Chapter 51
KAELERON
Ipeered inside the spacious room at the female huddled in the corner, beyond the bed.
She shrank away, curling into herself, trying to make herself smaller.
Attempting to disappear and be unseen.
Terrified of me.
Russet hair.
Dull green eyes.
“Everlee,” I breathed and she flinched.
Her shaking worsened and she clutched at her knees with bloodstained fingers, pulling at one of the tears in her dark trousers.
I did not want to think about what had happened to her, or the things she had been through in her time in the hands of the seelie who had purchased her from Lucas.
But it was over now.
“You are safe now.” I went to take a step into the room and she twisted away, becoming little more than a trembling ball, and turned haunted eyes on me through her tangled hair.
“Back off,” Malachi said softly in my direction as he stepped forwards behind me and rather than reminding him of our statuses, I allowed him to pass me and enter the room.
Because the wolven feared me—feared my pointed ears and my sharp teeth, and my talons that were too much like the ones that had ripped at her clothing to get at her.
I reminded her too much of the seelie, and she believed me depraved enough to hurt her like the one who had bought her. In time she would come to know I meant her no harm, but I was not sure that time would come soon. It would be a long road between now and then.
“You are safe, Everlee.” Malachi eased into the room, his wings and horns nowhere to be seen, hidden from her eyes so he would not frighten her further.
I could not remember the last time my spymaster had concealed them, forcing them away, an act that was shameful for a demon.
One my old friend did without hesitation for this female.
“You are safe now.” Malachi bent towards her.
Surprise swept through me when she did not fight him, instead allowing the demon to scoop her up into his thickly muscled arms, tucking her against his leather-clad chest.
Surprise that only grew stronger as Malachi slowly turned with her and I caught the look on his face.
A look that promised a long, torturous death to whoever had done this to her.
I was not sure that male had met his end yet. I had not sensed anyone stronger than a guard in the mansion, or fought any fae above that standing. Whoever had harmed her was still out there.
Malachi held her close to him, her head falling to rest on his shoulder, her knees coming up to return her to the foetal position that made her feel safe.
I slunk back against the wall when he neared the door, keeping my distance and allowing him to pass, and then trailed after him, my steps as weary as his were.
I reached out with my senses, but nothing had changed.
There was no sign of Morden’s sister.
It was silent outside when we stepped out into the night, the stillness almost disarming me and fooling me into believing a storm was not coming, that this would not be a blow to my little wolf.
I sought her.
She turned and looked across the gravel, her blue eyes filled with relief as she spied me, and then widening as they moved from me to Malachi, and then the bundle he clutched protectively against his chest.
“Everlee,” she breathed and was running to her, pushing past Vyr and Riordan, a wild and desperate look on her tear-streaked face. “Everlee.”
Morden snarled as he overtook her, and I recognised the rage and pain in his grey eyes as she grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him back around to face her and then twisting with him to place herself in his path. He knew. Saphira tried valiantly to calm him.
But the wolf would not be calmed.
He pushed her aside, earning a growl of warning from me, and stormed towards Everlee.
“Where is she? Where did he take her? Tell me where Danica is.” Morden reached for Everlee, his claws out.
Malachi growled, baring short fangs, stopping the wolf before he dared to lay a hand on her.
“Touch her and it will be your death, wolf.” The demon rose to his full height, towering over Morden, his eyes glowing with a purple-red light that promised he would come good on that threat.
I would not stop him.
“Lucas said they were gone, and a seelie told us Danica is already en route to the Summer Court,” Saphira said as she stopped beside her friend, her silver eyes bright from more than the fight.
This victory felt like a loss as I stared at my furious little wolf as she glared across the churned up ground to her dead mate, aware she would blame herself for this, and that she would want blood.
“We will find where the seelie have taken her, and I will give you the vengeance you crave, Saphira.” I made those words a solemn vow, an unbreakable one she knew I would keep.
Nothing would stop me from finding Danica and punishing the one who had taken her and had harmed Everlee.
“But right now you need to focus on Everlee.”
She nodded and turned to Malachi, who reluctantly loosened his hold enough on Everlee that Saphira could see her.
Tears wobbled on her lashes as she checked on her friend, and spilled when Everlee flinched away from her attempt to brush the hair from her face.
Malachi did it for her, gently hooking her hair with the hand near her shoulder as he supported her back with his arm.
He carefully revealed her dirt-streaked pale skin and hollow green eyes that stared straight ahead of her.
“You’re safe,” Saphira whispered. “We’re taking you to the pack’s new home. Chase will look after you.”
I looked at the alpha wolf as he consoled Morden.
Being with her pack again would be a start, but it would not be enough.
“She does not trust me, so I do not think she will trust any fae. Being with the pack, so close to the castle, might prove too much for her,” I said and then frowned as an idea came to me, a way of keeping Everlee safe from the seelie, and away from the unseelie of my court.
A place where she could recuperate and rebuild her strength without interference.
“The cottage would be a better choice for her.”
Saphira nodded. “Yes. The cottage. It’s quiet and beautiful up there, and I can stay with her.”
Chase shook his head. “I’ll stay with her. I’ll take care of her. She trusts me, and you… well… smell a little too much of fae.”
Saphira frowned and then her eyes widened, and a blush climbed her cheeks as her gaze darted to mine.
“The cottage and Chase it is.” She turned back to Everlee. “But I’ll come visit. We can hang out. Talk about movies. Read some books.”
Everlee did not respond.
“It will take time.” I reached for Saphira.
Movement in the corner of my vision had my gaze snapping there.
The greenery shifted, branches of a birch swaying, as if a breeze passed through that spot.
Only there was no breeze.
I sensed him before I saw him.
We had missed one. Someone powerful enough to conceal himself from me.
I locked eyes with a male.
Golden hair. Golden eyes.
A male I recognised.
The Summer Court wretch who had been at the auction that night.
I looked from the male to Saphira as it struck me that I had come so close to never having her, that if I had not found that auction in time, he might have been the one to secure her instead, stealing her away to the Summer Court for reasons unknown to me.
Only fate had intervened to place her in my care.
I did not know why he wanted her, and I did not care.
She would never be his.
I summoned my shadows.
The male ran.
And a white wolf gave chase.