Chapter 21 Colgrave
COLGRAVE
Ireclined back, letting the warm water envelop us, and reveled in the moment of calm.
The early mornings were set aside for just Audryn and me, while the rest of my day was spent discussing Kuroden’s response to the attacks.
I’d yet to address how to deal with the Graystorm coven, but after positioning the military more strategically, the tampering of our seeps had halted.
The material of her sleep dress and my shorts felt like a thick barrier between us.
Dozens of times I’d thought about having Audryn naked in front of me, yet now I couldn’t think of anything I wanted less.
The next time her bare skin was pressed against mine would be because she had the will to make the decision to do so herself.
“Okay, love,” I mumbled into her ear. “Almost done, and then you can rest.”
Passing a soapy rag over her skin was the least I could do while she’d lain too injured to be submerged in a tub.
But when Micah closed the wounds and gave the go-ahead, I quickly provided her with a proper bath.
Still unconscious, I couldn’t risk her slipping under the bubbled water, so I joined her in the tub the last couple of mornings.
I drained the water and waited for the gurgle to conclude. Carefully, I wrapped her in my arms and headed to the bed where I’d laid out a fresh towel to pull around her. After drying her off, I changed her into freshly laundered sleep clothes and pulled the blankets up to her neck.
“Can I come in?” Micah waited behind the newly hung door.
I twisted the knob and swung it open.
“She looks good, she—”
“Is still unconscious,” I grumbled, and wrapped her mother’s chain and pendant around her neck.
I carefully tilted her head to the left and moved half of her hair to one side.
Sky had taught me how to care for Audryn’s locks after we’d washed out the blood and spent hours painstakingly removing the knots.
“It’s probably going to take a bit more time.” My brother pulled back the blanket and placed a hand against her stomach. “Everything looks good, she just needs more rest.”
I didn’t want his hands on her, but the alternative would have been bringing the healer from the castle, and I wanted that even less.
“Go change,” Sky said as she strode into the room toward the wide chair in the corner. “I’ll stay close.”
I turned my gaze back to Micah.
She backtracked and met my side. “Nobody wants to see your ass through your sopping shorts, Col.”
I ran the comb through Audryn’s hair. Sky went to grab it from my hand, but I tightened my grip.
“Hey, you don’t know what I want to see,” Micah joked. “Take 'em off!”
I groaned and slunk away toward my dressing room.
Finding a pair of pants, I tugged them on while periodically looking around the corner at the bed. Not bothering to dry my hair, I threw it into a wet bun and made my way back.
“Scoot over.” I nudged Sky and began combing through Audryn’s hair again. Braids weren’t particularly difficult, but I focused—counting the pattern as I twisted her strands into a plait.
“No update on the Avernus coven,” Micah said unprompted, “and nothing more with the Graystorm coven either.”
Frowning, I looked down at the weave, seeing I’d somehow managed to twist the outside pieces over themselves a few extra times without using the center piece.
“Hey, that’s good news.” He smiled and elbowed me. “One less thing to deal with, at least for now.”
I bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Audryn’s cheek before turning her head toward me to work on the second section of hair. “No sightings?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. As always, a witch or two has been airborne in the evenings, but they stay close to the islands. And the Avernus coven hasn’t been seen at all.”
“Hmm.” I tied off the second braid and positioned her head back to center.
“Are you going to send a missive and schedule a meeting with them? I know the treaty prohibits you from—”
“No,” I cut him off. Kuroden might’ve been the target of two covens, but if I attempted to contact even the Graystorms, I’d have the entire continent of Crofea against us. “Request a meeting with Queen Arden.”
Micah shifted on his feet. “She’s gonna wake up. Her injuries are healing. There’s nothing another healer can do that I can’t.”
I shook my head. “That wasn’t what I was saying.”
“And the Suttons? Are you going to notify them?” he asked.
The thought had crossed my mind, but Ryder would want to know how the injuries occurred, and I’d be forced to admit the countless attacks Kuroden had endured over the years. Telling him would only further the campaign against the witches and, in turn, my family.
My hope of convincing Audryn to stay hadn’t completely waned.
I might’ve failed to keep her safe, but I’d made sure to voice my feelings to her, even in her comatose state.
And the moment she woke up, I would tell her explicitly how I felt.
Counting on flirting to get my point across wouldn’t be enough.
“No, I’m not telling that asshole,” I grumbled. “And halt all missives out of Kuroden until further notice unless you’ve read the message first.”
He shook his head. “Do you really think someone would tell the Suttons?”
“Dolcie all but served Audryn up on a platter, so yeah, I do.”
The door opened, and Amalee marched in. “Our mother is here, and wants to speak to us both.”
“I’ll be up here,” Sky offered easily and plopped into the velvet chair. “I’ll leave you both to deal with your … familial matters.” She grimaced.
“Me too.” Micah looked away. “Good luck with your uh … visit.”
Our mother rarely came to our residence.
She’d sent several messages requesting dinner, but with Audryn’s health, I refused to spend a single second sitting around a table that wasn't beside her bed.
My absence gave Amalee the perfect excuse to forgo dinner too.
During the day, she was busy shifting military personnel strategically along our mountain line.
And in the evenings, she stayed sequestered in her bedroom with Sky.
I reluctantly followed my sister downstairs and found our mother running her finger over a shelf. The dust coated her skin as she stared down with her lip curled up. Not only did she like to judge my decisions, but she also enjoyed scrutinizing my residence.
“Sit,” she ordered, not turning around to greet us.
“I’m great, thanks for asking,” I muttered sarcastically as I sat on the sofa. “Audryn? Yeah, she’s still unconscious and hasn’t moved an inch, but otherwise she’s good too.”
The plush velvet brushing against my skin was more uncomfortable than I remembered. I ran a hand over the material, watching the color change as the weave shifted direction. I felt like I was a child waiting to be scolded while our mother stewed in her thoughts.
“Sit, Amalee.” Our mother turned and rubbed her fingertips together, letting the dust roll off and float to the ground.
My sister rolled her eyes as she handed me a mug filled with black coffee and took up a seat next to me. I took it knowing it wouldn’t be to my taste, but would at least warm my hands.
Fluffing the skirts of her dress out, our mother sat on my reading chair, letting the material fall over the arms. She’d worn a far too lavish dress for a visit without an agenda. In fact, the last few times I saw her, she’d looked done up more than usual.
“I’ve made a decision.” She placed both hands in her lap. When her fingers could not stop trembling, she clasped her hands together.
“Sounds serious,” Amalee mocked.
“First, I love you both very much. And I loved your father too.” Her voice was a bit too airy.
“Makes one of us,” I grumbled.
She gave me a look only a mother could conjure. “But as I have grown, so has my need for companionship,” she continued. “I wanted you to hear it from me first. I intend to explore not only new friendships, but romantic relationships as well.”
“Nobody wants to hear about your sex life—” Amalee started.
“Give her a minute,” I interrupted, now more intrigued than I initially was, and gestured for her to continue.
Amalee stood. “No, her choice in men literally puts a target on our backs, this one won’t be any different.”
“Wait,” my mother started.
Amalee held out a hand. “No, I don’t want to hear it. We have enough issues without getting into an intercontinental war with the Suttons.” She turned on me. “Clearly, you both have the same goal in mind.”
I went to speak, but she continued.
“And for what? A guard? A woman that—”
“That I love!” I stood and met her toe to toe.
“A woman who risked herself for your girlfriend! Not only for Sky, but for a child whose mother handed her over as an offering. For a kingdom that is not her own! So yes, paint the fucking target because there is nothing I won’t do for her.
” I turned to our mother, who jumped to her feet with wide eyes.
“And if you choose to pursue Fisher, I will defend your decision. Because you deserve to be loved instead of beaten.”
My mother drew in a deep breath.
Micah cleared his throat pointedly from the stairs behind me. I turned to see what my mother had been staring at.
Not what, but who.
“Hi.” Audryn’s voice was hoarse as she leaned on Sky and Micah.
“You’re awake.” My words were a whisper.
“I’m awake.” She smiled. And for the first time in days, relief crashed over me.