Chapter 30
REDVYR
The winter passed quickly. There were no more instances of danger, no sign of the golems or that fiend Selestos. The only excitement that stirred the camp was that of Dayn trying to court Shearah. He accompanied her into the woods daily to try and save the old oak tree.
I hadn’t entered Wyken Woods since that dreadful encounter with the grimlocks.
Since I saw Jessamine get swallowed into that hole and feared I’d lost her forever, I refused to step foot in the place.
But Dayn reported that the tree was indeed healing, the black fungus-like threads that had wrapped around every branch had been killed by Shearah’s tonic.
They’d filled the hole in its trunk with nutrient-rich soil dug from the winter garden, and while that left less room to grow the winter vegetables, no one had minded.
Actually, several clansmen had offered to help, but Shearah had taken on the task alone—with her one helper.
One thing about beast fae that perhaps other faekind didn’t realize was that our connection to nature wasn’t one-sided.
It gave to us, so we gave back as best we could.
The old tree in Wyken Woods had sheltered children from our clan and innocents of our realm.
In return, we would try to save it if we could.
As planned, when Bezaliel reported the first melting of snow in the valley of Ghasta Vale, we quickly packed up camp and caravanned south toward J?hl Tundra. I’d never thought that the golden-brown prairie grass sticking out of the patches of snow across the valley would be such a welcome sight.
Winter had finally waned. By the time we reached the tundra, there was no sign of snow at all except on distant mountain peaks. Though spring wasn’t here yet, the temperatures were milder, warm enough to exchange our hide trousers for our leather skirts.
I walked beside Wolf who carried Jessamine. She returned my smile when I gazed up at her—still wrapped in her cloak—but there was tension around her eyes. It was to be expected. She would meet all of the beast fae clans at once. Even for those of our kind, it could be intimidating.
In these last months of winter, we had spent a great deal of it in our furs.
While we enjoyed one another’s pleasure, it was the pleasure of her company and her laugh that I cherished the most. We often ate alone in our tent, with the exception of Wolf of course, and we shared stories of our past, both good and bad.
I’d learned that I would have considered her brother Draydyn a brother of my own.
He had been a fae of honor. Jessamine had asked me to retell the story of how I’d found Wolf as a pup cornered by a barga and about to become the giant bear’s meal.
I’d killed the barga of course and Wolf had been my companion ever since.
Now, we both protected each other, though he seemed more intent on protecting her than me these days. I was grateful of course.
When I showed her which skin had been the one of the barga that had almost killed Wolf, she had made a show of spreading it on the floor on her side of the bed as her rug to stand on each morning and night.
She’d even stomped on it and muttered a curse under her breath, to which Wolf had barked in agreement.
These months had been nothing less than sheer bliss. So I could see why her face showed lines of tension, that our little paradise was seemingly over. I’d make it up to her when I brought her back to Vanglosa.
The festival activities of the winter gathering often took on a raucous and uncivil bent when beast fae males did their best to impress the females. And though Jessamine wasn’t beast fae, nor was she unspoken for, I could already imagine some of the males doing their best to garner her attention.
She had no tail or horns, but she was fair beyond comparison.
Her hair, the color of spring red-berries, drew the eye, especially when she wore it loose and blowing in the wind as she did now.
I was ready to proclaim to the other clans that she was my mate.
Whether she had taken my bite or not did not change the fact that she was my gods-given mate.
And that, I would make clear to anyone who questioned it.
As we descended the hill leading into the tundra, it was to see several clans already encamped and milling about the annual gathering place.
We always camped close to the backside of the largest butte on the tundra.
There was a small stream running between it and another cavernous rock on our western side, which gave us protection from the winds that gusted across the tundra.
Especially at night, when the temperatures dropped.
As we approached our desired camping spot, some called out and waved, gathering closer as our long line—the largest clan of all—meandered into the shadow of the butte.
The tall figure of Behrvyne stalked closer to meet us, a throng of his young warriors at each side.
His russet hair streamed down to his waist, his four black horns curling higher than most beast fae, and his dark brown tail lashing in the breeze as we neared him.
Those who didn’t know him might think his demeanor aggressive and hostile, but I’d known him since he’d first begun to train as a warrior for the Bolgar clan. He was a serious male, that was all.
“Do not be afraid,” I whispered up to Jessamine as we came to a halt before they reached us. I helped her down off Wolf’s back. “He looks mean, but he always looks that way.”
She blew out a breath, holding onto my arms as I gripped her waist. “Good to know. I was about to ask if we could return to Ghasta Vale.”
I flashed her a smile. “No, my heart. This is our last stop before Vanglosa. And you know what that means.”
Her gaze lingered on my fangs, which somehow made my cock hard. “I know what it means,” she said softly. And though she smiled, it was small and less confident than usual.
Taking her hand to assure her all was well, I guided her toward our greeting party. Bezaliel, Leifkyn, Dayn, and Brohm flanked us as we approached them.
Among the clans of beast fae, the Vanglosa was the oldest and considered the most superior in rank, if indeed there was a rank.
But the Bolgar clan was second, and Behrvyne might be young, but he was a fierce leader who was respected by all who knew him.
Whenever there was trouble in our lands, the rest of the clans turned to the two of us for guidance and answers.
I knew that Behrvyne would want to speak privately about the golems while we were here.
He strode in the center of his warriors, his gaze fixed entirely on Jessamine, his scowl intense before transforming into wonder when he saw that her hand was clasped in mine.
Beast fae lords didn’t often show public affection to the females they claimed, or their mates.
But I wanted it to be clear to all that she was mine.
No one was to treat her as anything other than a female who deserved respect among the clans.
So it was intentional that I kept her hand in mine when we reached them.
“Greetings, Lord Redvyr,” said Behrvyne, arching a brow in question.
“And you. Your clan faired well for the winter?”
“We did. I was concerned to hear yours did not.”
Bezaliel shifted next to me. Tessa and the babe weren’t far behind us, well within earshot, and I was still aware of her tender state. Though she had improved greatly, especially when we began packing to leave, she was still emotionally fragile from the abduction of Saralyn.
“We are all well now,” I assured him.
His gaze flicked to my right again, his gaze slipping over my mate. “I heard that you have a new member of your clan.” He paused. “Won’t you introduce us?”
He must’ve heard some rumors somewhere. Good. That would make it easier to establish the truth of it.
“This is my mate, Jessamine Glenmyr, daughter of King Darian of Morodon.”
His red eyes widened, one of his warriors glancing in surprise at another.
They knew I had a light fae female among my clan, and had likely heard that she warmed my bed, but they did not know her origin or that I had claimed her as my mate.
Well, I would claim her officially soon enough, but I wanted everyone here to understand that I perceived her as my own already.
It was the only way to ensure that no one treated her poorly.
When he spoke, his words were cautiously presented. “I had not known we sought an alliance with the kingdom on the Nemian Sea.”
“We do not,” I assured him. “Her father doesn’t know where she is.”
“Nor do I want him to,” she said quickly.
Behrvyne’s red eyes narrowed only slightly. “You don’t want your father to know you’re consorting with the beast fae, my lady?”
At least he called her ‘lady’, but a low growl rumbled in my belly. I was ready to punch the young lord in his pretty face.
“I will gladly inform my father that my consort is Lord Redvyr of Vanglosa when I’m ready,” she answered haughtily, her chin jutting in the air.
“But I will not do so until we’ve returned safely to Vanglosa, and our clan is settled back at our home in Meerland.
My father can be violent when he hears news that displeases him. ”
“You admit,” interjected Behrvyne, speaking without aggression but certainly determination, “that it is not a welcome union to your people.”
My own ire vanished when I saw that her anger had sparked, her cheeks pink with passion. “The people of my birthplace abandoned me, in a way.”
Every warrior’s gaze was riveted to her. I simply kept her hand in mine, reassuring her with a soft squeeze that I approved of her anger.
“They threatened me, tried to force me to do harm to others. To use my magick for foul deeds and crimes. They did not treat me as one should treat their own child, like a blessing from the gods. So what they welcome or reject is no longer my concern.” Her voice was steady even while I felt her anger simmering.
“I have chosen my own people.” She met my gaze, her green eyes blazing bright.
“And the gods have sent me a mate far superior than any my father would’ve chosen for me.
I do not care what my family or the people of Morodon think. My home is no longer with them.”
By the gods, I wanted to drag her to the nearest tent and fuck her hard and true.
She was so fierce, my Jessamine. By the slight curve of Behrvyne’s lips, I realized he had accepted her, though I was sure many here would not.
I didn’t plan on staying overlong here at our solstice gathering.
My clan had been through a hard and harrowing winter.
As soon as it was permissible, we would pack and move on home.
“You are welcome to join the clans’ feast at our solstice celebration, Lady Jessamine.”
He reached out and took her free hand in both of his, pulling her gently forward, forcing her to release me.
He bowed over her hand, a gesture of honorable respect.
The others would accept her now as well, even if they disagreed with my choice in mate.
Of course, if they believed me, they would know I had little choice at all.
The gods had made her mine. One bedding had proven that without a doubt.
“Thank you, Lord Behrvyne.” She appeared very much the royal light fae that she was in that moment. And I couldn’t have been prouder.
“We have much to speak of,” I told him, “but for now we will settle in.”
“Of course. And the Skel Clan has brought many barrels of ale. We will celebrate tonight.”
Laughter and excited chatter lifted from behind me where my clan waited.
“Tonight,” I agreed, then called over my shoulder, “Let’s make camp!”