Chapter Sixteen
BENEDICT
We had finally gotten Wren settled into her nest and sleeping, and I prayed she’d stay that way for a while. I did not like the darkening circles under her eyes, or the way her jaw had held tension the past few days.
That done, it was time to send off Canavar and Nasi.
Our small council met at the top of the eastern cliffs, the wind vicious as it whipped our hair into our eyes. Kaida was wrapped around her mate, while Nerissa and Canavar were more restrained, but no less intense in their goodbyes.
I ground my fangs.
“Easy, Benedict. We know you want to go,” Kaida soothed me, grabbing my arm.
“In my opinion he has the harder job, consoling a pregnant mate,” Canavar gruffed, a smirk twisting his lips.
I glared at him, but it held no true venom.
“Just bring everyone back, please,” I said instead, hating the pleading tone that slipped into my voice.
Canavar nodded and Nasi gave Kaida one last kiss.
The three of us watched them push off the rocky cliffs, heading due east over the horizon. Disappointment burned a hole in my chest, but I didn’t have much time to dwell on it.
“Now, if Wren is settled for the moment, you’re coming with me,” Nerissa demanded, no nonsense and walking off as though she expected me to follow.
“For what?” I asked, bristling.
“Actually, if Wren is well rested we should bring her,” Kaida suggested. “Her presence would likely help.”
Nerissa nodded. “Very well, let’s collect her.”
“For what?” I asked, annoyed to be bossed around on my own island.
Nerissa shot me a look that reminded me of being back in training, as a young drakling learning to wield a sword with Vilhem.
“The wards,” she drawled.
I sighed. “Very well. Wren was saying she wished to continue bloodmagick lessons anyway. I can at least be useful there.”
Kaida beamed. “That’s the spirit!”
I held out my arms to Nerissa, offering to carry her. She raised an eyebrow at me before resigning herself to the inevitable.
“Very well.”
We flew back to the treehouse, a plan for the day taking shape. It would be good to have something to keep me busy, and not dwell on Ronan’s mission.
Besides, it was critical we fix the wards. If I was to keep Wren, the rest of the kingdom, and my unborn child safe. Much less exciting than chasing down a rogue kidnapper, but important all the same.