16. Raelyna
RAELYNA
It was longer than two minutes. Granted, only by thirty-two seconds. But still . . .
We exited Solis Court through a side door on the west side of the building—an entryway that even I hadn’t known existed.
The street was near empty, whether by luck or simply traffic patterns, I didn’t know, but it was a small blessing.
In the distance, I could hear the dull roar of engines as cars sped along in the night, but here, it was as though the street had been deserted.
Both males released my arms the moment we stopped. I looked around my surroundings cautiously, half expecting to see Luc come bursting through the door, his face mottled with rage.
Why didn’t they take me to the holding cells? Why am I standing outside the court? What am I missing?
The silence stretched on for a few more moments before I finally spoke up.
“Am I free to go?” I questioned hesitantly as my gaze darted between the two males, unclear what was happening or why I hadn’t been taken directly to Lucanus’s holding chambers.
“Yes,” Blackwood answered with a terse nod.
My look of confusion must have been evident, even in the light of the city at night, because Axel spoke up.
“The holding cells are packed tonight. Consider this a warning not to sneak around where you shouldn’t be.”
“In that case,” I replied gratefully. “Thank you.”
I turned away, only to realize that, without my phone, I had no idea if Finn and Emberly had already left the court or if I needed to return, seeing as we had made plans to depart all together, regardless of Luc’s statement that the remainder of my crew didn’t have to stay all night.
So, I did the only logical thing my brain could remotely conjure up at the moment . . . I stared at the street, unmoving, for a few moments, arguing with myself over whether to ask one of the males behind me to borrow a phone.
The internal debate was not going well when a low voice spoke up from behind me.
“Are you . . . all right?” Blackwood asked hesitantly, and a small frown marred my lips as I attempted to answer that question.
“I, um . . . well—” For the love of the stars, Rae. Just open your mouth and ask to borrow a stars-damned phone.
His amber eyes pinned mine, watching me closely as though he was tracking my every movement, picking up on every little detail of me. I squirmed slightly under the intensity of his gaze.
“Can I borrow your phone?” I asked in a rush, the words sticking together as I hurried through the jumble of thoughts.
“It’s just that—well, see—my friend, Finn, he was supposed to be my ride home.
Well, and Emberly, but that’s beside the point.
I . . . well, I don’t have mine on me, or I would .
. . use that, you know? So well, is it possible to use—”
“For the love of the stars—” Axel spoke over me as a large gust of wind whipped across the street, and our dunewraps blew in the air. “Just give her a damn phone if it will make the rambling stop.”
Heat crept across my cheeks, but the only thing I could focus on was the male in front of me, who wore an amused expression.
Blackwood’s dunewrap had become undone in the wind, and all I could think as I stared at him was that it was unfair of the gods to craft someone as beautiful as him .
. . and make him a member of the Royal Solis Guard.
My eyes tracked across sun-kissed skin, noting the sharp cut of his jawline and the light scruff along his face.
My eyes focused on his lips, wondering all too briefly what they would feel like pressed firmly against mine, before my gaze continued, catching sight of the hints of gold trailing up his neck.
I honed in on the gold markings—a tattoo, from the looks of it, as the gold ink faded on his upper neck.
It was stunning. He was stunning.
“Here.” He said the single word in a low whisper as he handed his phone over without a second thought, his lip curling up and . . . Astara take me, the dimple that formed as he grinned down at me would be the death of me.
Reaching out, I slowly took the phone from his hand, offering a smile of thanks as I glanced down and realized he’d already opened it to the Call screen.
Typing Finn’s number in, I pressed Call and prayed to all five gods that the stars-damned male answer his phone, if only to spare me the embarrassment of having to hand the device back with no call actually made.
“Hello?” Finn’s voice spoke, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I spoke.
“Finn, it’s me.”
“Hell of a greeting, darling, but where have you been?” he demanded, and I cringed, picking at my nail as I replied.
“It’s a lot to explain,” I answered. “I’m at, well, some back entrance of the court. I’m not entirely sure,” I said as I glanced around, trying to spot a street sign to no avail. “But I can head to the front of the court, unless you and Emberly already left?”
“We haven’t left yet, Rae,” he replied. “We’ve been looking all over for you as discreetly as we could. I think Lucanus noticed you were missing, though.”
“Stars-damn,” I bit out, frustration rising. “Well, nothing can be done about that now.”
“We’ll be on our way shortly, but we’ll meet you by the side door we typically take.”
“See you soon,” I said, and hung up the phone, turning back toward Blackwood and extending the device toward him. “Thank you.”
He nodded as his hand collided with mine, a rush of warmth fanning from the connection as his fingers brushed against mine. It was like a jolt of electricity, without the painful shock, every time our fingers collided. And just like the time before, it left me wanting more.
Then he grabbed the phone from me.
I lingered another moment, amber eyes still focused on me.
I forced my breathing to return as I smothered any flickers of attraction I might have felt under his watchful gaze, knowing no good would ever come from getting involved with him.
And when he didn’t make any further move, I spun on my heel and began to walk in my friend’s direction.
It dawned on me a moment later that the noise I was hearing in the distance was footsteps, and when I threw a brief glance over my shoulder, I stopped abruptly.
“If I haven’t done anything wrong . . . why are you following me?” My voice was a huff of annoyance as I cursed my luck for the millionth time tonight. My hand inched closer to where my throwing knife was, only to realize that I didn’t have a weapon on me in this dress.
Because why would the gods be on my side tonight?
Blackwood didn’t answer right away, and when he finally did, his words had me spinning on my heel in frustration. “Just making sure you don’t attempt anything else that will get you caught by the enforcers tonight.”
Emberly saw me first, rushing to me as she threw her arms around my shoulder, squeezing me tight. “Don’t ever disappear on us like that again, Rae.”
I shot her a grin as I attempted to tug myself out of her grip. “Sorry, Em,” I replied. “It’s not like I intended to get caught.”
“You’ve got to be more careful, darling,” Finn’s voice rumbled as he tugged me into a side hug, and I looked up at him. “You can’t afford any mistakes right now. You know that.”
My heart sank at the words, worry flitting over me as my mind flashed back to Orela and then to Luc’s threats toward her.
“You’re right.” I sighed the words reluctantly as I pulled back, wrapping my arms around myself. “It was stupid and reckless of me. I shouldn’t have—”
A throat cleared behind us, and my best friends whirled as they came face to face with Blackwood and Pierce, the two guards having followed me to ensure I was safe.
Amber eyes regarded me closely before turning to assess both of my friends. I could tell the moment he determined that my two companions posed no threat to him, as his gaze returned to me, waiting.
“Finn, Emberly.” I nodded my head toward my two friends, standing on either side of me. I opened my mouth to introduce the other two males when Axel stepped forward, extending his hand toward Finn. “Pierce. Axel Pierce.”
“Blackwood.” His voice followed Axel’s, even as his gaze remained fixed on me.
“Still going with the last name only, I see,” I bit out, matching his gaze, my fingers tapping against my upper arm as they remained crossed in front of me.
“For now,” he replied. “A name holds a great deal of value, after all.”
“And yet, you know mine.” He opened his mouth to interrupt, but I continued. “And not by my choice, need I remind you. It’s only fair you level the field . . . don’t you think?”
His jaw ticked. Once. Twice.
“If a name is what you want, starlight . . .”
“It is,” I confirmed. “Unless you’ve decided you’ll tell me why you chose that infernal nickname for me instead.”
He huffed a laugh, shaking his head.
Rolling my eyes, I gestured for him to continue.
“Callum,” he replied, the singular word attaching itself to me the instant it left his lips.
“Callum,” I replied, testing out the name, the word rolling off my tongue in a way I very much liked. “It fits.”
He rolled his eyes at my comment, and I felt Finn’s eyes on me in surprise.
“At least she approves of your name,” Axel retorted, kicking the curb as he glanced at me. “Rather than asking me, what was it again you so eloquently said . . . ? If I was ‘set on my name’?”
“It’s a valid question,” I replied smoothly. “Lieutenant Pierce just doesn’t have much ring to it. Now, Sergeant Callum Blackwood . . . that does.” I shot him a haughty grin.
“I’m sorry,” Emberly cut in. “I’m lost here . . . How exactly do the three of you know each other?”
“We don’t,” I stated.
At the same time, Axel replied, “Well, it all started—”
“Raelyna here has a habit of stalking us.” Callum interrupted him.
My gaze cut between both males, standing side by side with looks of amusement as I spluttered, “I have absolutely no such habit. If anyone was stalking, it would be you.”
“If you say so, starlight.”
“For the love of the gods.” I groaned as I buried my face in my hands, shaking my head.
“Definitely missing something,” Emberly muttered as she kept looking between the three of us.
“So you’re just friendly with these two members of the RSG for no particular reason?” Finn asked finally, after an excessively prolonged silence.
“I wouldn’t exactly say friendly,” I stated, feeling four sets of eyes looking in my direction. “And the only reason they’re here is because I ran into two enforcers on the fourth floor, and Axel intervened.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Finn bit out, his jaw ticking as he held my gaze.
“This better not have to do with your obsession with the passed-out angels, Rae,” Emberly added, and I felt the moment Blackwood—no, Callum’s—eyes narrowed on me at her words.
“What angels?” His voice was a tight demand.
I heard Finn’s brief scoff—probably in disbelief at my actions.
“It’s nothing—” I began as Emberly began speaking over me. But my own words trailed off as I felt a tidal wave of nausea rise up in me.
And . . . it was official. All five gods were clearly waging a war against me tonight.
I nearly curled forward as another wave of nausea rose from my stomach, and my head began to pound.
Only this time, the episode sprang on me far quicker than it had in the past, and I couldn’t do anything to stop my nose from bleeding.
My head was throbbing, my balance off-kilter as I attempted to stop the flow of blood.
“Fucking shit,” I heard Finn bit out from beside me, but it was Callum who reached me first, pulling back my hair.
Someone pressed a cloth into my hand as I pinched the bridge of my nose, attempting to staunch the blood flow. The pounding in my head had yet to subside, as another violent wave of nausea wrecked me and I let out a pitiful groan.
“This is the second time tonight, Rae.” I heard Finn’s voice from in front of me, but it took everything in me to stay somewhat upright as Callum supported me.
I hated that my body involuntarily leaned into him, trusting him to support me as my guard was down.
I hated the small circles he drew against my back as his voice rumbled in my ear, reminding me to breathe.
But most of all, I hated how much I liked being in his arms.
In. Out. In. Out.
I forced myself to focus on taking steadying breaths, the voices around me fading into the distance as I mentally battled against my own body.
It had never been this bad—even I could admit that. Not that I knew why it was so much worse.
I felt a firm grip on my left wrist as calloused fingers pressed against my skin, probing around my markings, but I was far too exhausted to say anything as I continued leaning forward, pinching my nose.
Was it possible to lose too much blood from nosebleeds?
“How often does this happen?” The voice rumbled from behind me, his muscles rippling against my back.
“It’s really none of your concern,” Finn answered for me, letting me continue to breathe as another bout of nausea ensued.
“Just answer the question.” Callum’s tone turned dark, and I swore if I was able to look up, I’d probably find him glaring daggers at my best friend.
Finn huffed a scoffing laugh, and I felt Callum tense behind me.
For the love of the stars . . . I really didn’t need them in a stand-off right now.
Struggling to stand up fully without support, a pathetic whimper fell from my lips as I pulled away from Callum, my head spinning and vision blurring. Well, this is less than ideal.
“For the love of the gods,” I muttered, my voice muffled from behind the material I still held against my nose. “Just let it go, both of you.”
Finn stepped forward, his hand stretching out to steady me as I swayed once again, and I knew I had to be a sight as I stood between two towering males, my emerald dress splattered with crimson liquid.
“Come on, Rae. Let’s get you home.” Finn’s words softened as I turned to look at him. Nodding weakly, I took a step in his direction, only to be stopped. Callum’s hand tightened against my wrist as he held me in place, leaning forward until I could feel the warmth from his form radiating over me.
“When you’re ready for answers . . .” he whispered low into my ear, and I couldn’t help the shiver that tingled through my body at the proximity.
“You know where to start looking.” He tapped against the markings on my arm, a reminder of his words on the dance floor, crossed my mind.
“But these episodes—they’re only going to come more frequently, and you won’t be able to withstand them for much longer. ”
I could only stare after him in shock as he pulled up his dunewrap until only piercing amber eyes could be seen and spun on his heel, stalking away from me in a measured gait that radiated power.
I didn’t know what he knew, but I knew he had answers of some sort. And I intended to unearth his secrets by any means possible.