30. Tavish
30
TAVISH
S omething in my chest squeezed tightly until my heart seized and I couldn’t breathe. Watching Lira fight … I wanted to take her place and ruin them all for daring to touch her. But every time I prepared to stand, Caelan’s hand landed on my shoulder, keeping me down. That wouldn’t have stopped me if not for Lira somehow fighting despite being attacked by two strong Unseelie who could fly and use their magic.
If she didn’t kill Bran and Rona, I would, gladly, and enjoy the life leaving their eyes as I got justice for my fated mate.
Fated mate.
Two words I’d been avoiding and definitely not connecting to her, hoping not saying them would dissolve the connection.
All the denial had accomplished was making me lose the few days I could have spent with her, making her mine in all ways.
She couldn’t die.
I wouldn’t allow it .
“Tavish, we talked about this,” Caelan muttered, pressing down on my shoulder harder. “You can’t stop the games, especially not for her . Your people won’t understand or approve. To save them, we need her blood, which means she has to die.”
My breathing turned ragged, but the longer I sat here and watched Lira struggle, the more clarity I found.
Moira used both hands to attack Lira, and I jumped to my feet as terror clenched my heart. I shouldn’t have waited, and now my fated mate would die because of me.
I was the one who had brought her here.
Blast all my people. Ruling them had changed me into someone I’d never dreamed of becoming, and now I had sacrificed my fated mate for them.
Then Lira surprised me again. Despite her injuries and blood loss, she contorted her body, avoiding the blow, then sliced the wildling’s head off.
A few boos came from the crowd, and I scanned around, noting who to punish when this ended. But what I hadn’t expected was the number of fae who seemed relieved that Lira hadn’t perished.
Strange.
“What a weakling,” Eldrin chuckled, pulling my attention back to the arena. “If the Seelie royals could see their daughter now, they’d be ashamed, especially if they knew she mourned the death of an enemy.”
My heart ached, and my tattoo warmed and pulsed, causing the yanking in my chest to take control. Lira was on her knees with her head hanging, devastated over the life of someone who’d been trying to harm her.
“How much longer?” I rasped, struggling to keep myself still. I needed to scoop her up and hold her while tending to her wounds. Nothing would come between us anymore, not the Unseelie, the Seelie, and, most definitely, not some dragon . She belonged to me and no one else. Forever.
“It’s almost over. She’s about to die. Don’t fret.” Eldrin rolled his shoulders and smirked as he watched Moira spin away from Lorne and focus on my mate. “Moira is one of the best swordsfae in our land, and Lorne won’t harm her … not really.”
I swallowed, knowing it was true. I was surprised that Lorne had fought Moira. If he hadn’t, both he and Moira could’ve killed Lira by now since they were the strongest fighters the Unseelie had, one reason I’d had to imprison them when they’d tried to take the crown before it had ever lain on my head to give to Eldrin. Losing my people would be a travesty. I’d guessed when I created the gauntlet that those two would survive, and I’d have them folded in my wing if I ever needed them to fight against the Seelie again.
Then his words sank in, and I rasped, “Is this not a timed event?”
“Of course not .” Eldrin’s nose wrinkled. “The sunscorched wildling must die.”
Moira moved away from Lorne and stalked toward Lira, who still kneeled beside Rona. Bran tried to sit up, but he couldn’t. Blood poured from his wound. I’d watched Lira and noticed she’d purposely missed his heart. Still, he was too wounded to move fast enough to get her.
Moira’s face twisted with rage, and her nose wrinkled with disgust. She ignored Lorne. He would never hurt her, which meant I would have to intervene. Her eyes glowed, telling me she was tugging at her magic, which was stronger than that of most other Unseelies. She could influence the way someone felt beyond just fear; the strength of her illusions was so great that people couldn’t control what they experienced because she could change their emotions before they realized she was manipulating them.
I couldn’t hear what was being said with half of the stadium yelling loudly, but I watched as Lira tried to stand.
There was no way she could continue to fight, and I made a decision right then and there.
This ended now. Blast the games and rules, especially when it would last until she was dead. I was their king, and I ruled as I saw fit. If anyone disagreed with my decisions, I would throw them in the dungeon.
Before I realized what I was doing, I was soaring through the air.
“Tavish!” Caelan yelled, but there was no one holding me back. I flapped my wings harder, and it still didn’t seem fast enough.
Lira stood hunched over, unable to lift the sword. I suspected her weakness was partly due to her injuries and blood loss, but that wasn’t all. Moira would want her to feel weak and pathetic when she killed her.
Removing my sword from my side, I vowed to end this, no matter what. I swooped down and kicked Moira in the side. She fell to the ground and lost hold of her sword as Lira gasped behind me.
My chest yanked, and I wanted to scoop her into my arms to carry her back to my bedchamber, but not until I’d dealt with the threat. I kicked Moira’s sword out of her reach.
“King Tavish,” she rasped, raising her hands. “What are you doing?”
“Protecting what’s left of my heart.” My chest heaved, and my vision turned red. “I won’t let anyone hurt Lira again.” With that, I stabbed Moira in the chest, digging in slowly. I wanted her and everyone else to understand that I would do whatever it took to protect what belonged to me—Lira. I wouldn’t stand aside anymore. Anyone who wanted to harm her had to go through me and my blade.
I lifted my head as I eased it in deeper. She flinched, trying to get away, but I kicked her side, forcing her back completely on the ground. She gripped the blade to remove it, but all that did was cut and bloody her hands.
My eyes connected with the guard who held the horn, and I nodded at him. He’d be a fool if he didn’t understand what I meant.
He jerked the horn to his lips and blew, ending the game.
As soon as the last bit of the echo vanished, I removed the sword from Moira’s chest, the urge to finish killing her surging through me. However, it wasn’t entirely her fault. I had declared the gauntlet, knowing Lira would be a target. All three of them would receive grace this time, but one mistake, and I wouldn’t hesitate to end them.
“Princess Lira is under my protection,” I said loudly, wanting everyone to hear it, though my eyes were locked on Moira alone. “Anyone who stands against her stands against the crown and the throne from this point forward.”
A collective gasp came from across the stadium, and I stood tall. If they believed they smelled any hesitation or weakness, they would attack, and I’d already put Lira through enough. That ended this instant, and I would grovel for forgiveness for the rest of eternity as long as she allowed me to be part of her life.
Moira shook her head and flapped her wings, getting upright. Her face twisted with rage as she screamed, “ Never !” She tried to dart past me, but I stepped in front of her, and she hit my armor. She flew back a few feet, her face turning gray. “I would rather die than—”
I raised the sword and stabbed her in the heart, killing her. I lifted my chin and bared my teeth, “As you wish, Moira.”
Her eyes widened, and her wings slowed as she dropped, dying.
Silence descended, and I stalked past her, not bothering to give her a second glance. She’d acted against me, and I needed my people to see how serious I was about this command.
I strolled toward Bran, knowing I had one more target to deal with until I felt somewhat satiated. When I reached him, his face turned gray from anger, pain, or heartbreak. I didn’t give a blast which, as long as he was miserable.
“That Seelie killed my sister,” Bran gritted out. “And you just put her under your protection .”
No, he didn’t get to question me. The urge to kill pumped through me and I took in a shaky breath to calm the hatred pulsing through me.
“You don’t get to challenge me.” My nostrils flared, and I gripped the hilt of my sword, though I wanted it to be his neck instead. “Lira defended herself. That was all. She did nothing unwarranted. The only reason you aren’t dead is because you were playing the game. But let me be clear.” I squatted so my face was close to his and allowed the darkness to edge around my body, enjoying the coolness of the magic along my molten, hot skin. “If you do anything to threaten Lira—and I don’t care if it’s just blasting staring in her direction that makes her feel uncomfortable—I will kill you and enjoy every moment. Do you understand?”
Bran’s lips mashed together.
I stood and placed my foot on his chest as I positioned the sword over his chest, preparing to use it if he didn’t agree. “This is your last chance to acknowledge my command.”
“I understand,” he rasped, hatred lacing each word.
But I didn’t care as long as he obeyed.
“Tavish!” Lorne shouted, tugging me back to the present.
My heart lunged into my throat, making me choke as I spun to face him. Fear dug its cold claws into my chest.
The view didn’t make sense.
Lorne held Lira in his arms, his forehead lined with worry. Lira’s eyes were closed, and her chest rose and fell slowly … like she might be dying.
“Get away from her,” I croaked. He must have done something to her. “Did you harm her?”
“No, I’m putting pressure on her wound.” His jaw clenched. “She needs more pressure on it to stop the bleeding, like towels or something. She’s losing too much blood.”
Gold blood slid through his fingers in a steady stream. I hadn’t noticed how much she was bleeding because the black blood was easier to see than her gold.
No wonder my tattoos had been glowing nonstop. She’d needed me sooner, and I had been so absorbed in doing what I thought was expected of me instead of listening to my heart. I rushed to them, forcing myself to take her gently from him instead of yanking her out of his arms like I wanted to.
As soon as her body settled into mine, the jolting took over, and my world steadied. For the first time since I’d brought her here, everything made sense to me. She belonged in my arms forever. “Open the door. The gauntlet is officially over.”
The guards leaped into action, opening the doors to allow me through. They tried not to glare at the dying Seelie in my arms, fearing what I may do.
Not bothering to go out with the others, I soared through the doors and headed to my bedchamber. At their posts outside the door, Torcall and Finola glanced at me, and their jaws dropped.
I didn’t have time for them to be distracted, so I roared, “Open the doors.”
The two guards obeyed, opening them wide enough for Lira and me to fit through.
“Get some towels from the bathroom,” I commanded as I laid Lira on my bed.
Finola obeyed while Torcall came to my side and pressed his lips together. “Are you sure you want her on the bed? She’s covered in blood.”
“That’s the least of my worries.” I lifted her shirt and saw the large wound in her side.
Between the gaping hole, the thin line cut into her stomach, and a chunk of skin missing on her other side, Lira had taken a worse beating than I’d realized while I’d sat safely in the stands, watching it all.
Blighted abyss, I deserved to be like this … not her.
Finola hurried back into the bedroom with three large towels in her hands. She dropped them beside Lira as Finnian, Eldrin, and Caelan entered the room.
“What in Ardanos are you thinking?” Eldrin snarled. “You almost had me fooled that you cared about the sunscorched more than your people. And where are the bottles? We should be collecting her blood before she dies! She’s lost too much as it is.”
The memory of the scar on her chest from him attacking her in the tub overtook me. I didn’t care if I owed Eldrin—he didn’t get to go free after what he’d done to her .
“We need to take the chains off her wings so we can wrap the towel snuggly around her waist.” Finnian moved beside me. “Who has keys to unlock them?”
“I do.” Finola snatched a set of key rings from her belt. “All of us have keys to those.”
“Wait. Why are we trying to stop the bleeding?” Eldrin shoved himself between Finola and me and pointed in my face. “You were going for dramatics back there, correct? Because you wouldn’t stop the gauntlet ahead of time to save the Seelie wildling. That can’t be possible.”
Finnian sighed. “Deal with Eldrin. I’ll handle Lira.”
In that moment, I realized only one person supported Lira and me and that I trusted Finnian more than anyone.
I gripped Eldrin’s tunic and shoved him back.
His wings spread out, offsetting the momentum as his nostrils flared. “Tavish, I knew better than to let you near her. She’s messing with your mind. That’s what the Seelie do. They—”
Before he could finish, I’d punched him in the jaw. His head jerked to the side, and I shoved the heel of my boot into his stomach. He sailed back several feet into the wall.
“Tavish, you need to remain logical—” Caelan started, but I didn’t care to hear anything he had to say.
“I know what you did to her.” My blood boiled, thinking of Eldrin seeing her naked … something meant only for me. “Attacking her in the tub when she was alone with no way of protecting herself.”
“What?” Caelan asked with shock. “What is he talking about, Eldrin?”
Eldrin straightened, rubbing his jaw. “It doesn’t matter. She’s a blasted Seelie. She doesn’t deserve comforts. She should’ve stayed with the prisoners and not been soaking in a bath. She is not one of us, nor will she ever be. She needs to die. That is the only future she should have, and I’ll make sure it happens.”
Without pause, I took Caelan’s sword from its sheath and fluidly stabbed Eldrin in his other shoulder, opposite the wound I’d given him when I was fifteen years old, the last time he’d spoken to me like this as if he were the one in power and not me. I should’ve known he’d let his ego inflate to this level once more.
Eldrin hissed, and his breathing turned ragged. “This won’t change her fate. You’ll learn that others will attempt to kill her if you don’t handle it yourself.”
I understood what he believed; I had too. Until Lira’s and my fated-mate connection forced me to think in other ways. “Torcall, take Eldrin to the prison cells. That’s where he’ll be staying from this point forward.”
“You can’t do that.” Eldrin sneered, though his shirt darkened further in the spot where he bled. “You owe me. I saved you from the Seelie.”
“And that alone is the reason you aren’t dead.” If I hadn’t owed him the life debt, I would’ve killed him without an ounce of remorse. I stepped back and gestured to Torcall. “Now.”
The area around Torcall’s eyes tightened, but he didn’t hesitate. He took Eldrin by his injured arm and pulled—a gesture I found interesting since Torcall had been almost as loyal to Eldrin as to me. I had expected him to be gentler, but I wasn’t complaining.
“Unhand me,” Eldrin commanded and tried to jerk from his grasp, but Torcall held firm. Eldrin lifted his chin as the reality of his situation became clear. “I’m the king’s cousin.”
“Who disobeyed me.” I lifted my chin, wanting him to see the resolve in them. “And your punishment makes you no different from anyone else.”
Torcall forced him to leave, and Eldrin glared at me the entire way until he vanished from sight. Good. He needed to realize he didn’t have the right to question me.
“Was that necessary?” Caelan’s brows furrowed. “I mean, Lira dying was the plan all along.”
My eyes homed in on his face, and I fisted my free hand, needing him to see how serious I was. “It’s not anymore, and that was necessary. Are you going to begin questioning me and disobeying like him ?”
“No.” Caelan raised his hands. “I’m not, but this wasn’t what we agreed on.”
“Okay, I’m pressing on the large gash so you can move her to remove the chains without her bleeding worse.” Finola sighed loudly. “Let’s do this quickly so we can compress all the injuries and sew the larger one up to stop the bleeding.”
I spun around to see Finnian kneeling on the couch, his left hand on Lira’s arm and the keys in his right. Finola had both hands pressed over Lira’s largest wound, nodding for him to move.
When he pushed her to the side, she moaned, and her heart sputtered.
My lungs froze. I couldn’t lose her, not after realizing she meant more to me than anything in this realm or any other. She stood for everything I wasn’t … everything that, as a little boy, I’d dreamed we could be together. I wasn’t that little boy anymore, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want her beside me. In fact, she’d made me care in ways I hadn’t since the day I lost everything.
Finnian didn’t slow, and then I heard the click of the lock .
“Got it. Now I need to unbind her wings.” He tossed the keys aside and slowly untangled the chains from her wings. Her breathing weakened, and the pulsing of the tattoos on my chest slowed along with it.
I moved closer, touching her leg … needing to feel her. But the jolt wasn’t as strong as before, and my throat closed and my chest clenched. “Hurry. We need to stop the bleeding, or we’ll lose her.”
“Just one more lock and her wings are free,” Finnian gritted out.
Then, the worst thing in the entire world happened.
Her heart stopped, and pain engulfed my chest. “Lira?” I croaked around my thickened throat.
After her heart still hadn’t taken another beat in the next second, the silence confirmed what I suspected. And then my fated-mate mark stopped pulsing and lost its warmth.
I could no longer deny what was happening, and worse, it was all my fault. She’d never deserved any of this.
My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees. A part of my soul tugged harshly, trying to rip away. Someone screamed in complete agony, and I realized it was me.
I’d lost her.
Want to read what happens next? Click here to continue Lira and Tavish’s story in The Court of Thorns and Wings.