“Fantastic. Honesty. That’s a good place to start.” Tenia motioned with her hand. “Let’s go with that theme. What happened, Peri? You’re a three-thousand-year-old high fae. You can remember every question I just asked, in order, no doubt. So continue being honest and answer the damn questions.”
“Remind me never to tick you off,”Skender said through their bond without bothering to wonder if it would work. Communicating with his mate was instinctual, and he felt his wolf’s relief that the bond was once again open between them.
“Who says I’m not ticked off with you already?”she asked. And even though she used the bond, her attention stayed focused on Peri.
“Fine,” Peri sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”
Tenia held tightlyto both Skender's and Torion’s hands and listened to Peri’s account of how she’d come to the compound, intent on destroying it. Mission accomplished. But she hadn’t expected Torion to show up or Tenia to be there. But by then, it was too late for her to stop what was already in motion. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the giant dragon appearing amid the chaos to spirit them away.
“I’ve never been so happy to see one of the massive beasts in my life.” Peri’s eyes and voice filled with relief. “I just wanted you and Torion out of there. And I knew there was no way I could save you.”
Tenia remembered the way her body had burned, how painful it had been. Skender growled next to her. She looked up at him and saw pain etched across his face. “It’s over now,” she told him, knowing how the memories of her injury affected him.
“I should have been there with you,” he said softly. His free hand lifted and brushed softly across her face. Tenia leaned into his touch. She’d never known that she could crave someone so much. But she craved Skender like a drug.
Peri cleared her throat, pulling Tenia from the private moment with Skender, and she turned back to the fae. “So the captured draheim saved us and then what?”
“I told him where Skender was,” Torion piped up with a grin on his face.
“We picked him up, and then the draheim brought us here, to his realm,” said Peri.
“Didn’t you worry he might have been bringing us back as a snack for his family, considering we were part of the group that held him captive?” Tenia asked.
“I wasn’t really concerned with being eaten,” Peri answered dryly. “I was too busy hoping you weren’t already dead or that Torion might die from his exposure to my power. And once I figured out that you both were alive and staying that way, at least for the moment, I had to decide whether to kill Skender, considering… you know…”
Tenia narrowed her eyes at the high fae. “No one is killing my mate.”
“I’m not the one you need to be worried about. I may have changed my mind regarding him, but you need to be prepared for the reaction of those he has wronged. They will not be so understanding.” Peri crossed one leg over the other and leaned forward, resting her elbow on her knee. “You’ve been out of commission for a month, Tenia. I imagine Myanin and Lilly are worried sick. And from what I know of Myanin, it isn’t a stretch to say that she might go on a killing spree just to find out what’s happened to you and Torion.”
Tenia’s lips twitched at the thought of the female djinn. “You’re not wrong, especially if she hasn’t had any stress-relieving cotton candy.” Then she frowned. “An entire month?” Tenia felt Skender’s lips against her hair, then heard him breathe in her scent. His wolf reached out to her through the bond and shared the comfort she brought him just by being close to her.
“Do you have any more questions?” Peri asked. “Because I have a feeling you and Skender have much to discuss. I can take the kid out to see Galan.”
Tenia squeezed Torion’s hand tighter. “Who?”
“Galan,” Peri answered. “He’s the draheim who saved us. The beast has taken a shine to Torion, probably because, despite his size, Galan is still very young.”
A grimace passed over Tenia’s face. She and Skender certainly had things that must be addressed, but she didn’t like the idea of her son anywhere but right next to her side.
Peri seemed to read the apprehension on her face. “I know after what I’ve done, I have no right to ask for your trust, Tenia. But I give you my word. I will protect your son with my life.”
“Galan is great, Mom. He lets me ride on his back,” Torion pulled his hand from hers and then gave her a hug.
“Hewhat?” Tenia pulled him closer and squeezed him tighter.
“Remind me to talk to you about things you should and shouldn’t say to your parents when you’re trying to go do something fun,” Peri said. “Now, come on. Let’s give them some privacy so your mom can properly put her wolf in his place.”
Tenia snorted and released Torion. “Please don’t fall off.”
“Mom,” Torion grinned. “I’m a fae. I can just flash to the ground.”
“The kid is smarter than the adults. We’d all just fall to our deaths like idiots.” Peri held her hand out, and Torion took it.
He looked back at Tenia, and she had to swallow down the emotions threatening to explode from her gut. Her son was alive. He was alive, unharmed, and free from the Order’s clutches. And he was about to ride on a draheim.What the hell?
“Quit worrying, Mom,” he told her. “The Great Luna saved us. Oh…” He held up one hand. “Please don’t make Skender leave. I know he messed up, but he belongs with us.”
“I’ll take that into consideration when making my decision.” She smiled at him. “I love you, Torion. More than anything.”
