Chapter 40 HEART OF THE WILD HUNT #2
“I knew you would come for me. I did not doubt it for a moment, Summer,” he insisted before lifting his head to look up at me with damp eyes. “And it was not long.”
“It was weeks!” I sobbed in disgust at myself.
I hesitated when Sage betrayed a moment of surprise and confusion at my insistence.
“It… did not feel nearly so long to me,” he admitted.
“Perhaps time moved differently?” suggested Ciaran, sounding as hopeful as I suddenly felt at this possibility.
“How long did you think it had been?” Rian asked, and I realized that the other riders had moved closer and were now standing or kneeling all around us.
“A day perhaps,” Sage answered Rian, and a breath of the purest relief escaped all of us at the revelation that his torment had not lasted as long as we had feared.
There was a commotion outside. We could hear shouts ringing out clearly since this yurt and the war tent did not have silencing wards around them.
“Just get out of their way!” someone yelled before the tent flap burst open, and Serafin galloped in with Pyrope on his heels. The winged creature yipped excitedly with his wings flared in elation as he bounded at Sage.
“Whoa! Be gentle, Serafin!” I tried to warn the vargr, but it was no use trying to calm him down.
The beast leapt onto us, ploughing over the other men to begin rubbing his neck and chest all over my back while I tried to brace protectively over Sage.
His immense wings jostled flowers loose from the branches above so they showered us.
And then he flopped over suddenly, both wings blasting out behind him and taking the wind out of Ciaran when one hit him in the gut.
It was not until Sage grabbed his giant head to hold it tightly that the beast quieted a little.
Although his tail still thumped so hard against the earth that it sounded painful.
And he was obviously still trying to nose his way between me and Sage.
The vargr was strong enough to flick me off my mate with his muzzle, but he was trying to be discreet, inching forward on his belly.
Sage had to pull his head back down to his chest, and he held on tightly until the vargr was content with having just his nose between us.
My mate was crying again, his tears soaking into the dark fur of Serafin’s neck while he hugged his beloved beast.
And all the while, Pyrope whined as she paced and leapt over us as if she were frantically searching for a way to insert herself into Sage’s arms as well.
It is alright, I tried to calm her through our bond while reaching out a hand for her.
Pyrope dropped to her belly immediately, her thick tail swiping back and forth so hard it moved her whole body. She pressed her muzzle into my hand and whined at me until I stroked her head soothingly.
I could only imagine how ridiculous we had to look with Sage now lying flat on his back and trying to keep Serafin still against his shoulder. While I knelt over him and tried to distract Pyrope from licking tears off Sage’s face the way she had gotten used to doing for me.
Once the vargr had both settled, Rian knelt next to us, looking amused. Nuala was propped up against his chest with her head turned into him so I was pretty sure she had regained consciousness.
“I need to take Nuala to my tent. You probably need some time to rest as well, and then we will celebrate as soon as you are able,” Rian suggested.
Sage smiled at his cousin before dropping his gaze to the witch Rian cradled so protectively.
Rian rose before Sage could inquire, shifting Nuala up against him so that her face was in the crook of his neck.
The Autumn Prince then turned to Amira who sat near the tree trunk with her arms slung over her knees.
I realized she had been watching me when I glanced over and met her eyes, so I looked away again quickly.
“Thank you, Amira,” he told her with some difficulty. “Take her back to the prison,” Rian instructed Ciaran who gave a nod, but then he glanced reluctantly at Sage.
“I will see you soon,” Sage reassured him, and Ciaran smiled in agreement before he turned to retrieve Amira. He forced her up and followed Rian out of the tent.
Sage frowned as he watched them go, so I reached up to try and smooth away that line between his dark brows. He merely turned those pensive purple eyes on me.
“You blame her,” he guessed.
“Of course. It was her and Riordan who orchestrated your abduction with the Sylvan,” I reminded him.
Sage seemed to consider that for a moment before he closed his eyes with a sigh.
“I need sleep,” he admitted, clearly not ready to have a discussion about the griffins or my friend or the Sylvan.
“I can portal you,” Darragh offered, and I agreed.
“Do you want food or—” I began to ask Sage.
“Just you and our bed,” he insisted.
I knew he had not meant to insinuate anything sexual, since he was certainly not in any shape for it. But I still couldn’t help the hot flush that spread across my cheeks. The blush deepened when he saw it and a smile began to tug at the corners of that wicked mouth of his.
“I am going to need rest first,” he assured me.
My eyes widened at him before darting up to Darragh who had averted his face. But I could still see the slight curve of his amused smile as he formed a portal.
Darragh helped me get Sage into our bed, and I made sure he finished the tea Carrick brewed. Then my mate passed out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
I stripped once he was asleep and removed my armour from him, leaving him in his pants and tunic.
Then I laid awake for hours with my head on his chest and listened to every breath and every beat of his heart until the anxious flutter in my chest began to ease.
I could not move except to swipe at tears of bittersweet relief as they rolled down my cheeks.
I was so tired, and my magic was in desperate need of being replenished with some rest, but I just could not seem to close my eyes on him.
I did not realize I had finally succumbed to exhaustion until I was waking groggily.
I initially thought it must be a dream when I woke to the feeling of Sage curled around me from behind.
He gently brushed his fingers through the hair at my temple and tucked it behind my ear, which gave a flicker at the contact.
I had dreamed of him with me so often while he was gone that all I wanted to do was bask in the delusion for as long as I could.
But then his scent hit me, real and solid, and I jerked my head up to look at Sage over my bare shoulder. Part of me could still barely believe he was back, so when I met those purple eyes, the relief took my breath away again.
“I did not mean to wake you,” he said quietly, and my heart quickened when his eyes lowered to my mouth and then to my naked shoulder between us.
“I am glad you did,” I insisted as I flipped over and pressed myself into his chest.
Something moved, and I worried someone else was in the room before realizing it was just Serafin.
He had crept up onto the bed in spite of my direction the night before for him to stay on the floor.
It was not unusual for him to sleep on the bed, but with Sage so badly injured, I had thought it was best not to crowd him too much.
But I did not have the heart to scold the vargr when I saw his head resting on Sage’s hip with his fervent eyes glued to his beloved rider. He gave me a pleading whine.
“Stubborn beast,” I muttered, and his tail thumped on the mattress in excitement at my grudging sanction.
I returned my attention to Sage as I rested my hand on his chest to let what little magic I’d managed to recoup flow into him.
Sage gave a sigh of relief as more of his pain was relieved, but I knew it was going to take more power than I had at the moment to heal him completely.
And I would only be able to restore what had been done to him physically. I could not repair his stolen magic.
“I can still use it through you,” Sage reminded gently, sensing the direction of my dour thoughts.
I merely nodded, unable to stomach the discussion of everything that had been done to him. Or the fact that our bond and his rider’s blood oath were probably the only reasons that he was still alive. Most other fey would have been extinguished if their magic was carved out of them.
“Are you hungry?” I asked him, wanting to distract myself from such dark thoughts.
The curve at one corner of his full mouth made me flush instantly. Especially when his eyes dropped again to my exposed collarbones.
“You are naked.”
“You know I like to sleep naked,” I reminded him with a smirk, and he gave a contemplative grunt as his hand slipped over the curve of my waist above the blanket. Those devious fingers teased the length of my spine as his hand swept up my back and into my hair.
“And I see that all my marks have faded,” he added as his hand tightened on the back of my neck possessively.
I stared at him, trying to control my rising anticipation because there was still faint bruising under his eyes.
I had every intention of claiming my mate fully, just as soon as we were both healthy enough for it.
But I did not want to risk hurting him, regardless of how much my heart and body were aching for him.
“Do you think you could walk to get food?” I asked in an attempt to divert us both.
Sage nodded distractedly while his fingers continued to massage the back of my neck.
Those breathtaking eyes remained so intent on my unmarked throat that his resolve was completely unmistakable.
He wanted me, I could see his desire right there plainly on his face.
And there was a carnal promise in his eyes that had not been there before. Not even in the hot springs.
“I had time to reflect on my regrets,” Sage explained as if he could see my confusion at the stark change of his demeanour. “And the one that cut deepest was that I never got the chance to claim my mate.”
My heart was pounding so hard with excitement that it felt like it could burst from my chest. But I forced myself to calm down for the sake of his injured body.
I want that too, but I want you to be healthy, I insisted firmly through our bond.
“I do not need my full strength in order to please you,” Sage objected to my stipulation aloud, and my eyes grew wide as I stared at him in surprise.
It was not the first time he had hinted at a desire to make me feel good.
I did not think I had ever met another male who seemed to crave my pleasure even more than his own.
“No?” I asked, and he smirked as he shook his head once against his pillow while his gaze trailed down to the tops of my breasts. His hand traced my curves to my hip, pulling me closer as his attention shifted even lower with an intensity that made me squeeze my thighs together.
“I want to hear you losing your breath,” he told me as his thumb traced a circle on my hip, his eyes still lowered between us. “Taste your ecstasy on my tongue.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at such unexpected words from this modest male. Although he had already proven that he could be much more scandalous than I would have given him credit for. But hearing him speak like that to me still felt deliciously forbidden.
“Alright then,” I began breathlessly, trying to calm my racing heart as I leaned against him and nipped at his lips. “But after we both bathe,” I insisted in a whisper.
Sage gave a soft snort of amusement, but he nodded in agreement even as his hand shifted around to the front of my neck to squeeze slightly.
“At least allow me to renew my marks,” he bargained, his voice even more gravelly as he squeezed me gently. “The thought of you walking around this camp with this beautiful neck unmarked all this time makes me crazy.”
The commanding pressure of his grip around my throat should make me feel nervous, but it always did the exact opposite. It made me feel wonderfully soft and trusting under his hands.
“Then make sure everyone knows who I belong to.”
Sage rumbled, a deep and hungry sound of approval that had my skin prickling in anticipation as I tilted back my head to expose my throat for him.
As if he could understand what was about to happen, Serafin gave a disgruntled grunt and rose from the bed to slink to the floor.
Pyrope also stood from where she’d laid next to the mattress and followed him through the curtain into the main room with her own huff.
But even more unsettling was the sudden sensation of three doors closing in my mind, one after the other, as the other riders put up their mental blocks.
And in spite of some embarrassment, I was thankful to them since it was evident I was unable to shield myself fully yet.
“Did you just—” I began to ask Sage.
“Ensure I’d have you all to myself? Yes,” he growled, leaning over me to trail soft kisses down my arching neck before giving me a domineering bite. The sudden pinch of his canines made me gasp, but then he instantly soothed the ache by sucking and kissing my skin.
I groaned and writhed beneath his weight, my wanton body betraying all my best intentions as my eyes rolled in utter bliss.
But what the hell other choice did I have when he was savouring every inch of me so deliciously?
I had always guessed Sage would be a good lover, but I knew it for sure now.
It was in the subtle way he paid attention to my every cue even during something that was largely for his own pleasure.
It was in the way he ensured I enjoyed every mark he left as much as he did.
Sage pulled off my skin with a soft pop and tugged the sheets down to expose my heaving breasts.
I hissed my approval and slipped my fingers into his hair when he bent to suck a nipple into his mouth.
The care he took with the sensitive little nub, swirling his tongue around it, pinching and tugging with his teeth before soothing with long sucks was maddening.
He took his time leaving his marks all the way down to my navel where he finally paused. I could sense him toying with the possibilities as his mouth lingered over my stomach. He was ready to descend down to where he wanted to taste me most.
“Regain your strength first,” I commanded him sternly and tightened my grip in his dark hair. He chuckled.
“And then?” Sage challenged, lifting himself over me to admire his work on my throat and torso.
“Then,” I said dramatically, tracing my nails along the wide breadth of his shoulders above me, “we will ensure that neither of us ever have these regrets again.”