Chapter 10 #2
Connal watched her go. Cosmo would already be with Silenus, delivering whatever account he could of the warehouse attack and Connal’s condition. Neither of them would appreciate learning that the situation had changed again.
Avaneel returned moments later, perched on the shoulder of a healer carrying a leather case.
The healer crossed directly to Gomez and knelt beside the bed.
Gomez watched her open the case. “Before we begin, I have questions about what constitutes healing in this place.”
“She will answer them,” Cosmo said from the doorway. “Probably more patiently than I would.”
Power settled over the chamber as King Silenus entered beside him.
Connal and his brothers bowed. Luke rose from beside Gomez but remained close to his friend.
Silenus’s attention went first to Connal. “Cosmo tells me the bindings have been removed.”
“They have.”
“And that the healers ordered you to rest.”
“I have recovered.”
Cosmo made a disbelieving sound. “He regained consciousness moments ago.”
“He nearly fell when he sat up,” Luke added.
“I did not fall.”
“Because I caught you.”
Silenus pointed toward one of the oversized chairs. “Sit.”
Connal obeyed, although the concern tightening Luke’s expression made a stronger argument than his king’s command.
“I came for a preliminary account of what happened in the human realm,” Silenus said. “What caused your injuries?”
“The warehouse was protected by a containment structure,” Connal explained. “It prevented us from opening a portal and attached magical bindings each time it struck me.”
“The people who set the trap knew where I had been sent,” Luke added. “I was supposed to deliver a thumb drive there. I think that’s what they wanted.”
Silenus looked toward him. “Do you still have it?”
“Yes.”
“And whoever prepared the warehouse?”
“They were not present,” Connal said. “The containment structure activated when we entered. ”Silenus’s expression hardened. “Then the danger has not passed.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“The full account can wait. Until then, the drive remains in Luke’s possession, and no one returns to the warehouse without my authorization.”
Connal inclined his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Silenus turned toward the second human in the room. The healer had begun examining the rigid supports around Gomez’s legs while Gomez attempted to watch everything she did.
Cosmo crossed to his side. “And you must be Gomez.”
Gomez glanced from him to the King. “That depends. Am I in trouble?”
“Not unless you brought yourself here.”
“I absolutely did not.”
“That was my assumption.” Cosmo lowered himself beside the bed, bringing them closer to eye level. “Avaneel tells me you appreciated her wings.”
“They’re beautiful.”
From the healer’s shoulder, Avaneel beamed.
Cosmo smiled. “You have excellent instincts.”
Silenus turned to Zer. “Explain why you brought Gomez into my realm.”
“Luke stated that he could not remain without him,” Zer said. “I retrieved him.”
“Did Luke ask you to do that?”
“No.”
“Did Gomez?”
“No.”
“Then you should have recognized that neither of them had given you permission. Nor had I.”
Zer bowed his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you,” Gomez said.
Silenus looked toward him. “Were you harmed while being brought here?”
“Not physically. Emotionally, I’ll be preparing a detailed report.”
Cosmo brightened. “I look forward to receiving it.”
“I have charts in mind.”
“Excellent.”
The healer made a quiet sound of disapproval as Gomez attempted to turn toward Cosmo.
“Hold still,” she ordered.
Gomez immediately obeyed.
“You were brought here without your consent,” Silenus said. “You bear no responsibility for Zer’s decision.”
“That seems fair.”
“Your presence still requires consideration. This realm remains safe because its existence is concealed from the human world.”
“I don’t even know where I am.”
“That does limit his ability to reveal it,” Cosmo pointed out.
Silenus glanced at his mate. “It does.”
Luke moved closer to the bed. “He’s my family. Whatever happens next, I won’t agree to anything that puts him in danger.”
Cosmo rose and returned to Silenus’s side. “Luke called Gomez his brother.”
“I heard him,” Silenus said.
“Then understand what he meant.” Cosmo’s voice remained gentle, but the authority beneath it silenced the room.
“I lived among humans long enough to know that the family they choose can bind them as tightly as blood or any sworn oath. Luke was not naming a companion he preferred to keep nearby. He was telling us what he could not sacrifice.”
Silenus held his mate’s gaze.
Connal had witnessed Cosmo tease, argue with, and openly challenge the King when no one else would dare. Silenus always listened, even when he did not agree.
This time, understanding moved through his expression.
He looked at Connal. “If Gomez is returned to the human realm, what will Luke do?”
Connal had already learned the answer.
“He will go with him.”
Luke turned toward him. Surprise flickered across his face before he nodded. “Yes.”
Connal wanted Luke protected inside the Unseelie. He wanted his mate close enough to touch and safe from the people who had attacked them. None of that granted Connal the right to sever Luke from the family he had already chosen.
Silenus considered both humans. “Then neither of you will be removed from the Unseelie today. Gomez will remain under this court’s protection while the healer assesses his condition. Luke will remain while we investigate the attack and determine what his bond with Connal requires.”
Some of the tightness in Connal’s shoulders eased.
“This is temporary,” Silenus continued. “No permanent decision will be made while Gomez is injured, Connal is recovering, and Luke has had no time to consider his future.”
“I can agree to that,” Luke said.
“So can I,” Gomez added. “Although I reserve the right to update my position after someone explains where I am.”
“I’ll handle that,” Cosmo said.
“And the tiny flying people?”
“Those too.”
“Will there be snacks?”
“Naturally.”
Gomez settled back onto the bed, apparently satisfied.
Silenus returned his attention to Zer. “You will not retrieve anyone else from the human realm without direct authorization.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Good.” The King looked once more at Connal. “Rest. I expect your full report when you are capable of giving it.”
Connal bowed his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Cosmo, remain with our guests. Make certain they understand enough of their circumstances to avoid any further surprises.”
Cosmo smiled. “Gladly.”
Silenus departed, taking the weight of his authority with him.
Gomez released a long breath. “Okay. I’m going to need someone to explain literally all of that, because I feel like I just failed a test I didn’t know I was taking.”
Cosmo pulled another chair closer. “You’re inside the Unseelie, a pocket realm created to shelter fae living in the human world.”
“Fae,” Gomez repeated.
“Yes.”
“As in fairies?”
Avaneel gasped.
“Not precisely,” Cosmo said quickly.
“I am a pixie,” Avaneel announced.
“You’re still magnificent.”
Her outrage vanished.
Cosmo’s smile widened. “You and I are going to get along beautifully.”
Luke returned to Connal’s side while Cosmo began explaining the realm, pausing every few words to answer one of Gomez’s increasingly enthusiastic questions. The healer continued working around them, apparently accustomed to being ignored.
“You should lie down,” Luke said.
“I am sitting.”
“That wasn’t what I said.”
“It is a reasonable compromise.”
Luke gave him a look but settled beside him on the arm of the chair. When Connal offered his hand, Luke took it without hesitation.
Across the chamber, Gomez discovered that Cosmo possessed horns. His reaction drew Avaneel closer and brought Asterius and Keir into the conversation. Even Zer remained near the bed, watching the chaos he had brought into their home.
Connal had imagined finding his mate more times than he could count. None of those imaginings had included magical traps, broken human laws, or an injured man demanding snacks while interrogating the King’s Consort about his horns.
Luke’s fingers tightened around his.
Connal had wanted the bond completed from the moment it recognized Luke. Instead, Luke had given him time, trust, and a place at his side.
For now, it was enough.