Chapter 21 #2
Twisting around, my eyes focus on two figures a little way down the curved rock, where the light just catches before disappearing.
Both of them dishevelled, hair askew, and clothing ripped.
Melek has gotten the better of Adam. The fae kneels on the ground in front of the commander, my husband standing at his back, a knife to his throat.
Melek is the greatest fighter in the Halo Army—against other Halo keepers.
I’ve heard the whispers about how he takes down boy after boy willing to fight him in the training academy.
He’s a third-generation Halo commander. This position was bred into him from the womb.
Just to look at him, he is beyond intimidating.
None of it explains how he can defeat Adam when the fae single-handedly took down six Halo keepers without breaking a sweat, men beyond training camp. Comparing stature, Adam is at least a foot taller than my husband.
“I can’t go back,” I reply softly, hugging Sunny close to my chest.
A pained roar shakes the small loose rocks above my head, more animal than man. I step to the side to dodge them. “You can and you will. You are mine, Storm. You know that as well as I do.”
My stupid legs want to take me towards him, his voice a lure to my heart. I can’t. “I won’t have our children grow up in that world.”
Pulling Adam up, Melek moves forward, responding, “Come home, wife, and we can talk about it where you and our children are safe.”
He really thinks that place is safe. “Melek, that place isn’t safe for them, and if you think it is, you’re the fool.”
Baring his teeth, he continues to push forward. I take steps backwards at his shuffling progress. “Woman, if you test me, you know there’ll be consequences.”
The eye-roll is imminent. He catches it, and iron washes to an eerily alluring onyx. I want to go to him. How does he have such control over me? He literally held me captive, and I still fucked his brains out each night because I couldn’t resist him. There’s something wrong with me.
With light now heating my back, Adam’s face is clearer, an unfazed look gracing his features.
Squinting, I wonder if we, in fact, have the upper hand here.
Sure, I would be sad if Melek slit Adam’s throat.
He got me this far. But, I am not about to lose my chance of keeping my children out of the clutches of Halo for another male.
The men can all get fucked. They brought this on themselves.
“I’m—” The rest of the sentence gets stuck in my throat as I’m taken, snatched from behind.
“Don’t fight us.” The voice glides over my ear in a sensual caress, my body sinking into the unknown form. A sweet, calming floral relaxes my tightened limbs. And from this point, everything seems to move in slow motion…
Melek blows at the sight. Completely forgetting about the fae in his grip, he pushes Adam to the dirt and advances on us, moving at an unnaturally fast pace. Everything about him at this moment is bigger and scarier than I’ve ever seen before.
And fuck it, if this version of him still calls to me. He is my flame, and I’m drowning in every inch of sinewed muscle on display.
“Mama.” A tiny voice perks up. Sunny, the only thing to rip me away from witnessing the glory of my husband’s wrath.
My eyes flick back and forth between the child in my arms and the man gaining on us.
And it’s in this split second that I ponder with grey innocent eyes that there’s only one solution. One that will keep him safe.
“Take him.” Clawing at one of the hands holding me, I make my voice carry louder this time. “Take my child.”
I’m released, and I know I only have a moment before he’s on us.
Pivoting on my heel, I face a woman. Not just any woman; a pink woman, with sparkling golden hair and enchanting green eyes.
Who are these fae? Unable to further process this creature, I put Sunny on his feet and hand him the bag from my back.
“Take this and go with the Fairy Lands lady. She’ll make sure you’re safe.
I promise.” I hope she’ll keep him safe.
In Halo, I could never place such undivided trust in another. Except for Mary. She had proved herself. This fae with the mottled rose skin hadn’t given me any indication of her righteousness. Though if there is a time to start believing, it has to be now…
It is fate’s turn to hold us.
Not Halo’s.
Not Melek’s.
Surrendering is my only option.
Sunny’s bottom lip wobbles, and his eyes fill. He’s not one for outbursts. My brightest light in the sky is a happy child, overtly excitable at the prospect of a challenge. This is testing the limits, even for him.
“Please keep him safe.” I place my hand over my heart, taking large steps away from them, needing to create distance. Each movement cracks off a piece of my heart, Sunny’s tears freely forming down chubby cheeks, his body now being held by gentle pink hands.
“I promise. Any child of yours is a child of mine.” Her lips form the words. I hear them loud and clear—her oath. Emerald eyes bore into mine, weaving together promises of tomorrow and forever.
Abruptly, a growl comes from my back, and I’m met with the sizzle of sparks igniting, two hands taking me from behind, again whisking me into familiar hard broad arms. My husband’s aroma finds a home in my lungs. Heat instantly floods me in a way only Melek can charge.
“Mine.” It’s his prayer. Me, his endless lament.
“Mama.” There’s a wail from down the tunnel. Sunny— I want to go to him. Hug him. Tell him everything is going to be alright. Except, when I face eyes blown out with silver, no longer black, grey, or white, I know Sunny will be entering Nix’s haven without me.