Chapter 21
REDVYR
I woke in a panic, finding Jessamine gone.
I’d slept far later than normal, and now I feared the worst. My first thought was that I’d demanded too much of her, that I shouldn’t have pushed so hard, that I’d frightened her so much she’d run away.
But as soon as I’d jerked on some trousers and boots then gone in search of her, I smelled her on the wind nearby.
She was in the communal cave cooking with Shearah. I’d frozen when I stepped into the cave to see her gorgeous hair piled on her head, exposing her delicate throat, sweat on her brow and bosom. I wanted to lick her from head to toe.
Instead, I pulled her aside and chastised her for leaving without waking me.
She snapped back with some smart comment that had me jerking her close and kissing her senseless.
I didn’t care that Gweeda and Shearah got a good look at how far gone their lord was for the light fae female that we were supposed to be sheltering only for the winter season.
I knew I’d have to hold a kella’mir and announce our mating to the council soon.
Right now, I wanted to enjoy her, to seal our newly formed bond. After my overly aggressive kiss that left her panting, she sent me away so that she could finish cooking for the night’s meal. Satisfied that I could smell her arousal with one kiss, I let her be.
Still, I felt itchy all day. It wasn’t until after I’d done my rounds with all of the warriors on guard, checked the perimeters for any sign of danger or intruders, and I was walking back to the cave for dinner that I realized what it was.
She didn’t have my bite, my mark on her skin.
I hadn’t wanted to overwhelm her by biting her the first time we had sex, the first time she’d ever had sex.
A growl rumbled in my belly at the satisfaction of taking her for the first time.
I wanted her all the time. Every minute of the day, I needed her near me, her scent to surround me.
Perhaps that’s why I was so on edge when I finally opened the flap into the cave. The light laughter and chatter of the clan eased my tension, but only a little. Bowden, ever the talented musician, played his flute, some of the young females dancing while we awaited dinner.
My gaze found Jessamine at once. She was setting bowls of stew out on the high table. Sorka, Bes, and some others were helping. I strode toward my usual seat to the left of the bench where Bezaliel sat, Tessa and Saralyn beside him, along with Brohm, Leifkyn, and Dayn.
“So good to have you join us, my lord,” said Dayn.
“Yes, we haven’t seen you all day. What’s been keeping you so busy?” Leifkyn’s tone was mocking.
“I am the lord of this clan. Therefore, I spent the day ensuring the borders of our camp are well-protected.”
And pining for my mate who’d made herself absent from me all day. I itched to march across the room and delve my fingers into her hair. She was mussed, a smudge of ash from the fire on her cheek, and yet, she was the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on.
“Ah, that’s where you were, of course,” said Leifkyn. Again, his tone was mocking.
“Looks like we have a new cook in the kitchens,” said Dayn. “I didn’t know the princess had such talents.”
I didn’t bother to remark. They were goading me, and I knew it. I crossed my arms, leaning back against the cave wall, stretching my legs out and crossing my ankles as well.
“I’ll bet she’s very talented in many ways,” added Leifkyn.
I growled at that. “Watch it.”
Bezaliel chuckled while Tessa rolled her eyes, bouncing Saralyn in her arms.
Leifkyn merely smiled wider. “Interesting fact. I noticed that Jessamine smells different today.”
“Is it all the spices she’s been cooking with?” asked Dayn in a forced, casual manner.
“I don’t think so. She smells a bit masculine, if you ask me.”
“Mmm, I know what you mean.” Dayn made a show of staring at Jessamine across the room where she was carrying two bowls of stew to the council members. “She smells almost like a beast fae.”
“Almost,” continued Leifkyn. “Though I couldn’t tell you whose scent she’s wearing.”
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and glared at Leifkyn. “If you don’t shut your mouth, pup, I’m going to shut it for you.”
The bloody bastard laughed. Bezaliel leaned closer and asked in a lower voice, “So I was right, wasn’t I? She’s your mate.”
I nodded, to Leifkyn and Dayn’s utter glee. Haslek, one of my younger warriors who overheard, stared wide-eyed and almost panicked. I pointed a finger at him.
“Keep this to yourself. I will tell the council when it is time. Until then, I don’t want rumors circulating around camp.”
“Too late for that,” whispered Tessa. “They saw you kiss her last night. Unfortunately, no one thinks she is your mate. They think she is your bedmate and that alone.”
The mood sobered quickly, my inner beast growling with menace in my chest. It was Bezaliel who spoke first after a tense silence.
“You should’ve bitten her. That’s what I did the minute I knew Tessa was mine. Then there’s no question from anyone else.”
I wasn’t going to explain to them that I didn’t want to frighten her further after the knotting. Or bring her more pain. She’d bled quite a bit from her first coupling, and the knotting had only increased the pain of the experience. The thought of adding a bite mark to that turned my stomach.
Not that I didn’t crave to bite her even now. To ensure everyone knew she wore my mark, that everyone knew she was my mate. Not simply a lover. And there was another thing that had kept me from marking her.
She wasn’t beast fae. I hadn’t lied to her when I told her I’d follow her if she left me.
I could do nothing else. I’d abandon my clan to do so.
Even if she rejected me, I’d follow and make sure she was safe.
But once I’d given her my mark, every fae male—dark or light—would scent me on her skin.
Forever. There was no taking back the mark of a beast fae.
For that, I needed to make sure she wanted me… forever.
She might be enraptured at the moment. It didn’t surprise me that there was attraction between us.
Besides the gods intervening and fating us to be together, I had saved her from death in the woods and protected her more than once.
She would be inclined to be grateful, which can transform into attraction.
But I wondered if she’d still want me once the infatuation had worn off.
Once she realized she wouldn’t live in a castle with all the luxuries of a royal life.
If she left me for her own kind, I would ensure that Lord Gael of Mevia was dead so that he could no longer bother her. Then I’d send a clear message to her father that she would have a choice of her own for her life and her future.
But for now, I would enjoy this new sensation that had curled around my heart and filled my soul with a tentative hope.
I could relax in the joy that being with Jessamine didn’t defy the gods or betray my clan, as my own father had.
She was meant to belong to me. Now the only question was, did she truly want to?
I sat up straight when she carried a bowl and walked directly toward me.
Hypnotized, I watched her move gracefully across the cave, her gaze on mine, her smile for me.
That smile had tilted into a smirk by the time she stood in front of me and handed me the bowl with a slice of crusty bread sticking up over the edge.
“I want you to try my stew and see if it’s to your liking.”
I stirred the spoon, observing that while it smelled heavenly, there was one thing missing. “There is no meat in this bowl.”
“There is not,” she agreed. “Taste it, Redvyr.” She angled her head, that long neck luring my gaze. “For me.”
So of course, I did, humming at the savory bite and hearty chunks of root vegetables, beans, and mushrooms.
“Do you like it?” She raised her brows, hopeful.
Sighing, I put her out of her misery. “It is delicious.”
Jessamine smiled so big it made my stomach flip with excitement. She hurried back to the cooking station to deliver more bowls.
She exhaled a sigh of relief just as Sorka walked up with two bowls. “I have one vegetable stew and one venison.”
“I’ll take the vegetable,” said Tessa.
“Shearah cooked the venison? I’ll take that one,” Leifkyn chimed in.
“That’s a good man,” said Leifkyn, “telling her it’s the best even if it’s not.”
“Mmm,” hummed Tessa. “This is actually so good. I had no idea a princess could cook like this.”
“I think I’ll try the vegetable,” said Dayn. “Need to support our future queen, right?”
My heart jolted. Yes, if she accepted me and her role here, she would be my queen, the Lady of Vanglosa. Though far less prestigious as a royal princess in Morodon or the wife of the high lord of Mevia, I would treat her as the most precious gem in all the world. If she would consent to being mine.
I couldn’t help but watch her move around the room, mingling amiably with the people of my clan. She carried two bowls to the females lining the bench on our opposite side, walking toward Lorelyn.
Suddenly, Velga stuck out her leg and tripped Jessamine, sending her sprawling to the ground, the bowls clattering and the stew splattering across the stone floor. Bowden stopped playing music just as I heard Velga mumble to the female next to her, “So clumsy.”
I roared in rage.
Everyone fell deathly silent. The only sound was the fire crackling and Jessamine pushing to stand. The front of her gown, and her neck and face were splattered with the stew, her face flushed pink with humiliation. Shearah rushed over with a towel to help her clean off.
Fire burned through my veins as I stood and marched across the room. “Stand, Velga.”
The female, head down, instantly rose to her feet, twisting her hands together. “I’m sorry, my lord. It was an accident. I didn’t mean—”