Chapter 42 #3
Imogen shook her head. She supposed she didn’t.
Together, they rolled Railah onto her side.
Karrick retrieved water from the adjacent washroom.
Imogen opened Railah’s mouth and pushed the medicinal pellet into the back of her throat.
Karrick tipped water between her lips while Imogen prayed they didn’t accidentally suffocate her.
Railah’s brow furrowed as she struggled toward consciousness. She sputtered. Imogen forced her jaw shut. Relief swept through her as Railah’s throat bobbed with a swallow. After a quick check inside the young Fate’s mouth to confirm she did, in fact, consume the capsule, Imogen sank onto the bed.
Karrick sat back on his haunches, tail flicking behind him. His glossy charcoal-colored fur gleamed in the glow of firelight.
“How did you resist her?” Imogen asked against her better judgment. The scent of Railah’s fertility must have been overwhelming. Even she could identify the lingering pheromones that permeated the restrictive chamber.
Karrick raised a heavy brow. “Come on, Gen. I’m not a fucking monster.”
Imogen hugged her knees. “The others were.” When Karrick gave her a curious look, she continued. “The other males Vulgren used. They were locked in this room with their Fates, and many of those women didn’t survive.”
Karrick blew a frustrated breath out of his nostrils.
He gestured to himself with a clawed hand.
“You forget I am not from Asteros. I do not share their religious ideologies. I didn’t grow up suppressing this form.
” Then, almost to himself, he said with an air of disgust, “These Faithful Cursed and their idiotic practices. Just because you refuse to look in the mirror doesn’t mean your reflection doesn’t exist.” He paused, and Imogen processed his words.
“Those males can’t control themselves because they grew up ignoring the instincts of their second forms instead of learning how to navigate them. ”
Fucking gods. “Why did you never tell me this?”
Karrick shrugged, the gesture man-like. “I wasn’t sure you’d appreciate such blasphemy. Our time together was limited. By the time I trusted you, I wanted to spend it in other ways.” The hint of a smile lit his features, and Imogen felt her face warm.
The stirring of the unconscious Fate next to her reclaimed Imogen’s thoughts.
Railah’s brow pinched, and her pouting mouth turned down at the corners. Eyelids rimmed by long, honey lashes fluttered open. Karrick straightened from his crouch. He and Imogen shared a look of acknowledgment.
With some effort, Railah pushed herself up into a sitting position.
The cloak slipped down to pool around her waist. The Fate blinked, wiped her mouth, and glanced between Imogen and Karrick.
“What…” She swallowed. Her gaze traveled down the length of her exposed body.
“Did I perform to the Goddess’s satisfaction? ”
Imogen stifled a grunt of annoyance and reached over to jerk the cloak up over Railah’s chest. “Unfortunately, the Goddess declined to bless this coupling.”
The first real emotion Imogen had ever seen passed over Railah’s visage. Despair. “I have been found unworthy? But how? Why?”
Divine mercy, this was painful. Imogen schooled her features. “Not unworthy. These things take…time.”
Railah’s lip trembled. “But we are so close to the Autumn Reaping. To the Prima’s holy presentation.” Her voice cracked. “Mender Vulgren will be so disappointed. I have failed.”
“No,” Imogen reassured her. “I will speak with him. You did nothing wrong.”
“What do I do? How can I fix this?”
“Rest,” Imogen said firmly.
“Pray,” Karrick suggested darkly.
Imogen glared at him. He’d shifted back to first form and stood on the fringe of shadows, wearing his midnight cloak like a reaper might wear its soul-stealing shroud.
Railah scrambled to her feet and prostrated herself before Karrick, her own cloak forgotten. “Yes, Lord. I will spend every moment I am away from you in prayer. Forgive my inadequacy. I will not fail you again.”
Lord? Oh, for the love of gods…Imogen grabbed the cloak and dropped it over the curve of Railah’s back, ignoring Karrick’s bemused expression. “Get up, Railah. One of the maids will escort you to your chambers.”
Railah stood, and the cloak slipped once more off her naked body. Karrick averted his gaze.
“Fated Mother,” Imogen forced through clenched teeth. “The time for exposing one’s fleshly form has passed. Cover yourself.”
The young woman had the wherewithal to obey. She swept her Fate’s cloak over her shoulders, concealed her face beneath its deep hood, and fled to wait by the exit.
“Where’d they find that one?” Karrick grumbled.
Imogen shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to consider how fucked up their city was.
How indoctrinated their people had become.
How, based on what Karrick had revealed to her, Imogen wasn’t exempt.
They didn’t have time to dive into the particulars of their collective societal misguiding. She and Karrick would be having words.
But not now. Not when Vulgren was expected back any minute, and Imogen had to compose herself enough to provide a believable report.
“Later,” was all she said.
Karrick only nodded and placed the key to his chains in her hand.