14. Nahomie
Nahomie
I must have offended the Infinite somehow and ended up in one of the Six Hèls. By the stars, I was in pain.
“Bleeding, rotting, burning...” I grumbled, carefully rolling over onto an arm.
“Roièssa Nahomie! Such language.”
I couldn’t tell who was speaking. Really, I didn’t give a rot.
Every one of my limbs, my muscles, my bones, burned.
“To the hèls with your etiquette,” I groaned, my head throbbing. “I am in agony.”
A wet muzzle brushed my cheek. A large, furry body pressed into my side.
The familiar scent of cinders from an open flame wafted beneath my nostrils, mixed with the island air.
Only one creature would have the nerve to climb into my bedcloud while still smelling like the outdoors.
I cracked an eye open and found two bright crimson pearls looking back at me.
“Bones Octavius Namarielle.” My voice sounded like broken gravel. Blessed lights. What happened to me? Why did I feel like this? “Where in the flaming hèls have you been?”
The cinderwolf tilted his head at me as if it were obvious.
“With the Gargorètti, Obsidian. How did you not know that?”
If I had the energy, I would knock him upside the head.
The last time I’d seen my beloved cinderwolf was while I held his unconscious body in my limp arms as Obsidian carried us away to safety.
Now he cuddled into my side with a perfect bill of health as if he hadn’t been on death’s door.
His voice rang in my mind like bells, causing my headache to worsen.
“Out loud,” I moaned, bringing my palms to my temples. “Talk out loud.” I bent over, dry-heaving. “Infinite-stars, it hurts so bad.”
“Stop being dramatic.” A kiss of the teeth. The first voice curled around my ears, irritated. “Since you can use such colorful language, you can get off your hide and wake up, I dare say. Blessed lights. It’s been nearly a week!”
Almost twelve dawns had gone by? How did I end up bedridden for that long?
It took another moment, but the voice finally registered.
Saundeiah. This had to be Saundeiah. Only the Nanmiess could be this bull-headed and pretentious so early in the dawn.
I peeled my eyes open, groaning at the shards of sunlight piercing through the thick drapes.
“Our Roièssa is just as bad as our Roi.” A small whisper reached my ears. “They’re a perfect pair, these two.”
That was debatable.
Tassarion Everthorn and I were certainly not the perfect pair.
And now that the wingbinding was done, I could freely do whatever I wanted.
The first thing I planned to do was get myself a small, secluded cottage on the opposite end of this gargantuan island.
Best to put all the distance in the world between myself and the Monster King.
I shoved my body upwards, coming to land on an elbow.
The softness of the bedcloud did nothing to ease the ache in my joints.
The burns along my skin. Fire licked my bones.
Every joint was stiff. Every limb sore. As if I’d been flying in a marathon at full speed for dawns on end. Then a thought registered.
Roièssa.
I blinked.
Queen.
Why had the Nanmiess called me that?
“Saundeiah. Why did you?—”
“That wasn’t me, Madame. It was my mentee who?—”
My words fell off my tongue abruptly as I tuned out the rest of Saundeiah’s words. I’d been turning to look at her when I noticed the pattern of thorns and stars along my right index finger. Then my palm. Then up my arm.
Oh, no.
I raced through my thoughts, flying through the last memories I had.
Tassarion had brought me to his lair beneath the manor.
He’d made me a bargain. Protection from the Empyrean for becoming his wingmate.
I didn’t think of anything that could go wrong, so I agreed.
It’s not like the king was actually serious.
Saundeiah had reluctantly helped wash me. Freshen my braids. Dress me. Terrified and in shock of their presence, I was found by the Gargorètti. Escorted to the beach, and...
Oh.
Oh, bleeding skies.
I looked at my hand again, and my blood turned to ice. Gingerly, I raised my eyes to the soul. She floated patiently a few wing beats from the edge of the bedcloud, blinking at me through the draping canopy curtains. She wore a curious expression.
No.
My stomach turned into knots. Instant nausea exploded in my gut. I felt sick. Like I was going to vomit. Bleeding, burning, hèls.
What had I done?
Breathe, Nahomie. Breathe!
I couldn’t. I’d been so desperate to escape the Ivory Rain, the Farasee Order, that I stupendously agreed to another gilded cage without thinking of the cost. It wasn’t supposed to be real. I’d genuinely thought it was all a joke, but...
I looked at my hand again. Trailed the pattern up my arm.
I looked within myself, closing my eyes as I concentrated on my ethèr, the well of elemental blackfire brimming into overflow.
And the power of Soul Bending as steel-blue lightning coiling itself through my fire. I wrenched my eyes open and gasped.
Stars.
I sat up straight. Suddenly the pain burning through my limbs no longer felt so bad. My thoughts were racing. I had to get away from him before he saw me. Before he got any other ideas. Before he...
I thought of my soreness. I looked down at my body, seeing the fading handprints. The disappearing bruises. No burning way?—
“He didn’t, Madame.”
Saundeiah interrupted my thoughts before they spiraled all the way to the Hèls.
“Raephim Khaziah has been working on you this last week. These unfortunate bruises happened right after your bond to our Roi Tassarion sealed. We can’t explain what happened.
Khaziah has cured many rare cases that befall angels, but she’s seen nothing like this before.
You were badly wounded, but it wasn’t the king.
Roi Tassarion would never... violate you. ”
The anxiety swelling in my chest deflated like a balloon.
Tassarion, though beastly and bullish, didn’t seem like the type.
But I would never be dumb enough to assume he wouldn’t.
By Saundeiah’s tone, and the frantic expression on her face, I knew she wasn’t lying.
Thank the stars. A part of my brain, my soul, would have broken if I’d learned otherwise.
You wouldn’t have been so lucky if you were in the hands of the Farasees.
I swallowed through a thick knot in my throat. The truth in that thought clanged around in my hearts and ears, ringing like bells.
Air.
I needed air.
That would help me process all of this.
I looked at Saundeiah, who had a youngling Nanmiess with her. Both souls looked stressed. As if I were a peculiar creature and they had no clue what to do with me. A penetrating longing unraveled in my chest. I missed Manmi and Papi. I missed my home.
Bones nuzzled my side.
“It’s okay, Emie.” He pressed his head into my chest, cuddling into my arms. I bowed my head low, fighting the tears burning my eyes.
“You’re safe,” the cinderwolf whispered, his melodious voice wrapping a warm embrace around my defeated shoulders.
Holding onto Bones, I rubbed his fur as my tears fell.
I was a target marked for capture, for death, by the Empyrean.
I was a long way from home and probably could never return.
I was also now a wife.
I felt so alone. So confused.
“I miss Manmi, Bones. She would know what to do.”
The cinderwolf looked up at me, grief darkening his eyes. He tilted his head, looking at me for a long time before nuzzling me with his nose again, trying to make me feel better.
“My Emie,” he rumbled. Saundeiah watched us go back and forth without interrupting, keeping quiet. “The Order cannot find you. That matters most right now.”
“Roièssa...”
The small voice from earlier spoke again.
I dabbed my eyes with the back of my hand, drying my tears, pushing the thoughts of my family, of Edenael, to the back of my mind.
It was time to show some gratitude. I was a stranger here.
And thus far, while I was met with peculiarities and strangeness, I’d also been dealt a great measure of favor, reverence, and gentleness.
I turned my head, catching my reflection in the mirror. The most beautiful silk bonnet had been placed on my head while I’d been recovering. The gesture was so pure that it moved me.
“Who...?”
“Roi Tassarion. He wanted to make sure you were deeply and intentionally cared for. His Manmi always wore one before bed each twinight, so we’ve done the same for you.”
Roi Tassarion.
My hearts burned with an emotion I refused to put words to.
“Thank you.” I gnawed on my lower lip. “I’d like a proper tour of the manor... if allowed.”
Saundeiah and the youngling beamed.
“Of course. We’ll get you ready and Gargorètti Obsidian will guide you.”
At the thought of Obsidian, I smiled. I hadn’t had the chance to talk with him since he brought me to this peculiar manor. I’d only known him since our imprisonment, but I felt a kindred spirit with the gargoyle. My hope was high that the Gargorètti would accept to be my friend.
“Come, Madame,” Saundeiah said, curling her fingers at me. “Let’s get you ready for the dawn.”
“It’s Naho?—”
Saundeiah cut a glare at me so sharp it could make angelic flesh bleed. She narrowed her eyes to slits, effectively ending any protest. I pressed my mouth shut. Manmi used to silence me like this. I bit back my protest and yielded to the Nanmiess.
She came to my side and was gentle as she helped me from the bedcloud.
Her sweetness towards me was almost motherly.
Again I felt hot tears prickling my eyes, but I pushed them back.
Saundeiah was patient, but quick and efficacious in helping me bathe and freshen up.
She tended to my braids, which still looked freshly braided, before getting me dressed in a stunning gown of crimson red that beautifully clung to all of my curves.
She laced golden sandals on my feet, sprayed me with a delicious-smelling perfume, before scooting me out of the bedchamber and into the hall. Straight into the care of Obsidian.
“Oh, my!” I gasped. “Obsidian!”
The gargoyle beamed. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that his smile was probably something I would have to relive in a nightmare soon.
He was utterly terrifying in every way, but I wanted nothing more than to squeeze him in a tight hug.
He stomped over, his clawed feet tearing at the plush carpet.
I instinctively raised my arms. The gargoyle scooped me up and hugged me.
“Roièssa.” He bowed low after releasing me from our hug. “You fare well. It is the brightest spot of my dawn to see you lively once more.”
I beamed at him, my mouth wobbling.
“Thanks to you, sweet Gargorètti.” My throat bobbed. “I’m here thanks to you. And I’m eternally grateful.” I gestured towards the long, darkened hall. “Will you show me around my new home?”
I shocked myself with how true the words rang as they slipped from my tongue of their own volition. I caught the pleasant surprise in Obsidian’s eyes. The gargoyle grinned.
“Come with me, Roièssa.”