Chapter Twenty-One #2
Magic was all around me, just as Phantasia said. Because of the rivers of mana flowing beneath the soil. I felt a current flowing through me as well, an ever-present hum in my veins since the moment I woke from breaking Onyx’s curse.
A healer. That’s what Briar believed me to be. Whether that was true or not had yet to be determined, but it felt right. Helping people with my powers was all I wanted to do. I didn’t want to destroy like Saint Vera or cause anyone pain.
“Well, Sir Chub,” I told the fish who’d once again swam up to greet me. “Remember the dilemma over my powers? Things are better now.”
Bloop.
“Thank you,” I said, imagining he’d congratulated me in his cute, fishy way. “My troubles are far from over though. I still have a possible war to fight in the future.”
Steps approached from behind me, coming through the grass. The scent of peaches tickled my nose, then black cardamom. Something smoky and comforting came with them, like a fire on a cold winter’s night.
I looked over my shoulder, finding three of my mates and an adorable Fenrir pup. My other fur child, Pumpkin, had returned to the greenhouse for the time being. Onyx didn’t mind. It was a safe place for the tree demon where he could be in the environment he loved without all the danger.
“Evening, little treasure,” Rowan said, then glanced at the pond. “Have you and the fish formed a truce?”
I snickered. “Guess so. Where’s Maddox, Cal, and Briar?”
“Specs is in the kitchen with Varys and Fane drinking tea,” Rowan answered. “And the knights are with Titus.”
“The jolly good peppermint twink,” I said, nodding to myself.
Onyx laughed. “Is that your nickname for the captain of my scouts? He will throw quite the tantrum when he hears of it.”
“Twinks and tantrums go together like peanut butter and jelly.” I patted the spot beside me. “I should know. I can be a massive brat when I wanna be.”
The three of them joined me by the pond, Onyx sitting to my left and Lake to my right. Rowan hopped up in the tree and dangled one leg, bending the other at the knee as he rested his back against the trunk.
Oreo nuzzled my back before padding over and sprawling out near the water, greeting his fishy friend again.
“Why are they meeting with Titus?” I asked, finally processing their words. I’d been too distracted by the twink thing to grasp the meaning. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. For now.” Onyx grabbed my hand and smoothed his thumb over my inner wrist. “The scouts returned earlier with news from Bremloc. Cedric has officially been crowned. Bremloc has a new king at last.”
“A cruel jerk of a king,” I mumbled, bringing both my knees up and resting my arm on top.
“Did I tell you he pushed Sawyer down the stairs when they were kids? Tried to kill his own brother just because he was curious about how his blood would look when it spilled out of him. Which is why everything is not okay with him being king. You lied, my lord.”
Onyx stared at me, silent at first. And then his lips twitched. “Very well. Allow me to try again. The situation is quite dire, little bird. An evil king rules over Bremloc, therefore, you haven’t a choice but to remain here with me until… hmm. Half a century has passed.”
“Half a century?” I gaped. “Awesome. I’ll be old and wrinkly while you still look like a freaking god. Young and beautiful forever.”
Pain glinted in his eyes. “You’ll still be beautiful to me no matter how many years have passed. Even when your skin wrinkles and gray hair replaces the gold.”
Pressure enclosed my sternum. I hadn’t thought too much on it before now. The bittersweet reality that, unlike with my other fated mates, Onyx would have to endure many years alone long after our bones had turned to dust.
“My hair will turn white,” Rowan said from his perch in the tree. “Then the pup and I will look like brothers.”
Lake scoffed. “My hair is silver, like the moon. Not white.”
“You really wanna smack me with that tail, don’t you?” Rowan smirked down at him.
Lake’s purple eyes narrowed. “Where is Callum and his arsenal of pebbles? I wish for him to knock you from that branch.”
Their banter made me laugh. But some of that bittersweet ache remained in my chest. Nothing lasted forever. People grew old and died. Onyx would too—eventually. But not after several more centuries have passed.
No point in worrying about it now. We still had many years ahead of us.
Years full of happiness and lots and lots of sex. The ache in my backside was a reminder of the latter. Onyx had made love to me for most of the night, followed by us waking for breakfast, then Maddox whisking me away midday for an afternoon delight in our room.
Maybe I wouldn’t survive another half century. They might very well fuck me to death before then.
“What about Stryder?” I asked, gently squeezing Onyx’s hand. And smiling when he squeezed mine back. “Any updates about him?”
“He’s still holed up in the brothel.” Rowan slowly swung his leg. Oreo went over and sat beneath the branch, following the movement with his head.
A memory prickled at my skull. “I think his dad was one of the mercenaries who tracked me down as a baby. In the vision, one of them looked just like Stryder. Had his accent too.” I peered at Rowan. “Just like yours too.”
“Aye,” he answered. “The night of the ball when we all fought in the forest, I got the sense he was from Solynia. Didn’t have time to sit down and chat, of course, between all the killing and such. But…” His brow furrowed. “He seems familiar.”
“Familiar?” I sat up higher, curious. “Like you might’ve met him in the past?”
“Maybe,” he responded, then withdrew the dagger from his side, slowly turning it in his hand. “That blade I gave you, little treasure? He has the same one.”