Chapter 25
I became acutely aware of every movement and sound around me.
Ihyl sprang, propelling himself forward with a sharp flap of his wings, and Jaron and I dove to each side.
I rolled and came up with a stone, sending it flying before I’d even gotten to my feet and grabbed another one.
My heart raced violently and everything in me screamed to run, but there was no place to hide from this vorpyr.
My rock struck his horn, irritating him but not doing any damage. Jaron’s, however, clapped him on his head. He snarled.
I grabbed a sharp-looking rock and lunged at his wings when he turned to face Jaron. He roared in fury as the rock cut into his right wing when I threw my weight into it.
Stars exploded in my vision and I hit the ground when his left wing lashed out and connected with me, the sharp ridges cutting into me.
“I am so sick of you damn assholes.” I wiped blood from my face and got to my feet.
A heavy thud and a grunt that I knew was Jaron’s had me reaching for the nearest rock.
I was lifted off the ground, but not before I latched onto one.
With a grip on my thigh and the back of my shirt, Ihyl hefted me so I was parallel to the ground.
Gripping the rock, I swung as hard as I could for his knee. He hissed at the contact as I repeatedly hit him where I could reach. Then we were in the air. Nausea swirled in my stomach as he zipped just above the ground to the edge of the cliff…and then past it.
“No.” I choked out. Panic took hold, and I twisted my arms, trying to grab hold of him.
Then I was falling.
A sob gurgled from my chest as I flipped around in the air. The strangest thought flitted through my mind as wind whistled past my ears. Was I purposely pushed before? Falling was as horrifying as before, but I couldn’t close my eyes.
The ground came closer and closer. How can this be it? I hadn’t had enough time…
The air whooshed from my lungs as I made impact. Only it wasn’t with the ground. No, I was hovering several feet above. Tears trickled out of my eyes as I tilted my head up. It was one of the older guards. The veins on his wings, usually a normal gold, were pale.
“Jaron.” I croaked.
“The Vorazyr and thalrikar are up there,” he assured me.
“I need to see…” I was having a difficult time catching my breath.
Without a word the warrior flew me up. This time I clenched my eyes shut, trembling uncontrollably as I held tight to him.
As we got closer a terrifying roar rent the air and the sounds of claws on flesh made me shudder.
“What’s happening?”
The guard had paused his flight, watching from a safe distance away. He seemed to wait until he saw something—something I wasn’t going to see because I wasn’t about to do anything other than cling to him—then he flew us forward.
At the top of the cliff, even when he was standing on solid ground and waiting for me, I was hesitant to let go of him.
“Jacqueline.” The guttural sound came from Arrazyl as he shook Kyvar off and closed the gap between us.
I had every intention of dashing away the tears that kept coming, standing strong and asking him to speak about the concerning sentiment his advisor had but the moment he got to me he grabbed me, pulling me to him roughly and I collapsed against his chest. All I could hear was the rushing of my blood and my owns sobs.
When the fear abated and I pulled myself together, I realized that I was cocooned by Arrazyl’s wings.
He held me tightly against his chest and had his face buried in my hair, saying my name over and over, promising me it would be ok.
I was content to stay like this, hidden by him, but Jaron’s panicked voice pulled me back to reality.
“What is he doing to her? I need to see her to make sure she’s ok.”
“Leave them. He’s got her, she’s safe. Let him take care of her.” Kyvar rumbled, and I could just picture him holding my poor brother back.
I shifted and Arrazyl raised his head. An emotion I couldn’t discern swam in his eyes. “Jacqueline.” The way he said my name made my chest ache and heat unfurl in my belly.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Holding me, hiding me away from the threats around me. “I should talk to Jaron.”
He seemed hesitant to let me go, but I coaxed him into releasing me, gently pushing against his hands holding me close. Still, it took him longer to pull his wings back and reveal the world around us.
“Jac! Are you hurt?” Jaron shoved past Kyvar.
“No, but I’ll tell you what I am.”
He gazed at me, furrowing his brow in concern. “What?”
“Damn sick and tired of almost dying. I need a freaking vacation.”
He grabbed me in a bear hug. “I wonder if they have any resorts on this world.”
I laughed, more hysteria than humor.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Besides my poor, traumatized brain? No. Are you?” I looked him over.
“You have a cut on your face. And more blood on your shirt.”
I glanced down at myself. “I’m fine and it’s just on my clothes.
I don’t know where…” I glanced back at Arrazyl, who stood there looking like the god of death, terrible and untouchable.
He hadn’t been that scary looking to me since the very first time I saw him at the sacred shrines, but he was seething, rage in every taut muscle as he seemed to force himself to be still. He had blood on his claws and hands.
“Ah, it’s from him.”
I turned back to my brother at his words. “And you?”
“My ribs sure hurt where he landed a blow, but otherwise fine.”
“We will allow the physician to be the judge of that.” Arrazyl said. “Come.”
The minute we all stepped into the main room of the infirmary, the physician gaped. In a voice pitched high with disbelief he all but yelled “again?”
I gripped the banister, gritting my teeth as I fought the rage that consumed me. I’d never lost control before. And yet today I’d nearly torn that vorpyr apart when I found out what was happening.
I forced my breathing to calm and listened to the steady footsteps as Kyvar finally approached after watching me like I was some wild animal.
Right then I felt unhinged enough to be one.
He stopped at my shoulder, keeping wing distance between us.
I looked at him and unclenched my jaw. He studied me carefully.
“Did you mate her?” he asked.
“What does that have to do with anything?” I ground out.
“Because you’re acting like you’re in a mating frenzy.”
“That’s ridiculous. That only happens with true mates, and certainly not before any coupling occurs.” I snapped. He was being absurd. Ihyl had crossed a line, and I’d put him in his place. Maybe too violently, but my attack hadn’t been without provocation.
“Look at yourself, you can barely contain the primal instinct to kill anyone that comes near her.” His right wing twitched, a sure sign he was about to do something stupid.
“If you really aren’t in a mating frenzy, then you won’t mind if I go to her and hold her.
She’s scared and needs to be comforted.”
I bit back a growl, but he saw the flash of my fangs and the warning ripple of my wings. He held my gaze.
I shoved away from the wall. “We should be going.” I turned my back on him. It wasn’t possible that I was in a mating frenzy. Not for her. It wasn’t possible.
“Denying it will only bring suffering. To both of you.” Kyvar’s voice was soft but full of meaning.
A male that is rejected or forced apart from his true mate lives in constant pain, unable to sate his desire fully with others, and the violent part of his nature becomes more prominent as he fights against himself.
It takes a long time and a lot of work for that part of our nature to accept another, but it is possible.
But if a female is not only a true mate but is also marked by him and later rejects him or is killed, he usually does not survive.
I let my voice turn icy. “Do not speak of your suspicions to anyone.” If it were true, and I doubted it greatly, it was a weakness I needed to deal with myself.