And no wonder it broke Linton.
It feels like the tunnel is starting to go uphill, and I’m having to work harder to keep Linton upright. He murmurs to himself as we continue to walk, some of the clarity having disappeared from his eyes, until finally I see something up ahead in the gloom.
It is a door. I try the handle. Nothing happens. I prop Linton against the wall and try harder.
“S’my turn,” Linton says. Lurching forwards, he falls straight into the door, which swings open, and he continues his downward arc.
Ending up on his face again. So, I’m back on my knees as the cool air rushes over us, clearing my senses of the dark passage as I see we’re in a forest, the scent of pine resin being most welcome.
Linton groans. “I did it.”
I run my hand over his antennae. “You did it.”
“Can we mate now?” Linton says into the moss beneath him.
“Well, there you are!” a familiar voice says. “I thought you’d never get here!”
“Gloriana?” I look up to see my friend standing in the clearing, a basket on her arm and a bright scarf wrapped around her blonde hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you really think I’d let you and this idiotic Bluecap who thinks he’s your mate go it alone?” she huffs.
KAITLYN
“Iremember you.” Linton rolls over but doesn’t make any attempt to get up. “You made the things, the sweet things and the rounds, with my Kaitlyn.”
Gloriana clucks her tongue at me.
“Those brothers, they’ve done a number on him,” she grumbles, and digs into her basket, producing a small cake.
“Um…Linton only eats…blood,” I say as she approaches him with it.
“I am fully aware of how Bluecaps feed. It doesn’t mean they can’t take ordinary food,” she replies as she pulls open Linton’s mouth and shoves the cake inside it. “Chew,” she orders.
Linton looks at me and I nod. He chews.
“Swallow,” Gloriana growls.
He doesn’t need to look at me for confirmation, doing exactly as he’s told. Within seconds, he blinks hard, and then he’s on his feet with a snarl.
“The brothers.” Linton bares his fangs. “They gave me up to Tam Lin.”
“They did something to you.” I put my hand on his arm, and he looks at it before his gaze rises to me.
In less than a blink of an eye, I’m in his arms, his lips on mine, taking me in a dominant, possessive kiss which makes my toes curl.
“The brothers had to find a way to control Linton,” Gloriana says quietly as I am released but every inch of my skin is tingling. “My guess is a form of charm, given they are good at such things.”
“I thought they were helping me,” Linton says. “But because of you, my sweet mate, I know they were not.”
“What did I do?”
“You showed me what real care is.” He nuzzles into my hair, his wings wrapping around us both like a cloak.
I shiver with pleasure. Having Linton finally back with me, body and soul, makes me happier than I ever thought I could be.
“We should move,” Gloriana says. “I doubt Tam Lin and the brothers will find your escape route for a while, but the further we are from it, the better.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “How did you know we would be here, anyway?” I query.
