20. Mother
CHAPTER TWENTY
Mother
“We cannot stop. They will scour every single inch of the kingdom.”
“But Cassiel, we have been walking since nightfall. Surely we are close to dawnlight and most concerningly, your ankle bone is poking through your flesh,” I exclaimed, squeezing my fingers into his side. “It will only worsen if you keep walking.”
“I will not have you die,” he snarled. His stride slowed and he turned to me. Cassiel’s immortal face seemed sharper in the moonlight. The hollows of his jaw jumped at his cheeks.
“Fine. Then allow me to bind it,” I spat at him.
I forcefully yanked myself free of his grip, grabbed the hem of my robe, and strained to rip it.
After the second attempt, Cassiel’s grip fell over mine and he wrenched it apart along the bottom, cutting a bit off until my shins were fully on display.
I took the strip and crouched. Mud and debris covered his foot and the wound.
A shard of bone protruded from the flesh.
My stomach rebelled, but I breathed shallowly and wound the strip from behind his leg to the front.
“Brace yourself,” I offered, then pulled the two sides together as tight as possible.
Cassiel swayed.
“Cassiel!” I caught his arm. He shook his head and straightened. “Dear Saints, you must rest.”
“Finish tightening it,” he said through gritted teeth.
I snarled in frustration, tightening the sash as tight as it would go, and wound it around until it was short enough to knot.
“And send you toppling on top of me? No thank you,” I huffed and popped to my feet to nestle against his side.
He snorted, and we continued our march through the thick foliage.
“The river should be near,” he said.
We continued our journey, our steps slowing with each stride. We managed to continue a bit longer before Cassiel staggered.
“I am telling you—”
“Silence,” he hissed. He gripped my wrist and forced me a short distance from his face. “Do not come out, regardless of what you hear. If they take me, let it be. You must escape.”
“What?” I hissed. “No!”
“Yes.”
“It’s me and you. Besides, we cannot be separated—”
He pressed his mouth against mine, cutting off my rant. ‘For once, listen, mortal.’
I ground my teeth, watching his eyes narrow as if he was listening for something. ‘It is Drusilla. Stay here. Do not move from here. If they capture me, you must continue.’
He clasped my face so tightly, my lips were smashed together. He did not allow me a response, turning to face the incoming beat of hooves. I huddled lower into the bushes.
The fool! If the bond was like Piper’s and mine, we could not be separated for longer than a moon rotation.
Drusilla rode Abrax through the trees. She seemed so small upon the beast. He reared upon seeing Cassiel with a snort. Cassiel spread his arms out and Abrax calmed. Drusilla had slid off the side of the horse.
“Cassiel,” she exclaimed, low and rushed. She slowed when he remained still. “My dear son.” She wrung her hands together. “If you hand that girl to me, I will convince Vaner to leave you be.”
“No.” Directly to the point.
“All I want is your safety. For you to be well,” she insisted.
He stepped toward her, so slowly it seemed purposeful. Drusilla’s shoulders drew up, but she did not move away.
“You say this, yet you left me behind.” There seemed to be no emotion in his voice, but underneath the blankness, there was true curiosity.
“You do not understand.” Drusilla combed her fingers through her hair.
“I worked at a brothel. I met Lord Vaner there. He charmed me. Made me fall for him. I was a single mother, and I did not have support. Nothing for you. We survived on water and bread. I wanted better for you,” she choked out.
“I knew nothing about hosts or Warlords, not until I met Lord Vaner. He pulled me out of the torment of barely surviving.”
Her hands shook as she reached forward. Cassiel let her hands rest on his chest. That more than anything made my eyebrows raise.
“The systems were not as well maintained as they are today. You know this—you saw it. I only wanted more for you. Then Vaner told me more about Warlords and his plans, so I offered you to him.”
Her exhale was shaky.
The slightest pinch of sympathy swelled. She’d been driven to—No. She killed Piper.
“He came to meet you when you were a boy, to determine whether you had a chance of being a Warlord. And you did.” She exhaled. “Vaner is a complicated man, but he loves me. If I give him no other option, he will leave us to live our lives. All you have to do is give me the girl.”
Silence. Meanwhile my mind raced. Would he take her offer? Would he believe it?
“Please, son. My heart has always been yours,” she insisted.
Finally, Cassiel cocked his head, silent for one nerve-wracking beat.
“No one touches her.” A faint smile lifted the corner of his lips. So eerie, it sent a chill down my spine. “Regardless, your heart is not the one I wish to keep.”
His hand disappeared into her chest. Liquid gushed around his hand, dripping blood down his wrist with each throb of her still beating heart.
I couldn’t stifle my gasp. I dropped out of my crouch, landing on my hip.
“But I will thank you for bringing me my horse.”
He tore his hand out, bringing with it a liquid-covered organ.
He studied me as he approached. A faint flicker crossed his features that was gone in the next breath. Something akin to sadness. He dropped it before me and returned to Abrax, Cassiel’s gait uneven.
I stared down at the blue-coated heart. The severed vessels still pulsed, squirting blood.
It belonged to the woman that took everything from me.
I slammed my fist down. Spatters sprayed across my robe.
Again and again until the mush beneath my hands was unrecognizable.
Heaving, I stared down at my stained palms.
Piper, I avenged you.
Lifting my chin, I collected myself and pushed to my feet with the effigy and grimoire, taking care not to get too much blood on them. I limped after Cassiel where he was checking all of Abrax’s hooves, and adjusting his sword attached to the saddle.
I waited, watching him struggle with every small movement. He brushed his hands together and straightened.
I held out the effigy. “Do you want this?” I shook it pointedly. Still he did not reach for it.
“No, I trust you with it.”
I pursed my lips. “You shouldn’t.” I lifted my chin. “All it takes is one snap of the neck, and I can escape you.”
He stiffened, studying me. “Do it.”
The daring tone put my teeth on edge. I pressed my mouth into a thin line. We stared each other down for a few breaths.
He held a hand out. “Ready, bondmate?”
“Please refrain from addressing me as such,” I said icily, taking his hand. He dragged me close to him, my chest bouncing against his torso. His arm wound around my waist, his entire hand engulfing my hip.
‘As you wish.’
“And cease speaking inside my head,” I ground out between teeth.
He chuckled and hoisted me up. I swung my leg over, balancing the grimoire and effigy. Cassiel reached behind to the side of the saddle to unwind a satchel, handing it to me.
“For your items.”
I didn’t refuse it and shoved both items inside. He shoved his foot into the stirrup and hoisted himself up and behind me. Much too close. I straightened my spine, but I could not escape his proximity.
Cassiel clicked his tongue, nudging the beast’s side. Abrax sprang forward, sending me back against his hard body.
“Are we not continuing toward the river?” The wind almost stole my words.
‘Abrax will take us far from here. We will keep to the woods.’
And so we rode.