CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“I WANT GUARDS AT EVERY entry point into Maleen. I need you all in groups of two to keep watch, circling the perimeter of the city. I want no one in or out until further notice or approved by me,” I growl. No one will be getting to Ravina. No one. I will protect her.
Her scars flash across my thoughts and I feel the urge to pummel shit into dust again, my magick pulsing in my fists.
I shouldn’t have run out on her; I should have stayed and comforted my mate, but I couldn’t.
Not because her scars make her any less beautiful and strong, although she should have never had to endure that.
No, I ran because I didn’t want her to see me that angry, that full of rage.
It was like I became a different male—all I could see was red, no thoughts, only destruction.
My fists curl, and some of the soldiers side-eye me as they scurry off to do as commanded.
Crescent indents from my nails cut into my flesh and I feel the beads of blood roll between my fingers.
That fucking bastard is still out there, and I won’t rest until his head is on a fucking pike.
I’ll take pleasure ripping his head from his spine with my bare hands after I recreate every damn mark on my mate’s body.
Anger shudders through me, gripping me tightly. She should have never had to experience any of that. She should have been safe. Memories from my past hold me against my will as I slip in and out of them.
I fall to my knees in the middle of my father’s training grounds, sweat and blood pooling beneath me as I pant through the pain.
“Again!” my father bellows, and I hear the whistle of the whip before its sharp iron tip rips through my flesh. “On your feet son,” he sneers. “Formations again, and they better be fucking perfect this time or I’ll bring your mother out.”
Panic takes hold in my throat as I climb to my feet with shaky legs.
The sword in my hand weighs only a few pounds but right now, it feels as if I’m trying to lift a boulder.
I grasp it tightly in both hands, starting the formations again, the movements so familiar that I should be able to do them in my sleep, but with every stretch my wounds reopen.
I grit through the pain, even as my hot, sticky blood drips down my back.
I’m careful with every movement. I need to protect her; every movement needs to be perfect. I can’t have her brought out here. I can’t let her see me like this.
My body is shaking with effort as my father circles me, watching every movement with a dragon’s precision. Then my body betrays me and the grasp I have on the sword slips slightly. No, no, no.
“Get my mate,” he snaps at one of his guards.
“No, leave her out of this. Let me try again!” I beg.
His strike is so fast I barely register the pain until his hand is back at his side. Blood beads and spills down my cheek; the iron ring he wears just for these lessons, glistens with red. “Don’t fucking speak. You brought this on yourself.”
My mother’s voice rings out into the yard. “Leave my son alone! He’s just a fledgling!” She struggles against the guard, trying to get to me, or him. I’m not sure.
“He’s twelve, practically fully grown. Maybe if you bred a competent male, we wouldn’t be doing this, mate.”
Tears prick at my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall as they force her to her knees in front of me.
“Son,” she cries, reaching out to brush the blood from my cheek. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t know he would do this, I didn’t—”
Pain lances up my back again and I scream out in pain from the unsuspected lashing.
My father laughs. “Your son is weak,” he spits. “He can’t even do simple formations. At his age, I was already leading my own squad!”
She gasps, grabbing hold of me, trying to cover me to protect me from my fathers wrath. “He’s still a fledgling! He has years until he’s fully grown, this is barbaric!”
The whip whistles again and I try to push her off me, but it’s too late—her arms and my back are caught in the crossfire and she screams in rage.
“Mother! Stop, father! Don’t hurt her!”
His grin is cruel and slimy as it spreads across his face, as if our begging brings him joy.
“I think you’ve been coddled enough by this female.
Every time she comes to your defense, or you hers, you will receive discipline.
I won’t have a weak, female simp for a son.
And by the time I’m done with both of you, you’ll never crave the comforting touch of mother and son.
In fact, she will wish you’ll have never been born. ”
My mother’s sobs and screams echo into the present and I gasp, staggering back.
I need to go, I need to feel the biting pain of my fists breaking things.
I won’t let it happen to her—no I will save her this time.
I’m not a fledgling anymore. I’m a male who doesn’t baulk at the sight of death.
I embrace it, and this time will be different.
Nero lands on the training dummy next to me, tilting his head as his beady little eyes examine me with what seems like interest.
“Kill?” Ravina’s voice comes from behind me.
My eyes shutter closed for a moment before I slowly turn to face her, shame building in my gut.
“Are you okay?” she takes a step closer, appraising me with concern pinching her brows.
“I should be the one asking you that,” I grumble, my voice coming out rough with buried emotions trying to break through.
She shrugs with a small smile. “I’ve made peace with my past, but I’m still healing. All of you knowing helps, but I am sorry it upsets you. I hope…” she trails off as she fidgets with her hands, looking away toward the troops training in formations.
“What is it, Little Warrior?” I ask, hesitantly, my fist balling as I feel the tight scars on my back when I reach for her. My hand lands gently on her shoulder and I nearly collapse in relief as no pain comes. We are okay, I remind myself.
She takes a deep breath and stares up at me with her all-consuming eyes. “I hope… If you still wanted me after seeing how mangled my back is… I know it might be silly to ask, but part of me is still so insecure about it, and the others have tried to assure me, but I need to hear you say it.”
Shock punches me in the gut as I scoop her up into my arms, not caring that anyone else is around to see it.
My body relaxes and my mind clears as I hold her close and savor how much having her in my arms brings me peace now.
It was something I never thought would be possible after everything.
“I will want you until my dying breath and then again when I find you in the next life. I need to apologize for running out. I just—”
She darts herself up slightly, pecking me quickly on the lips. “You don’t need to apologize. I’ve been there and—”
“You should have never had to deal with what that fucking village put you through,” I growl, getting a few looks from others around the yard.
She laughs. “Nero agrees with you. But you should put me down, as much as I wish I could stay in your arms all day. I did have a message to deliver, and I volunteered for obvious reasons.”
I shake my head. “How about you deliver your message, and I’ll think about putting you down. You quiet my mind,” I add in a low whisper, meant only for her ears. I need this for just a few minutes longer.
Her smile makes my stomach erupt into butterflies as she nods.
“Talyn said that all the anti-dragon artillery has been loaded and made ready. Shadowflame torches and pits have been lit around the city, and Aemon has sent word for the entire Vathian army and rebels to make their way here, so be prepared for an influx of fae. They’ve been given a code phrase so you know they are friendlies,” she recites.
“And what is this phrase?” I murmur, enjoying the warmth of her body against mine.
“It was Jesper’s idea,” she warned. Nero caws. “And Nero’s”
I raise a brow, waiting for her to continue.
“Ocular gems,” she laughs. “They were trying to make it “Plucking my enemies’ eyeballs” but we vetoed that.”
“Probably wise, I agree.” Nero lands on my shoulder and bites my ear before flying off. “You little shit,” I yell at him and I swear I hear him laughing.
“I should probably get back,” she sighs. “Cynder and I are doing a castle tour soon. I want to show her where she would have grown up if we were raised together. Do you want to meet me later?” she asks hesitantly.
“Of course. In the library?” It was part of the reason we came here. The royal library is filled with all sorts of knowledge and secrets. Fae from all over would put in requests to visit, before the war.
She grins widely. “I’ll meet you at our table.”
My heart races with nerves and excitement, warming my body in ways only this stunning female could. “It’s a date,” I promise before placing her down and watching her walk across the yard and into the castle.
That female is my entire world, and I would burn it all down if it meant never having a bad thing happen to her again.