not speak openly of it. It felt like a betrayal to have read my friends” minds and I hadn”t had an opportunity to explain to them.
I”d been so focused on clearing names or finding evidence of guilt in someone that I hadn”t thought about how it would feel on the other side of it.
“She was already cleared,” I bit out. “She knew nothing of her parents” machinations.”
“It is best to be thorough in this,” Nox said gently.
I started to protest but Nox squeezed my hand, shaking his head.
“His Majesty is in the right, Aeryn,” Raina stated without emotion. “If our roles were reversed I would have you in a cell already, even if only temporarily.”
“Yeah, because you”re a two-faced mukana who only cares about herself.”
“Liam,” I breathed, as shocked as I was appalled.
Raina inhaled, lower lip quivering, yet raising her chin in quiet dignity. “Your Majesty, I beg you to have someone else—anyone else—escort me to my cell.”
Nox”s gaze softened. “I can do that, Lady Raina. Lorne?”
The male took a step in Raina”s direction but Nox lifted his palm to halt him. “Take her up to Saxon.”
“Saxon? No, not him,” Liam rebuked.
“Do not test me right now,” Nox warned, cutting him with a cold glare that would have cowered a lesser being.
Turning back to Lorne, he continued. “Tell him to take her to the nullifying room and make sure it”s secured. Only you and Saxon can speak to her. Do not let anyoneelse in there unless I give the say so.”
Lorne nodded, sparing Raina a quick look, the corners of his mouth turned down.
I ached for her, for the sorrow and betrayal she must feel. To have her own parents revealed as despicable traitors in such a violent way, and then to be on the receiving end of her former betrothed”s cruel words. It was almost too much to bear.
Anger simmered in my gut. I stared hard at Liam. “If you harm her or continue to speak with such callousness about her in my presence, I will make your life a living hell.”
Liam”s eyes met mine, flickering with surprise then hardening right back. “With all due respect, Lady Aeryn, I answer to the king.”
A guttural sound vibrated from Nox”s chest. Gold rolled across his eyes. “Leave my sight before I decide to do something we”ll both regret.”
Liam”s Adam’s apple bobbed but the indignant tension in his face remained. “As you wish, My Liege.” He bowed quickly and strode away.
Raina blinked back tears, eyes on the ground. I stepped forward and embraced her. She reluctantly brought her arms around me, silently accepting the only comfort I could give at the moment.
Over her head, I met Nox”s gaze. He motioned to the stairs. “Saxon is waiting at the main door. Why don”t you escort her inside and he”ll walk her the rest of the way.”
I hooked my arm through Raina”s and led her up the stairs. A handsome male I”d never seen before stood there casually, with his hands in his pockets.
His physique was lean, yet strong and athletic. One eye was a shade of sparkling ocean blue, while the other eye glowed with a vibrant and intense green.
Unlike the other guards, his attire perfectly blended the natural world with a touch of fae elegance. Earthy tones of moss green and deep blues, adorned with intricate leaf patterns and delicate silver filigree, gave off a sense of him being one with nature.
“Saxon?” I inquired.
“At your service, my lady,” he replied bowing gracefully to me, then, “Lady Raina. It is always a pleasure to gaze upon your face.”
Raina crossed her arms. “My face is covered in blood.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “A wonderful excuse to stare.”
Raina chuffed, shaking her head, and gave me a quick hug. “Don”t worry. I’ve got this.”
Before I could produce a reply she and Saxon were walking off, side by side. I spun to look for Nox and found him coming through the arched doorway.
“Who is Saxon?” I asked.
“Someone nobody fucks with. He isn”t here often and when he is he prefers to go unnoticed.”
“That tells me nothing.”
Nox laughed, pulling me to him by my hips. “I”ll tell you more about him another time. Right now I need to take care of this. I think the bastard plated the blade in iron.”
I followed his line of sight to the gash in his thigh, only a few inches above where he”d been stabbed. How was he even walking?
“Nox!”
“I”ll live. I just need it cleaned. And a little something to stop the bleeding so it will heal faster.”
“You need your blood purified! And stitches! Shadow us to your sister or I”ll get Lorne to carry you.”
Nox leaned close and nipped my bottom lip. “What do I get if I do what I”m told?”
“Whatever you want.”
“That”s a dangerous thing to offer a male like me, little hellion. But I would never refuse something so tempting from my mate.”
The next thing I knew we were in the infirmary and Nox was barking orders to get him fixed fast because he had pressing matters to deal with immediately.
Despite my best efforts not to, I laughed.
I sat beside Nox on the large bed, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. Sage said he was healing and some sleep would help him do so faster.
As soon as she’d released him from the infirmary, he brought us back to the royal quarters, stripped us bare, and had me pressed against the shower wall.
Soon after, we tumbled into bed where I found no peace. The bloodshed and death I”d witnessed played behind my eyes when I tried to sleep.
My gaze drifted to the window, taking in the afternoon sun. Only a handful of hours had passed since Portia and Rodrik had made their play. I”d tried to call forth my baast and was only able to partially shift. Sage assured me it would wear off.
I sighed, raking a hand through my hair.
So much had changed since arriving at Thornewood when I”d only wanted to keep Sofiya and I alive. Now I felt the weight of protecting so many more.
My baast was simple enough. Strong and quick and capable of keeping me safe to a degree. I was more concerned about what my touch could do.
What good was the power if I couldn”t be thorough enough, or trusted enough, to clear an innocent like Raina? If I didn”t learn to master it and be thorough with it, I”m not sure I wanted it.
Then there was the whole touch thing. I didn”t want to see inside the head of everyone I touched. The thought terrified me.
I was no dark sorceress, desiring power for its own sake. I only wished to help others, to use my gifts for good. But how did I shut it off? I had no teacher, no one to guide me. I was stumbling blind through a world both familiar yet strange.
A soft groan drew my gaze. Nox was waking, iron-grey eyes blinking open to meet mine.
A slow smile stretched his lips. “You look pensive. Should I be afraid?”
I huffed a laugh, squeezing his hand. “Just thinking.”
“About?”
“My life.”
“Sounds serious.”
He sat up, resting his back against the wall of pillows between him and the headboard. He pulled back the blanket and patted the space beside him.
I joined him without question.
“Tell me,” he said, pulling my hand into his.
“Short command for an extremely tall order,” I joked.
We sat in amicable silence for a minute. Nox was giving me time to gather my thoughts.
“So much has changed in such a short time.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “No. Yes. Sort of ... ugh. I”m jumbled. Again.”
His thumb brushed over my knuckles back and forth. “Let”s start with the good. I hope I”m on that list, especially with that performance in the shower with only one fully functioning leg.”
My face blushed as it so often did when he made me think of sex. “Yes, definitely good. The best kind of good. Well, aside from still being alive and Sofiya being safe.”
“I”ll regret putting you in danger for the rest of my life. But please keep talking.”
“I”m starting to feel responsible for protecting others.”
Nox laughed. “I hate to be the bearer of obvious news, little menace, but you already had that feeling well before you arrived.”
“Yes, I know. But today all I could think about was keeping you safe. Of putting a stop to those who betrayed you and your family.”
He twisted and picked me up far easier than anyone should be able to, situating me to straddle his lap. “And all I could think of was keeping you safe, little mate.”
“And destroying your enemies, I hope.”
Nox”s hands cupped the sides of my head. “No, kitten. I had a driving need to rip Portia and Rodrik apart because they were an immediate threat to you. My father? The attempts on my life? None if it ever entered my thoughts, not until you were out of harm”s way.”
“Oh.”
He brought his face to mine and kissed me softly. “What else?”
“I realized I feel responsible for more than you and Sofiya. And the threat to you is really a threat to all of Falcondale. I don”t want anyone else to get hurt. I don”t want to feel useless and on the sideline while you fight, both figuratively and literally. And …”
“And?” he prodded.
“I don”t want you to be in a position not to trust my gift, and I really don”t want to be on the receiving end of that lack of trust.”
“Aeryn—”
My hand covered his mouth. “Let me finish.”
Big hands landed on my hips as he sat there staring at me, an apology in his eyes. Anxiety had my hands playing with the ends of my hair.
“I know why Raina is in the nullifying room. I understand. If my gift were strong and well-practiced, if I had the confidence that I knew beyond a doubt nothing had been hidden from me, would Raina still be locked up?”
“Possibly.”
My posture sagged. I stared at his chest.
“My heart, look at me.” His fingers lifted my chin.
I wasn”t sure I could handle being called his heart. It was too close to something else.
“We are not just responsible for our friends,” he said. “We lead and care for everyone.”
“I know that.”
“That includes not putting others in a situation, especially after something like what happened earlier, to make a terrible choice that cannot be undone.”
My forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?”
“Raina is a Brandenburg. Her parents brought an army and tried to kill us, with her standing right beside them. What do you think would happen if I simply let her walk out of the courtyard?”
“You don”t think Liam would have truly hurt her, do you?”
“I would hope not, but it”s not just him I would worry about. There are still candidates and their families here, many of whom would go to extremes to fall into my favor.”
My palms went to his chest. “Do you think she”s guilty of conspiring with them?”
“No.”
My breath left my lungs in a quick swoosh. I hadn”t realized how important his answer was to me.
“Nox, I don”t want to be in that position again, not if I can do something about it. I would like to figure out how strong my gift is, how to be thorough like you said, so we can avoid some of the messiness of such things. And I”d really like to be able to touch my best friend and not know how much she”d like to back Lorne into an alcove and demand—”
This time Nox”s hand covered my lips, his eyes twinkling. “I could really go without the details of my brother”s sex life coming out of my mate”s mouth.”
“I don”t have details of anything specific. I just know how much she wants to—”
“Uh-uh-uh, little menace.”
I laughed. “Okay, but you see my point?”
“Yes. And I have a suggestion,” Nox said. His gaze turned inward, expression thoughtful.
“I”m listening.”
“There is an elder mage, Drayce, who was once my father”s advisor. He resides in the foothills. I call upon him from time to time. If you wish, I will send for him. He is versed in ancient magic and has the gift of Sight, though his visions rarely give an obvious message. He may be able to help you.”
My eyes widened. “You would do that for me?”
“Ah, kitten, I think you”ll find I would do almost anything for you,” Nox declared, bringing my hand to his lips.
A flush stained my cheeks at his words. “Thank you,” I mumbled, even as warmth bloomed in my chest.
“You never need to thank your mate, Aeryn. Besides, you might not like him very much.”
“Why?”
“He”s a lot to take in. But he has an honorable heart. In fact, he insisted I not skip Greenhollow when we discussed making rounds for the trials.”
“Did he say why?”
“Only that the key to what I sought, the key to getting exactly what I needed, would be found in Greenhollow.”
Playing dumb, I cocked my head and pursed my lips. “What could you possibly have needed from a farming village?”
Nox flipped me to my back, settling between my legs. “Oh, I think you know the answer to that, little menace.”
“Stop calling me a menace,” I giggled.
“Never,” he vowed, nipping and sucking along the column of my throat. “Now, we only have a little over an hour before we have to deal with real life. You still owe me for being a good patient.”
The rock of his hips was all it took to distract me from the ramblings in my mind. My king spent the next hour collecting on his debt.
I thought I might have to try to owe him forever.