Twenty-Six
CHAPTER
ZATHRIAN
How could I let this happen to her?
To my Mate. My Mate. How could I idly rot in this cell while I listened to him do who knows what to the woman I loved. I listened to her scream for hours. Every minute felt like a lifetime, and every hour felt like a millennia. It was torturous, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Damn these enchanted cells, with their damned enchanted chains and walls.
She didn’t know we were Mates. I knew that much. When the Mate Bond snapped in place for me at the Summer Solstice celebration, I thought that it was only a matter of time before it snapped in place for her. But now, I wasn’t certain.
Even before she fell into Neil’s trap, I tried to reach her through our Bond. No matter how hard I tried to break the divide between us and reach her, I couldn’t. Just like I couldn’t reach her now. It killed me.
I knew she felt alone, I could feel it. But I was here.
I would always be here. She needed to know that.
My skin was hot, a fire within my flesh.
A hole in my soul. I wanted to rip the door to this cell off its hinges and tear this damned Manor apart.
Curse this damned dungeon and the barrier that prevented us from using our magic to escape.
I would set the world on fire and let it all burn just to have her back in my arms again. She was all I wanted. She was everything to me, and she had no idea.
Time passed agonizingly slowly.
Gods above, I beg you, please give her strength. Take it from me and give it to her instead. I beg of you.
The moment I heard footsteps descending the spiral staircase, I rushed toward the bars of my cell. Gripping them with one hand, my other reached out for her.
She was covered in blood. Gods, there was so much blood. My heart pounded against my chest.
“Aerilyn!” I called out to her. She looked so frail, so fragile, so weak, so broken. Swallowing hard, my breath caught in my throat. I rushed to the wall that shared the one next to us the moment I could no longer see her. The one Acheron placed her in.
That bastard.
“Aerilyn, Aerilyn, please. Starshine, are you okay?” Laying down, I reached my arm through the arm-sized hole in the wall that separated us. “Aerilyn, please, come closer,” I whispered, coaxing her to come to me.
Please, let me touch you. Let me feel the warmth of your skin. Let me comfort you, please.
“I’m here,” I cooed, trying to comfort her while she cried.
“Shh… shh. It’s okay.” My hand drifted from hers, carefully touching her in any way I could to remind her I was there.
Blindly, I reached for her face, and she flinched.
My thumb grazed the cut on her cheek. I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to hurt her further by accident.
I’m going kill him for daring to put a finger on you.
Clenching my jaw, I choked back my own tears. Reaching for her neck, her skin was cold, moist, soaking wet from a cold sweat. My thumb grazed her jawline in an attempt at helping soothe her.
“I’m here,” I repeated.
Silence.
“I’m not leaving you. I am not giving up on you. You… You are so strong. So strong. I’m here. I’m here.” I continued.
And then she did it.
Her hands lifted to hug my arm. A single silent tear trickled down my face.
I smiled, only for a moment. For the first time ever, she didn’t pull away.
I tried to comfort her while she cried. She tired herself out so quickly, exhausting what little strength she had left.
She grew quiet not long after, and her tears came to a stop.
She was silent except for the soft rise and fall of her chest with every breath she took.
I lay there, my hand cradling her head like a warm pillow against the cold ground beneath us.
I’m here. I won’t leave you. You’re not alone.
I could barely see her through the wall, but it was enough to see how worn down she was. Even as she slept, she looked sad. So broken.
“How is she?” Mateo whispered, scooting closer to me. Viotto was already resting, his eyes closed and his breath coming in soft pants.
I didn’t need to look at her to sense the pain and distress she was in. I could feel it. I looked at her anyway, afraid that if I didn’t, she would somehow disappear. Even now, like this, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes upon.
“She’s okay. Sleeping, finally,” I whispered, my thumb idly rubbing soft circles against her skin, anything to soothe her.
Mateo nodded.
I’m going to take care of you.
My eyes didn’t dare leave hers. “I hope you were right about Acheron. Because if this doesn’t wor—”
“He will come through,” Mateo affirmed.
I hope so. I need to get her out of this wretched place. I don’t know how much more she can take. Or I. It kills me seeing her like this…
“Get some rest while you can,” I whispered.
Mateo nodded. “You should, too.”
I couldn’t rest knowing that if I did, she might slip through my fingers.
I didn’t dare move, not wanting to disturb Aerilyn.
Closing my eyes, I let out a long breath.
The barrier prevented us from using our magic to escape, but dream manipulation wasn’t an ability most within the Realm of Stars possessed—only those within my Court, or those specially trained by those within the Court.
Being the High Lord that I was, I managed to use what remaining energy I had to utilize my dream manipulation to my advantage.
It’s worth it. For her… She’s worth it.
Closing my eyes, I gave her a dream filled with her desires.
Shepherd’s pie, a warm bed filled with fuzzy blankets, music and laughter, all the things that made her smile. All things we had at home in the Realm of Stars. But here, all we had was each other.
Don’t worry, love. I will take care of you.
Slowly, I closed my eyes, too exhausted to keep them open any longer, especially after using my magic.
I cradled Aerilyn’s face in my palm while she hugged my arm.
As much as I wanted to sleep, I couldn’t.
Not right away, that is. Not with her so close yet so far.
I wanted to hold her against my chest and tell her how much I loved her.
Soon, Aerilyn, soon
Against my wishes, sleep found me in the same way it found her.