Chapter 52 #3
“I killed Sylvan,” Saphira said as she came to stand beside me, her shoulders tipped back and head high, but she did not feel confident to me.
She felt scared.
I could feel it in the slight tremble of her fingers, and see it in her eyes, hidden beneath layers of resolve and courage she did not truly feel.
Oberon bit out a low curse. “Perhaps we could make this work to our advantage.”
“Perhaps my vengeance is not done,” I offered and that look in Oberon’s eyes as they lifted to lock with mine said he knew what I was speaking about.
“Elduin dying would be rather convenient for you.”
“No more agreement,” Saphira said. “No more problems. And from what you’ve both been saying, can we even call Sylvan the architect of the attack on Belkarthen? I mean, he’s one of the parties responsible, the same as Sylas was… but as far as I can tell… surely Elduin is responsible too?”
He was.
So was my vengeance really done?
“We need to go to Ereborne.” I hid my grimace as I looked for my tunic jacket, making the mistake of twisting at the waist.
Saphira gave me a sharp, reprimanding look. “You’re in no fit state to go off fighting the most powerful fae in this realm.”
“Not the most powerful,” I muttered.
“I am afraid a fight might be inevitable.” Oberon’s declaration had both of us looking at him. His tone was as grim as his expression as he said, “And you will not find Elduin at Ereborne.”
“What do you mean?” I took a hard step towards him, pressing my hand to my side as it burned.
“It is the reason I came for you. Kael… the high king has moved on Falkyr in your absence.”
Those words landed on my chest like a cold weight.
Pressing down on me.
Making it impossible to breathe.
“What do you mean, he’s in Falkyr?” Saphira bit out as she stormed towards Oberon and smacked him square in the chest. “You should have said something sooner!”
Oberon flung a hand towards me. “You just said the exact reason I did not mention it sooner. He is in no fit state for a fight.”
I growled at both of them. “I can fight.”
They both slanted a pointed look at my hand that tightly gripped my side.
“I am healing,” I snapped, “and if the plan I just came up with works, there will not be a fight.”
Neither looked as if they trusted me or did not believe I was lying in order to persuade them to let me return to my court.
“I know Elduin, likely better than even you do.” I looked at Oberon. “If he is in Falkyr, then my entire court is in danger. Our sister is in danger. Your wolf pack is in danger.”
Saphira stiffened as I looked at her.
“He will use them all as leverage to force my compliance, threatening them or worse to get his way.” The thought turned my stomach, cold rage settling in my chest, and Saphira’s sharp intake of breath and the fear I could scent on her had me taking hold of her hands.
I could see how much the thought of her pack being held captive again upset her, and I held her gaze, keeping her eyes on mine as I vowed, “Nothing will happen to them. I will not allow it.”
“You cannot go there. Not like this.” Oberon stepped in front of me, blocking my path to the door. “You are going to need your strength for this coming battle.”
I knew that, but I still bared my teeth at him, silently demanding that he let me pass.
“He’s right.” Saphira weathered the black look I levelled on her as she chose Oberon’s side. “I’m worried about my pack, and my friends, and the Shadow Court, but that court needs its king strong—able to face this threat to it, end it and survive. Right now… you need to be stronger.”
At least she had not said I was not strong enough.
She stepped between me and Oberon, capturing the whole of my attention, her thumbs brushing the backs of my hands. “I’m worried the high king will know I gave you vengeance, and that he will see that particular part of your agreement with him as complete, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“You will not lose me,” I growled as I frowned down at her.
“I swear it, Saphira. My love. You will not lose me. I will not let it happen. It is all part of my plan… but you are right. I need to be stronger. I need to be healed, because I intend to name you queen before him and if my plan fails, I know that means war.”
She looked as if she wanted to protest.
I lifted my gaze to land on Oberon. “Bring Rhyn to me, because I will need an ally and a witness among the kings in this coming confrontation… and also because Rhyn is an excellent healer.”
Oberon disappeared before I had even finished issuing that order.
“This is reckless and you know it,” Saphira muttered and then heaved a long sigh, “but your plans are generally quite solid and since I have no intention of letting that fae bitch take you from me, I will go along with it. But, know this, King Kaeleron the Wrathful, you are mine, and I protect what is mine, and if anyone tries to take me from you, it will be their head. Even if that someone is the unseelie high king.”
My blood heated with every sharp word that lashed from her delectable lips and that fire that flared in her eyes as they narrowed on me.
“Wrathful little wolf,” I purred as I reached for her, aching to kiss her.
Oberon reappeared with Rhyn.
The Winter King rubbed sleep from his dull glacial blue eyes and then scrubbed his mussed white hair as he stifled a yawn. He had not even bothered to button his pale blue tunic jacket, and his pants were loose cotton, the sort fae males often slept in.
I had not even considered what time it was.
Rhyn exhaled, rubbed at his right eye, and muttered, “Where did she stab you this time?”
I glowered at him as Saphira gasped in outrage beside me, and then explained everything as quickly as I could manage while Rhyn forced me to sit on the low bed tucked into one side of the circular room and tended to me, and Oberon made us all a stronger brew that would keep us awake.
When Rhyn was done, he stifled another yawn and said, “You will need to rest for the night.”
Saphira gave me a look, one that commanded me to obey him, and I nodded, unwilling to anger my wrathful little wolf lest she turn that fury upon me.
I caught her hand and pulled her down onto the bed beside me, and she rested her head against my shoulder, pressing close to me as we set to work.
Coming up with a plan that would not fail.