“W-why?”
“Because it is clear his omissions have hurt you enough. I wish not to see my king inflict more pain upon you for simply falling prey to our enemy. As I have said, our king is not without fault. Trust when I say he not a king anyone sets an innocent before. There is a time to follow blindly. This is not one of them.”
Inflict more pain?
Rayna gasped. “They want to hurt me? Why?”
His refusal to answer left Rayna wondering how much to the story there was. Lazar was clearly hiding something. What? She wasn’t sure.
Lazar touched his wounds with reluctant fingers and she knew he was in a good deal of pain. “We should rest. Others will come in search of you.”
“Others?” Rayna moved towards him quickly, no longer caring that he had the ability to sprout wings.
Lazar chuckled. “I will allow no harm to come to you, Rayna.”
She eyed his wounds, the one on his side in particular and snorted. “No offense but I don’t think you’re—”
“The soil from Earth has something ours lacks. Something in your soil inhibits our ability to heal quickly. Under normal circumstances, my wounds would be nothing more than faint scars by now.”
She vividly recalled the dirt hitting him after she threw the rock. “I’m sorry.”
Lazar patted her hand. “You were attempting to protect yourself. You have nothing to be sorry for. I—” He sighed. “—on the other hand, do. As soon as I am able, I will return you to your realm. It would be wise if you were to disappear for a while there. The Falco wish greatly to possess you. They believe King Kabril will lay down his sword and barter for your safe return.”
Envisioning Kabril wielding a sword wasn’t as hard as it should have been. All the times she’d referred to his behavior as regal and his speech as implacable haunted her. As much as she wanted to argue the point that Kabril wasn’t the king Lazar spoke of, in her heart she knew Lazar spoke the truth.
She picked a purplish-colored leaf from a plant near her and dipped it into the crystal clear water. “This isn’t poisonous, is it?”
Lazar shook his head and chuckled. “No. The flowers the plant will get late in the season are harvested and used in medicine. Was your goal to poison me?”
Rayna knew he was joking. She took the leaf and pressed it to his open wound as gently as she could. He hissed but let her continue, pulling leaves, wetting them and putting them over his open wound.
He caught her hand in his and stared at her, their faces dangerously close. “You tend to me when, by rights, you should be vexed by all I have brought upon you.”
“Without you, I’ll plummet to my death, remember?” She smiled, trying to make light of a situation she wanted nothing more than to crumble and cry in. Falling to pieces would accomplish nothing. She wanted to go home. Lazar could get her there. Something about him seemed genuine and she needed someone to trust.
His smile faded as his gaze flashed towards the sky. “Run!”
Confused by his sudden change, Rayna simply stared at him. “What?”
Dark shadows eclipsed the sun. In an instant Rayna was yanked to her feet by her hair. She cried out and tried to break free, only to find herself being thrust towards a hulk of a man. Dark brown, almost black wings spanned out at least twelve feet in each direction. The menacing stare he leveled on her shook Rayna to the core.
“Humbert,” Lazar said, his voice strained. “No.”
The brute holding her glowered in the direction Lazar’s voice had come from. “Is this the human?” His lip curled. “Disgusting creatures.”
“No. I took the wrong one. She was near their king but is…”
Humbert’s lecherous gaze slid over her, making her skin crawl before moving back towards Lazar. “You have always been weak where females are concerned.” He spat as he glared at Lazar. “The king anticipated as much from you, Lazar. He sent you to test your allegiance.”
“But I seized the wrong—”
“It matters not. She will not be permitted to leave now that she’s seen our realm. And you, Lazar, you shall be handled accordingly.” The man untied one side of his loincloth and fear coursed through her veins.
Lazar moved quickly, attacking the man nearest him. In an instant, the man was sinking in the water, his throat sliced open. Lazar’s fingers were bloodied. She looked closer and realized his fingernails were now long, dagger-like. She had little doubt they were the weapon Lazar used to kill the man, even in his weakened state. He held his wounded side and staggered. “Humbert, I will not…will not…”
He swayed and went to one knee, dashing Rayna’s hopes of being spared from Humbert. She tried to rush past Humbert but he extended his wings, blocking her path. He stuck his chin out defiantly. “Going somewhere?”
Without thought, Rayna kicked him square between the legs. Humbert doubled over, clutching himself as a choked gasp broke free of him. Her gaze snapped to Lazar. Beads of sweat broke on Lazar’s brow and he swayed a bit, touching the ground with one hand to steady himself. Rayna rushed to his side. “Are you okay?”
He nodded a second before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he tipped forward, splashing into the water. Rayna didn’t hesitate. She dove in after him. The icy water shocked her system but she didn’t stop. She continued onward, reaching for him through the clear, cold water.
Chapter Twenty
Kabril grabbed hold of his chest and felt as if someone had hit him with a block of ice, stealing his breath. His arms cramped and he lost his focus for just a second, but long enough to jar him from flight. His wings folded in, cradling his body as he fought and failed to draw in air. Something seized him from behind, lifting him and ceasing his decent.
“Kabril!” Sachin’s voice pushed through the pain, clearing Kabril’s head.
The icy feeling vanished almost as quickly as it had arrived. The innate knowledge something was wrong with his mate settled over him. His iron will surged forth. “Rayna!”
“What vexes you, my lord?” Sachin asked.
“Rayna is hurt. The situation is grave.”
“Is she…?” Sachin swallowed thickly. “Is she still alive?”
As much as Kabril wanted to believe she was safe and all would be well, his gut told him differently. He pushed off Sachin and flew in the direction his mate’s distress signal had come from. “I do not know.”
The Tocallie Mountains spanned a great distance and were easy to get lost in. Nothing could keep him from Rayna now that he’d connected with her on another level. Sachin tried to change course, heading in the logical direction—towards the closest portal—but Kabril remained steady, following the pull of his mate. A clearing appeared and he spotted a Falco warrior near the edge of a spring. Red tinged what should have been crystal clear water. A knot formed in his throat as his heart hammered furiously.
Rayna.
A strangled cry ripped free of him as he began his rapid decent. Kabril broke through the surface of the icy water, already knowing how cold it was. The velocity at which he hit the water left him shooting past his target. Rayna’s long hair danced in the water, lifting and swaying with a sickening silence as her limp body headed downwards. A Falco warrior was near her, his body lifeless as well. Kabril recognized him immediately as one of the men he’d fought with. Torn between rage and concern for Rayna, he thrust his anger down and seized hold of his mate. Her body was as cold as the water she was submerged in.
Holding her close, Kabril kicked, using his powerful body to take her quickly to the surface. He drew in a deep breath the moment he emerged, but Rayna did nothing. Her body remained listless. Every fiber of his being called out to the Epopisdeus, begging them for forgiveness and to spare the life of the one he loved.
More than loved.
The scope of his feelings hit him hard. This was his woman. His destiny before him and she was gone. It couldn’t be. He’d had only moments with her, what felt like seconds in the span of his long life. He wanted m
ore.
Needed more.
He could not go on if Rayna were not by his side. She had somehow managed to become his everything and so very much more.
“Rayna,” he breathed, unshed tears filling his eyes as his chest tightened at the thought of losing her. He could not remember when he had last wept. Kings did not cry. They did not show weakness.
For her I would give up everything.
Someone pried Rayna from his cold hands before someone else yanked him free of the water. Kabril knew his men were close, trying to help, but he needed to be near Rayna.
“N-no!”
His teeth chattered as he reached for his mate. The moment he touched her cheek, a sob fell from his lips. “Magaious, I beg of you, take my life in place of hers. Take me. Spare her. She is young. A long life before her. I have lived many hundreds of years. Me for her!”
He meant every word. He didn’t want to walk the path of life without her there. Without her smile, without her laughter.
A circle of gasps sounded around him but Kabril ignored them. It mattered not what his men thought, only that Rayna survived. He would rather die knowing she lived on than to go a single day without her by his side.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sachin stood silently watching his long-time friend hold firm to the woman he’d grown to love. It pained Sachin, knowing he’d withheld the truth of who Rayna was from Kabril. He directed his gaze skyward and closed his eyes as Kabril openly prayed to the Epopisdeus he’d shunned so long ago. Sachin joined in, silently calling upon the bird gods to intervene.
He glanced to the side and found Humbert being lifted away, his wings, hands and ankles bound. Curses spat forth from his foul mouth and Sachin vowed to cut the man’s tongue from his head before the night was out.
His men lifted a second Falco warrior from the depths of the frigid water, not bothering to tie him. They followed behind Humbert and the others in the direction of the castle. Sachin didn’t need to instruct his men to put the two in the dungeon. It went without saying. He did have to give a rather stern look at the remaining guards, fearing they’d take it upon themselves to kill the Falcos instead of allowing the king the pleasure.
Sachin eyed his friend and went to turn his back to give Kabril a private moment for mourning Rayna when a bright light shone down upon them. At first, it bordered on blinding before dimming enough to allow Sachin to make out Kabril’s and Rayna’s outlines.
The sound of Rayna coughing was music to his ears. It was as if the heavens opened and harps played. Afraid his imagination and wishful thinking had run away with him, Sachin watched his old friend carefully. The moment Kabril tipped his head back and let out a fierce growl of triumph, Sachin drew his sword and held it high.
“Praise Magaious!”
Kabril rocked Rayna, holding her so tight Sachin wondered if his friend would hamper her already labored breathing. He moved to Kabril’s side quickly. “I can carry her while you regain your strength, my lord.”
Rayna’s blue eyes drifted shut and her head lolled back. Kabril kept hold of her. “No.”
“Kabril,” he whispered, putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You are in no condition to fly with her in your arms. You could drop her. Is that what you truly want?”
The weight of the decision showed in Kabril’s eyes a second before he handed Rayna to Sachin. The trust given to him was not misplaced. Sachin inclined his head before securing Rayna and taking flight. Kabril flew close to him, no doubt monitoring Sachin’s care of his mate.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rayna’s head felt heavy and her body laden with lead. She groaned as she opened one eye to peer out into the darkened room. Light filtered in through heavy drapery. The single slit and the tiny amount of light passing through left her shielding her face. She tried to roll away but her body refused to respond to her commands.
“Be still,” a deep, familiar voice whispered near her ear.
“Kabril?” Rayna asked, twisting around and suffering the fate of such a choice almost instantly. Pain shot through her and she cringed.
Kabril put his hand to her cheek and cupped it gently. “Ta’konima, I beg of you to rest. The healer has given you something to help you sleep.”
“My arms are heavy and I’m mad at you,” she blurted out.
The corners of his lips twitched. “I know. It will pass, as will the pain. I can only hope your anger with me subsides as well, Rayna. If I could take your pain from you, I would. My power does not extend to that point.”
Her brow knit as his words trickled through the recesses of her mind. “Power?” She drew in a shallow breath. “Wings? They had wings, Kabril. Huge wings that came right out of their backs. They could fly.” She closed her eyes as a dull throb began in her head. “They said you were a king and that you had wings too.”
She waited for Kabril to laugh. He didn’t. Instead, he simply watched her through cautious golden eyes. Rayna’s gaze darted around the room. She’d been in Kabril’s bedroom once before, to help him pack for the trip. This was not his room. This room was grand with vaulted ceilings and lamps suspended from chains. The oversized four-poster bed they lay in was carved from dark cherry-colored wood. The Mediterranean blue, plush coverlet engulfed her and matched the silken gown she now wore. Her heated gaze flashed back to him and locked on the tawny expanse of his chest.
Suddenly, her mouth was very dry.
“W-where are we and why are we in bed together?”
“Excuse me, my lord,” a feminine voice said, causing Rayna to sit up faster than her aching body allowed.
She swayed and Kabril was there, steadying her with his powerful arms. “Rest, Rayna.”
Ignoring Kabril, Rayna focused on the female in the doorway. The woman held a tray of what looked to be fruits and a decanter of something. Her long blonde hair fell in waves to her slender waist. As much as Rayna didn’t want to be jealous, she was.
The woman inclined her head and offered a non-threatening smile. “My lord,” her attention went to Kabril, “Rossi ordered food be sent up. Your brother worries because you have not eaten since…” The woman averted her gaze. “Since…erm…”
“Since the queen arrived?” Kabril supplied, a teasing note in his voice.
Rayna had thought the blonde was gut wrenching enough. Hearing there was a queen to go along with the king left her feeling as if she’d been struck with a bat. “You have a queen?”
“I do,” he said, his lips quirking with a half smile.
She touched her stomach lightly, feeling as if she might be ill. She motioned to the blonde. “Who is that?”
Kabril blushed. “She is no one of importance.”
The blonde said nothing, she merely kept her head lowered.
Oh, she was someone all right by the way he was acting. She cast a questioning look on him. He squirmed on the bed and cleared his throat. “She, perhaps, was a member of the harem.”
“Was a what?” Rayna asked, her head spinning. “Did you just say harem?”
“I did.”
“I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” she questioned. “This is a nightmare, isn’t it?”
Kabril shifted more, his gaze averted.
Rayna’s throat tightened. “She’s not only part of a harem. She’s part of a harem you’ve been with!”
The woman gasped.
Kabril sat up straight on the bed. “My sweet Rayna, I have disbanded the harem. They are no more. You are the only woman for me. Ask her.”
Rayna blinked up at him. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I do not jest,” he said, his chest puffing out. “I disbanded the harem upon your arrival here. They no longer service the men of the castle in the same way they once had. This pleases you, yes? Sachin said I should give each of the women within the harem a large sum of money and send them elsewhere.”
“I like Sachin more than you at the moment.” She looked up and shook her head. “Waking up and finding myself in my boring
country house would be great right about now. Really, I’m full up on winged macho men. I’d like to go back to simple, sexy bird doctors. Ones who may be odd at times but don’t have stacked blondes showing up to feed them grapes.”
“Set the tray down and leave us,” Kabril said. “Someone will come with enough money to see to your family’s needs for many cycles. Your service is no longer required. I thank you.”
The woman did as she was instructed.
Rayna rubbed the back of her neck and let out a soft laugh. “Am I crazy? Be honest.”
“Rayna, your sanity is not in question.” He ran his fingers down the back of her arm, making a shiver ripple through her. When he reached her hand, Kabril laced his fingers through hers, the move intimate. He brought their joined hands to his lips and planted a chaste kiss on hers. “What I wish to know is if you can accept me as I am.”
“You’re not a vet, are you?” she asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear the truth from him.
“To your people, I know more of birds and animals than they could ever hope to.” Kabril lifted her hand and spread her fingers wide, kissing the tip of each one. “But, alas, I am not.”
“And you’re not just foreign, are you?” she asked.
He licked his lower lip. “Yes and no. I am not from your realm. And you are no longer within your realm either. You are now here, in mine.”
“Where is here?” She wanted to yell at him for lying to her, but the feel of his full lips trailing over her skin was too distracting.
“Accipitridae. The realm of the bird shifters.”
She paused. It was all a lot to soak in. “It was all real?”
“It was.” He made his way up her arm, slow and steady. When he reached her shoulder, Kabril nipped lightly at her skin, catching the strap of the gown she wore. He dragged it down before returning to kiss his way up her shoulder, towards her neck.
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