Chapter 6
Aurora
The council stays in Riverholm the next few days helping me strengthen my powers and prepare for the inevitable.
Numara helps me better harness my light. I can call on it quicker and make it burn brighter with a single breath. Light crackles between my fingers as it ebbs and flows to my whim.
With Estis’ instruction, I can form a physical shield of light that deflects both magical and weapons attacks, as well as block threats to my mind. Moira is swift on her feet, teaching me how to move in tandem with my magic to be a lithe attacker.
I’m staring at three charred hay bales I fired at while Estis attempted to pry through my mental shields. By the time the third was ablaze, it took all my effort to keep him out of my mind.
I bend at the waist, my palms resting on my knees as I suck in air and try to steady myself. I straighten just in time to outmaneuver shadow daggers Estis insists on unleashing on me ‘just to be sure I’m ready.’
Moira bounces on her tiptoes and claps her hands with glee, and Numara smiles proudly before punching Estis’ arm. A smug grin is plastered on his face, and he gives me a curt nod.He’s still an ass. But I smile to myself as I gain his favor.
I don’t see Merric much at all, except when it’s time to eat. Soren explains Merric’s power lies in weaponry, so the temperamental mountain fae spends his days at the town forge crafting blades and armor.
The morning of my departure, I’m standing in the field in front of Stonesmoor, my hand grazing over the feather soft blades of grass swaying in the breeze. It’s peaceful here. It’s the type of nature I appreciate. Safe and familiar.
A hand lands softly on my shoulder, pulling my focus from the serene view. I turn to see Clara smiling warmly at me. Her green eyes sparkle, and I know she is doing her best not to break down in front of me. She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out.
I throw my arms around her neck and bury my face in her hair. She hugs me tight.
After a moment, she sighs, pulling back to look at my face. “You take care of yourself, you hear?”
I nod, sniffling.
“And don’t you worry about Soren. I will keep him in line, lest we all go crazy.” She chuckles.
My heart sinks, and a lump rises in my throat.
I tried my best all morning to keep my thoughts off leaving Soren.
We made love the night before and again this morning, savoring each other’s touch.
But when my stomach growled, Soren chuckled and demanded we get out of bed.
He wouldn’t have his lady leave town without a proper meal.
Soren busies himself after breakfast, ensuring I have everything I need before he disappears to sharpen his weapons. I don’t know what he’s trying to accomplish, but I let him release his nervous energy the best way he knows how—feeling as though he is protecting me.
My eyes fall from Clara’s face as I kick the dirt at my feet. “Yes. Take care of him, please. Don’t let him worry too much about me. I’ll be okay.” I gaze back up at her.
“I know you will. I know it.” She smiles softly at me and grasps my hands in hers. “Speaking of the man himself.” Clara nods over my shoulder.
I turn to see Soren prowling toward me, an agitated look on his face. Dear gods, he is so sexy when he’s angry and possessive.
Clara gives me a last smile before releasing my hands and striding toward the house.
“Everything okay?” I ask as Soren approaches, dressed for battle in thick leather pants, riding boots, and a fitted leather chest plate over his dark tunic. His thighs and waist are strapped with daggers and knives, while a sword hangs down his back, its hilt peeking out above his shoulder.
His amber eyes narrow. “Not even close. But save for riding on the bastard’s back with you, I’m resigning myself to the fact that you’re ready and will return to me as quickly as possible.”
My palm brushes his cheek, my fingers dragging over the stubble along his jaw. He has an incredible way of looking disheveled and composed at the same time that is so damn appealing.
My stomach drops. “Wait a minute. Is he actually going to fly me to the Northern Shadows?” I hadn’t considered it, assuming we would ride by horse.
Soren raises an eyebrow. “He’s a seraph, so flying is typically their preferred mode of transportation.”
My head spins.
Soren’s arms wrap around me. “I can demand him to take you by horse, but that will mean a longer journey and many stops along the way.”
I think about sharing a room with a strange fae male like I did with Soren and shudder.
“No, I will be okay. I just want to get it over with and come back to you.” I smile up at him, memorizing the lines of his face and the warmth of his eyes.
Everything will be alright. It has to be. I will tell Lord Arc what we know about the half-blooded fae and convince him to join us against his father. I will be with Camryn and ensure she’s alright and bring her back to Riverholm.
I’m reciting my plan in my head like a prayer when something flashes in the sky. A moment later, a dark silhouette descends from the clouds, dropping to the ground a few yards in front of where Soren and I stand.
All I see is a flash of black with streaks of red and orange, like a midnight bonfire.
Soren steps in front of me, and as the figure rises from its hunched stance, it looms over Soren’s impressive frame.
I peek around Soren at a massive fae male with bronzed skin and bright red wings that flare out wide from his broad back. They resemble Numara’s, but their shock of color speaks of a threat of blood and battle.
The warrior fae wears all black—leather pants and a high-collared sleeveless top that hugs his chest, showing off his sculpted arms.
Observing the look of fury on Soren’s face and my dumbstruck expression, the male grins, flashing brilliant white teeth on a face that is so beautiful it’s cruel.
“The famed Silverveil sentinel, what a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the male croons.
Soren growls. “Caelum. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t gut you right here and deliver your head back to Lord Arc myself.”
My eyes widen at Soren’s gruesome threat. But heat ripples through me at his possessiveness.
Caelum merely chuckles. “As much as I would love to see the look on Arc’s face when you do so, you’d only make the situation worse for yourself and your little lady.” He peers around Soren to wink at me.
He winked at me.
“What does he want with Aurora?” Soren asks through gritted teeth.
“Look, I’m just the messenger, wings and all.
” He turns around to flex his impressive wingspan before turning back to us.
“Arc has his reasons. I’m guessing it has something to do with the fact that a mortal woman who fell into our realm suddenly developed fae powers and murdered one of his most lethal sentries.
Just a guess.” Caelum folds his arms across his powerful chest and glares at Soren.
“And Camryn?” I chime in from behind Soren. I place my hand on his shoulder, hoping my touch will ease his tension. “How is she?”
Caelum rolls his shoulders, and his jaw clenches. “No one has harmed her.”
Air rushes from my lungs.
“She’s an obstinate one. Fiery,” Caelum adds, his chin tipping up slightly.
A small laugh escapes my lips. “Sounds about right.”
“Miss Aurora, I am Caelum, and I am honored to be your chariot and tour guide across the realm.” He playfully bows to me, and I can’t help but blush at his mock chivalry.
Soren clears his throat beside me, and I put my hand on his arm.
“Nice to meet you ... I guess.” I can’t decide if I should loathe him simply for being aligned with Lord Arc or play nice.
“Yeah, I get it. But maybe I’ll grow on you.” He grins at me.
Soren rumbles again.
“How long will I be gone? Will Camryn be coming back with me?” I stare into his golden eyes. Although similar in color to Soren’s, Caelum’s eyes glimmer with hints of orange and deep brown. Like darkness and flame dance just below the surface.
Caelum’s mouth presses into a hard line and his brow furrows. “I don’t have those answers. But I promise to deliver you back here as soon as possible.”
His lack of clarity worries me, and the anger radiating off Soren makes my stomach churn.
“How do I know that Lord Arc won’t keep her locked away in the Shadows forever?” Soren demands.
Caelum glares into Soren’s eyes. “You don’t.”
A lump rises in my throat.
Soren steps closer to Caelum, the two men almost pressing chest to chest. “I need proof she is safe. I need some way to see for myself that she remains unharmed.”
“Yeah, he thought you’d say that,” Caelum replies. He slides a hand into the back pocket of his pants and pulls out something shiny in the palm of his hand. He tosses it to Soren, who catches it midair without taking his eyes off Caelum.
It’s silver and round, and by the way light reflects on the ground when Soren flips it open, I can tell it’s mirrored glass. I look down at the item in Soren’s hand. It’s almost like a compact scrying mirror.
“That’s exactly what it is,” Caelum replies, looking at me with a mischievous grin.
My eyes widen as I realize my thoughts are unprotected. Recalling Estis’ training, I furiously wrap my mind with the blinding light of my magic.
“Oh, nice,” Caelum says in response to my mental shield.
“I like to dabble in light magic myself.” He holds a palm face up, a ball of light popping to life in his hand.
He flashes me another dazzling smile before bringing his hand near his mouth and blowing.
When he does, the orb of light dissipates into a thousand tiny specs of light that trickle to the ground like falling stars.
I can’t help but smile, despite his intrusion in my mind. For someone who supposedly serves a dark lord, he isn’t very scary.
Brushing his hands together as if to clear the rest of his magic, he turns toward me. “Well, it’s actually more of a communication device. He will have this one, and another back at the palace will be for you. You can speak and see each other through it.”
“Anytime we want?” I ask, leaning close to Soren, who eyes the glass with skepticism.
“Yep,” Caelum replies.
“How do I know it’s not an illusion? That it’s really Aurora?” Soren holds the small glass in his hands and looks up at Caelum.
“Man, you’re sure wound tight.” Caelum looks at me and gestures to Soren with his thumb. “You’re into this? I’m exhausted and I’ve been here less than five minutes.”
I try to hold back my blush. Soren and I are similar in many ways. He also needs to know what to expect. To have all the information possible to formulate a fool-proof plan.
“Caelum,” Soren seethes.
Frustrated, Caelum turns his attention to Soren.
“Look, despite what most people in Silverveil believe about Lord Arc and the Northern Shadows, most of us aren’t evil, hoping for the world’s demise.
Quite the opposite, actually. So how about you pull your head out of your ass and try trusting that everyone isn’t out to get you for once? ”
My mouth gapes. Caelum has alpha energy, and I have never heard another male speak to Soren in such a manner.
I expect Soren’s faltering demeanor to crack and weapons to be drawn. But to my surprise, Soren only glares back at Caelum, taking a deep breath.
“I will play your game and trust, as you say. But know this, if anyone touches as much as a single hair on her head or speaks to her in any way that causes her pain, I will storm the palace, slaughtering anyone who gets in my way, and I will bleed them out in the most slow and torturous manner possible.”
Dear gods. Heat pools between my thighs at Soren’s words. He may be possessive, but he is mine. And I am his. I never have to guess what I mean to him. I know deep in my bones that Soren would kill for me, even if it means a death sentence for himself.
“Noted,” Caelum replies with a grin before turning to me. “Are you ready to saddle up?” He flashes another smile at me and winks.
I roll my eyes. “Can we have a minute?”
Caelum chuckles. “Oh, yeah. Sure, sure. Try not to let his sunny disposition rub off on you, though,” he teases as he turns and strides several yards away, giving Soren and me some privacy.
Soren stares daggers into Caelum’s back before my hand strokes his face, drawing his attention to me.
He leans into my touch. “I can’t let you go. I just can’t.”
My mouth twitches. “You can, and you will.” My thumb brushes over his lips, and he kisses it, wrapping his hands around mine and holding them there. “I will be okay. I know it.”
His amber eyes look deep into mine.
“I’m not happy about leaving you, but you’re needed here. You have an army to train.” I smile at him, hoping to instill a sense of purpose in him while I’m gone.
Soren releases my hands to stroke my face with his fingers. “I love you, My Flame. You are strong, and brilliant, and will bring the world to its knees. I love you so much.”
I throw my arms around his neck and press my lips to his. Our lips part, my tongue slipping into his mouth. The intensity radiates through my body. After a moment, I reluctantly break the kiss. “I love you.”
Our foreheads press together, and I close my eyes, breathing in his scent. I bottle it up in my memory.
Rocks crunch beneath heavy feet. “That’s precious.” Caelum smirks. “But unless you’d like to spend the night at an inn with me, it’s best we get going.”
Soren growls at him before returning his gaze to me. “Give him hell, love.” He smiles, and it takes everything in me to release him and step toward the waiting seraph.
“I love you,” I say again before Caelum scoops me into his arms and pulls me to his hard chest.
Soren steps toward us in response, but halts himself.
“Touching is necessary, I’m afraid.” Caelum grins.
I roll my eyes, my clammy hands clinging to his neck. “Let’s go.” I can’t stand to watch Soren’s heart break as I lay in the arms of another male who’s about to whisk me to the other side of the realm.
“Yes, my lady,” Caelum replies before crouching low and catapulting us into the sky.
I look down at Soren, watching his form shrink as we disappear higher into the clouds. Tears spill from my eyes as his face blurs below.