Chapter 28
REDVYR
“Still asleep?”
Bezaliel had stepped into my tent, but I hadn’t even turned to see who it was. My sole focus was on Jessamine, who was sleeping after taking a healing draught from Shearah. Wolf remained at her side, reminding of when he’d first brought her into my hunting camp.
When we’d returned, she was trembling so much, her skin as white as snow, her lips turning blue like Saralyn.
Even after I’d covered her in the furs in my fire-heated tent, she still quivered, her eyes listless like she was on the edge of death.
It wasn’t until Shearah rushed in with the draught Lorelyn had made that her tremors eased and she slipped into sleep.
Lorelyn had rushed to Sarlayn’s aid to assist, and as of yet, I hadn’t heard a word of whether the babe had survived.
Upon hearing Bezaliel’s voice, I rose instantly and faced him, preparing for the worst. But the wet sheen in his eyes coupled with his smile told me what I longed to hear.
“She made it.”
We met each other halfway and clasped one another as brothers. He thumped me on the back as I did him.
“Thank the gods,” breathed Bezaliel. “Thanks to your female.” He pulled away to look me in the eye, his gaze intense and powerfully vulnerable.
“If it had not been for Jessamine, my baby girl would be dead. The wintry cold of the waters slowed her blood and her heart rate, even her need for air.” His eyes widened in wonder.
“Lorelyn said this can sometimes save those who might otherwise drown.”
“By Vix.” I gripped his nape. “We are blessed.”
“Indeed.”
On a heavy breath, he broke the embrace and turned to Jessamine, concern pinching his brow. “Is she alright? I’m afraid I was consumed with my own worries…I did not know she was—”
“She is well,” I assured him, returning to Jessamine’s side and sitting on the stool beside our bed.
Our bed. She was right where she belonged, her fiery red hair spilling across the pillow, her cheeks pink, her breathing steady and even. Safe and warm.
“I cannot begin to thank her enough for saving Saralyn. For saving all of them.”
“Did they retrieve Farla’s body?”
Bezaliel remained standing, crossing his arms. “Yes. Brohm returned to the battlefield as soon as he delivered the children. The clan females have wrapped her in a shroud.”
I grunted my approval. “How are the other children?”
“Lorelyn told me they are all well when Saralyn recovered. Bes has been chatting away ever since she returned.”
“Does she know who the other wraith child is?”
Finding both our clan’s children, as well as Tylok’s family and another wraith fae child, in the hidden chasm of the old oak was surprising to us all.
“His name is Gershal. He is from Belladum, but that is all she knows. Bes says he barely speaks at all. Apparently, he’d been in that tree all alone in the dark for longer than anyone else.
The grimlocks would bring them insects and raw rodents to eat.
They were starving, since they refused most of it. ” He grunted in disgust.
“They were trying to keep them alive for their master. Whoever he is.” I clenched the fist on my knee, wishing I knew more.
“These grimlocks aren’t just after light fae or simply children either, but women as well.
Perhaps, they are only taking them because they are weaker and can be overcome easier to drag back to their master. ”
I was frustrated that we now more questions than answers from when we’d begun.
And while we’d defeated a horde of grimlocks, that foul fucker Selestos had gotten away.
The frightening part was that Jessamine had clawed him she’d told me on our way back from Wyken Woods and that would’ve killed any fae, but Selestos was still alive.
What kind of black magick were we dealing with? And we still didn’t know the identity of this lord of evil who was feeding on innocents.
“How is Hallizel?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Healthy as ever. She hasn’t stopped fussing at me for not letting her go into the woods with Jessamine.”
“I imagine she is.” I smiled before adding, “She is well enough for a long flight, is she not?”
He nodded, sobering. “We need to speak with Prince Torvyn.”
Bezaliel knew exactly what I was thinking. “We do. And soon. The naiad sisters I spoke to at the well declared that the monster causing all of this lives deep under Mount Gudrun. If we are now seeing the spread of his evil here, then they have certainly already seen more.”
“King Halvar. The rumors have been spreading for ages that he is mad. If it’s this madness that we know infected one of King Goll’s warriors and those Meer-wolves who attacked their camp months ago, then it is this dark sorcerer whose caused it.”
I nodded. Goll had confided in me that one of his own had been infected, but not with a regular sickness. It was like he was possessed by a dark demon, by black magick. I was sure this sorcerer who created the grimlocks was the cause.
“I never like to listen to gossip. But I would bet there is much truth to this one about the shadow fae king. That means Tor, Vallon, and the rest of them know more about this lord wielding black magick and abducting our kin than they have admitted.”
I couldn’t stifle the growl that rumbled in my belly.
The mere fact that the prince and Vallon had more information and they didn’t share it with us provoked the beast within me.
They might have known something that we could have used to protect ourselves from Selestos and his fucking golems. I had a word or two to say to the shadow fae prince.
“I will send Hallizel to Gadlizel at once and demand a meeting.”
“Good.”
There was no need to tell them why or where to meet us.
We’d seen shadow fae cross over Ghasta Vale every winter, high above us.
They knew where we camped. And I had no doubt that all Hallizel had to tell them was that we killed the grimlocks they were hunting. They would swiftly be on our doorstep.
Movement pulled my attention to Jessamine. She turned her head in my direction, blinking her eyes open.
“Why are you growling?” Her voice was craggy from disuse.
Wolf whined as he stood beside the bed and licked her hand. She wiggled her fingers and patted him limply.
Instantly, I moved to sit on the furs next to her, coasting a hand to cup her cheek. “How do you feel?”
“Better.” She smiled. “Why are you angry? Your growling woke me.”
I chuckled. “Now I know how to get your attention when I want it.”
Her sweet mouth tipped up on one side. “You always have my attention, Red.”
I leaned forward and pressed my forehead to hers, gazing into the lovely depths of her eyes, relishing this precious moment, knowing she was alive.
Bezaliel cleared his throat. “My lord, may I speak to Jessamine?”
Having nearly forgotten he was there, I broke away reluctantly and stood, allowing him to come forward. He knelt on one knee at the side of the bed and bowed to her.
“My lady, I owe you my life for saving my daughter. For risking your own.”
“No, Bezaliel.” She smiled faintly, her body still frail. “I only did what my heart commanded me to do.”
My lungs seized, and my love expanded for her even more. Her heart bade her save the children of my clan. That was because her heart belonged to us. She was mine, and I was hers. As was our clan.
I didn’t have to nudge Bezaliel to get rid of him. He sensed my need to be alone with her.
“Get some rest, my lady. My mate would like to thank you as well. When you’re better.” He stood and smiled at me before ducking his head and leaving our tent.
I removed my loose shirt while shoving off my boots, her gaze following my movements with that tilted smile on her beautiful face. Heat flared within me as she trailed her eyes down my body when I shoved off my trousers.
“Don’t even think about it.” I lifted the covers and climbed in, pulling her body gently against mine. “I merely want to feel you. And warm you.”
“I know ways you can warm me.” She wrapped a hand around my waist, settling her head beneath my chin.
I sighed with absolute, profound relief and joy.
“Not today, temptress.”
She ran the pads of her fingers up my abdomen, tracing the pattern of runes across my chest. “How are the children?”
“Alive and recovering.” I paused. “Thanks to you.”
She said nothing, but I had much to say.
“You were right. Your plan worked, but I’m still furious.”
“You don’t sound furious.”
“That’s because I have you safely in my arms. But when that…” I blew out a breath, a rumbling growl rising up my throat again, “that thing called Selestos thought to take you with him, I was going to follow you into whatever hell he took you to and drag you back.”
She smoothed her palm over my heart, trying to soothe the beast of fury inside me. As always, I eased at her gentle touch.
“Where was he taking you?” I asked, fear replacing the rage.
“I don’t know. But I believe to his master.” She exhaled a deep breath. “He spoke to me in demon tongue at first. But he also spoke in a language I have not heard. I always prided myself on the number of languages I could recognize, but that one—”
“Godjin is what we call it. But I have never heard it spoken like that.”
“What is it? Where is it from?”
“Godjin is an ancient language, believed to have been spoken by the gods themselves.”
She pushed up onto her elbow, frowning down at me. “How could you know this language?”
“We only know a few words, actually. Dark fae god seers have recorded them from visions they’ve had of the old ones. In their visions, they can understand the language as part of their magick. I recognized one of the words the grimlock spoke. That is how I know it is Godjin he speaks.”
“Does Lorelyn know the language?”
“As far as I know, no one truly knows the language. We only have pieces of it. There are old runes on some of the ancient monuments in different parts of Northgall. Some seers believe this is Godjin writing.”
“But Lorelyn may know the words that we heard Selestos speak.”
I grumbled at hearing his name. “She may. We will ask her.”
She pushed as if to rise out of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked.
“To speak with Lorelyn.”
I instantly hauled her back to my side. “You are going to rest.”
She wiggled against me, frowning at me. “I imagine I’ve been resting for hours already.”
“Not long enough, stubborn female. You nearly drowned yourself! And besides, it is the middle of the night still. Everyone will be sleeping from the ordeal. You must sleep and get your rest.”
Heaving a frustrated sigh, she remained still, no longer trying to struggle her way out of my arms.
“That’s what I like,” I told her, “an obedient female.”
She pinched the flesh at my hip.
“Ow!” I jerked and snatched her by the wrist.
She scowled up at me. “I am not your obedient female.”
I grinned, knowing I’d riled her temper, relishing that she seemed truly well now. “You usually are when I have my tongue or my cock inside you.”
Her cheeks darkened with a heated blush, but she arched her brow, giving me that superior look that made me want to do naughty things to her.
“When I’m in your bed, then yes, I will comply with your commands, if only to seek my own pleasure. But I am not your female to be ordered around.”
I grinned wider, lifting her hand to press a kiss to her palm. “No, you are not, my love.” Holding her gaze, I opened my mouth against her palm, touching my tongue to her skin for a brief taste of her. “You are the mistress of my heart. Order me anything, and I will do it without question.”
Her expression softened, her mouth smiling again. “Oh, Redvyr.” She lowered her head to my chest.
Soon, we were both sound asleep.