Lowering her to the ground next to him, he gently brushed the hair from her face and looked to his own injuries. Blood oozed steadily from both wounds and the burns on his hands and face were agonising. Setting his jaw, he ripped his leggings open. The deep slash wound on his thigh was still bleeding. Good. He pushed the fingers of one hand into the wound, grunting and swallowing down the agony and vomit that rushed his mouth. Beads of sweat trickled down his face as he scooped out the congealing blood. A small, gelatinous mound now sat in his cupped fingers. Hugo quickly smeared the thick clots on Diamond’s breast. The dark red blood looked obscene against her pale skin. There was a slight hiss as his blood and the leaking venom mixed to form a thick brown scab. He eyed it with grim satisfaction. The anti-venom in his blood would help her fight the drugging effects of his poison.
He carefully pulled her shredded clothes back up. By now a pool of bright blood had formed under his thigh. Dealing with his own wounds was his next priority. He gritted his teeth, stubbornly ignoring his dizziness. Now was not the time to be weak. Hugo sucked at his saliva, spitting globules into his palm until he judged he had enough of the coagulant mucus to cover the gash in his leg. Smearing it on, he hissed loudly as it began to work. Stinging and burning, it sealed the exposed blood vessels. When he was done, he checked the bite one more time, sighing with relief when it looked less inflamed.
“Good girl. Fight it,” he whispered in her ear, gently brushing his lips against the soft skin of her cheek. It was time to declare their existence to the warriors above. The best healers in Valentia were at the palace, which meant bringing Diamond there was imperative.
Dragging his injured leg, he stepped out from the shadows and devastation and into sunlight. He waved his arms at the warriors above.
On high alert, their fae eyes noticed him instantly. Twenty warrior fae landed nearby, some hurrying over to help him, the others forming a defensive cordon. Their troop leader seemed momentarily stunned to see Hugo, then the leader’s clenched right fist, the first two fingers extended, hit his left shoulder thumb inwards in a smart salute, his golden brown eyes taking in Hugo’s uniform and ravaged appearance.
“Commander Casimir? Captain Elexon Riddeon. What can we do to assist you, sir?” the warrior fae asked, his tone clipped and efficient.
“Some water and clean bandages for me. The lady needs a healer. Once I have bound my wounds I will take her back to Valentia.” Hugo’s response was curt, as these warriors would expect.
“Of course, sir. Fedron.” Elexon indicated to the soldier who stood behind his left shoulder.
Hugo’s hackles raised immediately. The warrior had to drag his gaze from Diamond. He did nothing to disguise the hunger in his eyes before he handed over a water skin. Hugo accepted it but stepped between the warrior and Diamond, squaring his shoulders and blocking Fedron’s view. The slight growl Hugo omitted was nothing short of lethal. The warrior’s face became impassive but Hugo did not miss the amused spark in his eyes. Hugo’s fingers twitched, instantly wanting to smash a fist into the warrior’s face.
“Fedron, step away from the commander,” ordered Elexon, his observant eyes narrowing, though strangely not at Hugo.
Fedron smirked and moved sideways, a move that put him in sight of Diamond once again. This time Elexon stepped to block him. A casual move but Hugo still noted it.
“What happened here, sir?” the captain asked quickly, trying—but failing—to distract Hugo from Fedron. Elexon’s alert golden gaze raked across the clearing, taking in the devastation and Diamond, who lay unconscious near the fallen tree.
Hugo considered his words carefully before answering. “An enemy attack at Sentinel’s Cave. Prince Oden, his general and his men are trapped there. I can still hear a giant. Prince Oden will need assistance to kill it.” There was a breathless quality to his voice that he hated as he wrapped a bandage tightly around his thigh. It made him sound weak. Explaining himself to these men was not necessary; besides, keeping how the devastation had happened to himself was imperative if Diamond were to live.
“Inform Havron and go to the prince’s aid,” Elexon ordered Fedron. Fedron stared long and hard at Diamond, his delay in complying on the verge of insolence before he saluted his superior.
Hugo did not have chance to straighten and slam his fist into the warriors gut before Elexon barked, “Now, Fedron!”
As Fedron disappeared into the sky, Elexon released his sword pommel. Hugo met Elexon’s steady gaze and nodded slightly. A move that the captain returned. From the corner of his eye Hugo saw a warrior move towards Diamond, bending down to slip his arms around her. Hugo took two swift steps to his side and snarled savagely, realising too late his behaviour was way out of character for a Queen’s guard. He found he didn’t care in the least.
“Don’t touch her! I’ll take her,” he growled, curling his fingers into fists and using all his self-control not to kick the fae backwards and away from Diamond’s prone figure.
The warrior immediately stepped back, looking warily at Hugo’s menacing expression but Hugo did not notice, he only concentrated on Diamond’s face. As soon as he was by her side his magic found the cowed, trembling ember of hers, amplifying his already possessive instincts. Wincing and steeling himself to ignore the nauseating waves of pain that shot through his ravaged body, Hugo crouched down. Gritting his teeth, he hoisted Diamond into his arms, aware the other fae were watching him closely.
“Sir, are you sure you don’t want one of my men to take her?” Elexon asked with concern.
Hugo didn’t bother answering. She was so delicate and so precious to him now, he didn’t care how much pain he was in; he would get her back to Valentia and the healers himself. Growling with determination he straightened up, scowling at Elexon’s men, who now stood back, their faces impassive. Good. At least if they were wary of him they would stay away from Diamond. He unfurled his wings but knew he had no extra strength to armour them.
Elexon’s eyes narrowed a fraction. He understood how weak Hugo was by that omission. The warriors followed Hugo into the air. Elexon ordered six men with him to escort Hugo to the distant island city; the rest he ordered to re-join Fedron.
Hugo ignored the warriors, not caring if they were there or not. Distant clouds shrouded Valentia, obscuring the Queen’s tower completely. Hugo set his jaw. It was just less than thirty miles across the Rift Valley back to the city. That distance carrying a person, even uninjured, would be hard. Hugo prayed the blast of energy he had absorbed from Diamond would give him enough strength to get there. He inhaled deeply, her scent sending his heart tumbling. He could do this. Hugo resolutely set a punishing pace and headed toward the city, squashing the voice of reason in his head that told him she was not his and never could be. His life belonged to the Queen.
The silver-haired girl lay on the bed, her skin pale as death. The healer bathed her face, then straightened. She urgently spoke with the Queen’s guard, who stood grim-faced and dirty by the door. He nodded once, waited until she had left the room and dropped to his knees beside Diamond, anguish apparent in every line of his body.
***
Diamond’s insides were aflame. Broken buildings and shadowed walkways stretched ahead of her. A city of shadow and lost souls. She staggered toward the rift in the darkness where a pulsing light beckoned. A way out! Forcing her limbs to move, she ran—only to find her way blocked by a familiar foe. The lost souls screamed his name in terror.
“Sulphurious.”
The mirror-black dragon slammed down in front of Diamond, his vicious talons crushing the ground. Scorching red eyes bored into her soul, simmering with malevolence. Molten fire rippled up his long neck, his hideous mouth gaping wide. Screeching with effort, Diamond pitted her pathetic shield of magic against his fire, tears of exhaustion and utter despair running down her dirty face. She had fought through this endless night hoping her saviour would come, but hope had turned to despair. Outstretched, her arms shook violently. It would not be long
before she was at the end of her strength. Sparks of dragon-fire pierced her shield. Crying now, her eyes darted every direction, looking for an escape.
She felt him before he appeared—her tormentor. Ice coated her stomach. It was too late, she realised, for anyone to help her now. A faceless figure emerged from the flames, wreathed in darkness. Only endless, eternal shadow writhed under the cowl where his face should be. Panicked, she strengthened her shield with every last drop of energy she possessed.
The figure raised a skeletal hand and flicked her magic aside like it was an insignificant irritation. Slowly, deliberately, he stalked up to her. Emptiness filled her mind, despair eating at her heart. Then the screams started, a screeching, wailing cacophony that threatened to rip her skull apart.
The dragon cowed down before the power of its lord and master, watching the death of the half-blood with intent red eyes. Studying his withered fingers, the figure huffed an icy chuckle, shaped them like a claw and drove them into Diamond’s chest. Pain surged, ripping a scream from her throat.
This, she understood now, was the power wielded by the Lord of Chaos; endless pain and suffering were his to command. Indescribable cold gripped Diamond’s heart, consuming her until her very blood and bones froze. A scream for the person who had already saved her so many times jammed inside her ice-filled lungs. Petrified, Diamond realised this would not be a peaceful death, there would be no Eternity for her, only darkness and Chaos.
Wraiths prowled nearby—waiting—waiting for her to die. They shrieked her name, their skeletal hands grabbing her as their lord relinquished his hold on her dying heart. Their fingers of mist and shadow turned to icy spikes that dug painfully into her flesh, dragging her toward a yawning black abyss.
A voice echoed in the distance; a male voice, rich and deep. It became louder and more insistent until he was yelling frantically for her to fight, to live, to come back to him. Diamond felt a rush of hope as a familiar power tugged frantically at the magical embers in her soul.
The wraiths faltered. Responding to its mate, that ember flared to life. Crackling heat surged through her veins, warming her flesh and bones, melting the ice encasing her heart.
Instinctively Diamond released a forceful blast; it leaked from her hair, her skin, her eyes. Even in such a weakened state the light was enough to send the wraiths screeching into the abyss, into the safety of their dark world. Disorientated and weak, she stumbled. Vast unshakable strength invaded her body.
“Diamond! Come back to me. Run!” her saviour yelled over and over.
Sobbing, Diamond ran with every ounce of her remaining strength towards the voice that ordered her back from the abyss.
***
Warm hands gripped Diamond’s shoulder’s, shaking her firmly. The voice still called her name, commanding her to return. But unlike moments before, it now sounded very real. Slowly, through the fog of her mind, she became aware of the softness of the bed underneath her, the warmth of the velvety blankets and the glorious downy pillows that supported her hot, sticky head. Her eyelids flickered and the shaking stopped. Breathless and spent, Diamond was unable to move or speak. Tears of relief leaked from her eyes, burning a trail down her skin into her hair.
“Thank the goddess,” Hugo’s voice murmured into her ear, so familiar but so soft and full of worry she almost didn’t recognise it.
Cracking open her heavy eyelids, everything looked foggy. Focusing was impossible, even breathing was an immense effort. She tried to speak, to ask where she was but only a whimper escaped her dry lips.
“Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe for now. I will take care of you. Go back to sleep,” he urged softly. Dry, cool lips lightly grazed her forehead and she murmured, unable to form words of thanks to the warrior who had brought her back from the demon and the darkness.
The young healer clicked her tongue. She disapproved of the fusty air in the room and threw the purple drapes wide open. Sunlight hit the Prince of Rhodainia in the face, causing him to moan in protest. The healer’s brown hair was swept back from the soft features of her face and secured in a tight bun. Her grey dress and white apron were neutral and professional, as was her expression. Quickly the healer dipped a curtsey to the handsome young man who had not left her patient’s side since yesterday evening.
“Sorry, Your Highness, but the air in here needs freshening up, and Isla Norr has given me instructions to do what I need to do to get this young lady up and about today.”
“Of course, Rose,” said Jack rubbing his eyes before pushing himself out of the large armchair that he had placed next to Diamond’s bed.
For five days Hugo’s self-control had been balancing on a knife edge, and he was still trying to keep his head and heart together. For two of those days he had fought with Diamond, pouring his magic into her whilst everyone else thought him a silent guard by her door. No one, not even Rose, noticed when he leaned against the wall for support or had to blink sweat from his eyes with the effort of giving Diamond the strength she needed to survive whatever hell she was in. Hugo knew his actions were dangerous to them both, but he could not leave her any more than he could stop breathing.
Serene and peaceful, she had been in a deep sleep since the shadows had left her soul. He had felt their coldness and greed as they tried to take her from this life into theirs. His magic had raged at the thought. Anxiety tightened his chest, though the current calmness of her magic reassured him.
“And we can’t upset Isla Norr, now can we?” Jack commented while giving Rose a well-practised smile.
Rose dipped her head demurely but not before Hugo caught the edges of her mouth curling up in response. He tried not to roll his eyes at Rose’s all too predictable reaction to the prince’s charms.
Isla Norr was the Queen’s personal healer and was a formidable force of nature for one who was supposed to be kind and caring. The stern female fae had accepted the mantle of Principle Healer to the Queen fifteen years ago. Since then Principle Norr had run Valentia’s academy of healers with iron discipline. Even the Prevost of the Acolytes deferred to her judgment.
Hugo had reluctantly handed Diamond over to the healers and patiently let them do what they could to cure her. They had stitched her lip, but none had dared try and throw him out of the room whilst they bathed her cut and bruised skin with the herb- and spell-infused water until she was almost unmarked. Knowing Diamond would be mortified by being naked and helpless in front of him, he had politely turned away but kept his magic near her until they had completed their task. Rose had then dressed Diamond in a stark white night gown that covered her from her neck downwards. Hugo hated it. In his opinion it looked far too much like a death shroud.
A mass of silver hair fanned out from Diamond’s head, covering the pillow. Not for the first time he struggled to hide his dismay at the stains and clumps of dried blood that made it dull and lifeless.
Never mind. Rose will sort that out today, he reassured himself.
Jack lifted his arms above his head and stretched, giving a moan of pleasure at the release on his inactive muscles. He strode over to the window with a sigh, leaning on the sill and peering out at the clear blue sky. After a few minutes the prince twisted back to face Hugo.
“I’m going to have to leave her today. The war council and the Queen are expecting me at this morning’s meeting. I have delayed them as long as I dare,” Jack said, studying Hugo steadily. Hugo studied him right back, keeping his face blank and nodded once. Jack’s gaze did not falter but his eyes narrowed.
When the prince and General Edo had arrived yesterday, three women had been tending Diamond’s battered legs. Hugo had been kneeling by her bed holding her hand. Jack had been instantly annoyed to see Hugo so close to Diamond. In fact the prince had been unable to mask his anger as Hugo had stood with difficulty and move back to allow him and General Edo to get to her side.
For the first two hours Jack, General Edo and Hugo had kept a silent vigil by her side. They had all refused to leave the room u
ntil Isla Norr had personally threatened to cast a sleeping spell on them all, saying there were private things that needed doing for the young lady that should not be witnessed by any of them. Even Hugo had been ushered out, although he remained on the other side of the closed door, feeling for the essence of her weak magic. The next day Jack had sought permission from the Queen to move Diamond to a room of her own with bathing facilities. Since then Hugo had left her side only to allow the healers to clean and stitch his wound and apply salve to his burns before re-establishing his position as Diamond’s personal guard.
“You know, the lovely Rose here is going to wake Diamond today. Maybe this will be a good time for you to rest and eat—and, err, take a bath. You stink,” said Jack bluntly, as a breeze from the open window sent the foul stink of old sweat and blood eddying around the room.
Rose gave a snort of laughter as she walked into the bathing room to check the water.
“I agree—when she is awake,” answered Hugo stubbornly, staring at Jack with his dark glittering eyes. “But until then I will stay here.”
Jack held Hugo’s gaze, his face tight. “Hugo, you’re being a stubborn ass. The Queen will know you have refused to leave. Damn it! You are putting her at risk by staying here,” he declared, squeezing his hands into tight fists.
Hugo remained silent, although behind his back he clasped hands together so tightly they hurt. Jack was right.
“What happened between you two in the forest, Hugo?” Jack asked. The prince waited expectantly for an answer.
Hugo just looked steadily at his friend and said nothing, outwardly portraying only icy calm whilst his insides roiled. He had been stupid. Jack was so utterly right that Hugo wanted to hit him—or something. The nearest wall would do. The fact that the Queen hadn’t sent for him to report, or thrown Diamond straight in the dungeons, filled him with dread. His Queen was like an adder waiting to strike. Hugo felt sick.
A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 1) Page 16