37. Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Ryker
B efore the tips of her boots even left the rocky ledge, my wings were out, ready to go after her.
I knew that pushing her was a cruel tactic, but I also knew that it was effective—having had the same done to me by a cranky scaled Spirit.
Odarum had understood what I meant back at the training grounds and obviously didn’t tell Kya what I was planning.
It was better if she thought the danger was real.
The gasp of fear that escaped Kya’s lips made me flinch.
But if this worked, it would have been worth it.
This was a test of instincts, hoping to force her shifting to manifest into wings in what she believed to be a life-threatening situation.
I wouldn’t have let anything happen to her and neither would Odarum—that’s why he had come as well.
He was her guardian after all and I had planned on pushing his Worthy off a mountain.
I dove after her as she plummeted through the cold air, I could feel her terror through the bond and it left a foul taste in my mouth.
But she didn’t scream. Odarum had leapt as well and we were just slightly above her, far enough away that if her wings appeared, she wouldn’t hit us but close enough that we could catch her before she got too close to the ground.
Our wings were tucked, allowing gravity alone to drag us down.
After what felt like the longest minute of my life, Kya’s voice howled through the air as two large wings, the color of onyx, ripped from her back. The first time was always painful. Despite the tense moment, pride swelled in my chest.
Kya continued to fall, arms and legs flailing, not knowing how to control her wings that were whipping limply through the force of the wind.
I pumped my own as hard as I could, driving myself to get to her before she met the ground.
But Odarum had larger and stronger wings than I, and he dove even faster, breaking to the side underneath her and catching her on top of his back in an elegant maneuver. Then they disappeared.
I grumbled the entire flight back to the palace, selfishly pissed off that he was the one that had caught her and took her away. Still brooding, I landed at the training grounds where the Spirit stood. Alone.
“Where is she?” I demanded calmly from him. Though my ego was bruised, I was still grateful that he kept her protected.
Odarum jerked his head toward the building, and I nodded once in thanks before I made the trek to the palace, grabbing my discarded clothes and circlet.
I vanished my wings before I entered the palace and felt for the bond to direct me to her back to her bedchamber.
Hers, so long as she didn’t leave for that stunt I had just pulled.
As I opened the door, an enraged petite body tackled me, wrestling me to the ground and pinning me there. I expected nothing less and I didn’t struggle against her hold. Kya’s pine-green eyes were fierce and filled with ire as she glared into mine. Her magnificent wings hung limply around us.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” she spat. “Did you seriously just push me off a cliff and not have the decency to save me?” She hit me in the shoulder, and I tried not to smile in amusement at how little it hurt.
“Odarum beat me to it. I was right above you the entire time. Between the two of us, you were perfectly safe. You can ask him yourself.” I spoke slowly and kept my tone calm and even, not wanting to risk angering her further.
Though, I did enjoy seeing the fire in my mate.
“I’m sorry I scared you. But that was the most effective way to force your shifting to manifest. Odarum knew too. That’s why he went along with it.”
Her eyes went distant, and I knew that she was confirming what I just said with her Spirit.
After a few moments, her vision came back into focus.
Her eyes still held a ferocity that I found endearing, but they were slightly softer now.
She shoved off me and stood, stomping away across the room with her wings dragging on the stone floor.
She stood at the window and stared out at the mountains for a long while. I sat up and patiently waited for her to sort through her thoughts and emotions. I’d had a feeling that she would be angry with me—I had felt the same when Theron dropped me from the sky to force my shifting.
At least I didn’t drop her. She would have never trusted flying with me again if I had.
But it worked. My mate, my beautiful, strong and ferocious Worthy, now had incredible black-feathered wings.
I took that time to study them. From the tip to the end meeting her back, they were longer than she was tall.
Unable to hold them up, where they would have bent was straightened, displaying every intricate feather, varying in size.
They were captivating, just like Kya herself—as if she was born to bear them.
Kya finally turned around to face me, her wings sliding across the floor as she slowly spun. Her features were hard and contemplative as her eyes bored into me. I wanted to reach for her, but I also wanted to give her the space she needed.
“I understand why you did what you did.” I held my breath as she spoke. “But I’m still upset with you. I just… I need some time to myself. You really scared me. I truly thought you were trying to…” Her voiced trailed off.
“—shouldn’t have trusted him so easily just because he’s my mate—” I stopped myself from listening further.
Something in my chest sank and I nodded. “I don’t blame you. But I promise, I will never hurt you.”
“I know,” she whispered, not meeting my gaze.
“I’ll give you some space,” I said quietly and I turned to leave.
“Wait,” she called out. “Can you help me make these…go away, for now?” She gestured to her wings.
“Of course.” I stepped in front of her and placed my hands on her arms, rubbing up and down. “Try to imagine them gone. Willing them away. Think of how you move your fingers, you don’t actually think about it, you just do it. Command your body to vanish them.”
With enough concentration, it was easier to shift them away than it was to make them appear the first few times. Kya’s face hardened as she focused until, after a short minute, they disappeared.
I left Kya in the bedchamber, giving her the time she requested, and busied myself in my office with neglected duties that had been put off while I had been away.
Reports to be reviewed, orders to write, papers to be signed, requests to be accepted or rejected.
All the things that were required for a Nation to run.
I had been working peacefully for a couple of hours and night was approaching when a knock came at the study doors.
“Come in.” My voice echoed in the large space.
Mavris and Hakoa walked in. Hakoa was a brute in comparison to Mavris. He was the chief of my forces and part of my inner circle along with Arra, who still hadn’t returned with the rest of the Vaavi.
Dressed in casual clothing and relaxed expressions, their demeanor suggested it was a social visit, and for that I was grateful.
They shoved at each other playfully before closing the door behind them.
I shook my head in amusement as I went over to the seating area near the door.
Even being over three-hundred years old, Mavris just under that, they still acted like young males not yet having reached their staying age.
“Are you going to tell him or am I?” Mavris said, speaking to the chief of my forces.
“It’s not a big deal,” Hakoa said with a shit-eating grin. His amber-colored eyes flared from underneath his black hair.
“Tell me what?” I sighed.
“Nothing!” He punched Mavris’s shoulder. “Shut up, Mav.”
“Hakoa nearly flooded an entire town during a training exercise,” he said with a smug smile.
“Kleio’s tits, you what?” I wheeled on Hakoa.
“ Nearly. I didn’t though.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “What happened?”
“I was working with some of the Noavo recruits and I…” Hakoa looked away and mumbled quickly, “partially melted a glacier.”
I gave him a deadpan stare of disapproval.
“I re-froze it before any damage was done. I had it under control. The recruits exaggerated. I told you it wasn’t a big deal.” He shrugged.
“Hakoa, regardless of your exemplary water wielding skills, maybe don’t melt glaciers during training exercises,” I suggested.
“Yes, Lord Ryker,” he mocked.
I rolled my eyes.
“While we’re on the topic of issues,” Mavris began, directing our attention to him. “We have another report.” His face was hard, and I knew that this could only mean bad news. “The Glaev has attacked again. This time, in an…unusual manner.”
My eyebrows creased. “How do you mean? And where?”
“It’s surrounded the town of Borgara in a near perfect circle,” Mavris said, giving me a knowing look.
“I’m more and more convinced that it’s Vicria every damned day.”
“So it’s true then,” Hakoa said. “Your theory that the Sage is controlling the Glaev. How the fuck is that possible?”
“I have no idea.” I shook my head. It was only a theory, but so far the only one that Kya and I had thought of.
There wasn’t any other explanation on how Vicria could have known about the attacks without being the one behind it.
“Borgara’s on the southwestern end, so if she is controlling it, it’s not in any pattern that we can predict. ”
“Perhaps that’s on purpose,” Mavris offered.
“We need to evacuate them. I can take Theron with me and Travel them to another town nearby with the resources to take them in.”
“They’ve already evacuated,” Hakoa’s deep voice interjected. “The Glaev wasn’t very wide. The terbis and water wielders were able to erect a bridge over it soon after it happened to get everyone out, in fear that it would spread inward. Everyone is accounted for.”
I exhaled with relief and rested my head on the back of the chair. “It’s just going to keep happening,” I whispered more to myself than to them.
“So, how is the future Lady of Oryn? She’ll be attending the Nailu celebration in a few weeks right?” Hakoa chimed, changing the subject to a less depressing topic.
The corners of my lips curved into a small smile as I thought about my mate.
I still couldn’t believe that I had found her, and that she had accepted me.
I had forgotten all about the Nailu celebration.
The Night of No Moons was celebrated all over the continent with food and music and dancing—a time when souls shone brighter in the darkness and marked the beginning of winter.
Though, I wasn’t sure if it would be much of a celebration for Kya and I this year, seeing as it signified the approaching date of our mating trial.
“She can’t be Lady of Oryn, we already have a Lord,” Mavris said pointedly.
My smile faltered into a scowl as I glared at him. “She can be if I say she can. But it will be her decision if she wishes to be inducted into the title,” I growled. “Since we are mated and she is Worthy, there’s no reason she can’t be. She’s powerful enough to lead and protect the Nation.”
“I still can’t wrap my head around it,” Hakoa said. “Why would Kleio choose someone only after her lands were destroyed? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“I have a theory,” I said, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. “Xareus is the God over Oryn. Kleio is the Goddess over Atara. They’re mates. Xareus chose me three Trials ago, and Kleio had never chosen before until after my mate was born. I think they wanted us to rule together.”
Mavris rubbed the back of his neck. “I suppose. But it’s just all so crazy.”
“And you didn’t answer my question,” Hakoa said with a knowing look.
I chuckled. “She’s doing well. She shifted wings today. But the process…upset her.”
Both of their eyes widened slightly.
“You didn’t,” Hakoa gaped.
I shrugged. “I did. And it worked. But she’s pissed. ”
“Rightly so.” Hakoa crossed his arms.
“I don’t even want to imagine the temper of a female mated to you. And one as powerful as a Worthy at that,” Mavris cringed.
Powerful indeed. She just doesn’t know it yet.
“I’m going to leave you to deal with that on your own.” He stood to leave and Hakoa followed with a rapid nodding of his head.
Before they walked out, I gave the order for Hakoa to track down the Vaavi. They had been gone far too long for my liking, and I was anxious about their return—I was worried.
I waved them off and after taking care of a few more things, I left as well, heading back to the bedchamber. I stopped at Kya’s door along the way.
It was well after dark, so I knocked lightly but when no answer came, I entered to find that she was sound asleep in the bed. She was laying on her side and her loose hair splayed out behind her on the pillow, still wet from a bath, the covers were pulled up to her neck.
Not wanting to risk that she was still upset with me, I didn’t wake her. I understood she wanted to be alone, but I couldn’t bring myself to stay away all night. I made myself comfortable in a chair across the room and I watched her as she slept, her chest rising and falling in deep even breaths.
As powerful as she would have been, this was a vulnerable time for her.
Working to manifest her magic and shifting was draining and left her weak.
I wanted her to stay near me so I could protect her if needed.
But if she woke and found me hovering, she would have been upset with me even more than she already was.
We needed to work together to get through all of this. I wanted her to trust me.
I stayed there for a while, contemplating what I could do to make it up to her.
When I was upset, I would either lash out with training while venting with Mavris or Hakoa.
But she didn’t have anyone here other than me and Odarum.
And if his company was anything like Theron, it wasn’t much of a comfort.
An idea came to mind, but I needed Theron’s help—a gift of sorts that might bring her joy. I walked over and gently kissed her forehead, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face and tucking the blankets around her more. Then, with a smile I quietly left the room.