A mix a betrayal and shame bubbles inside of Malice. He should have been able to protect her, and once again he failed. He lets his anger out on the nearest target.
“If she dies...” Malice can barely stomach the threat. “If she dies, I will maim you. And then I will drag you by the intestines to the King so you can be the one to explain to him how the Princess of Valtara died in a fight with a fucking Rogue!” He roars the end, ripping open the package of gauze and stuffing it into the wound, anything to staunch the bleeding.
[Be nice to him.]Aerin’s voice echoes in his head. Malice almost sags in relief.
[You are in no position to make demands, Princess,]Malice says back, grabbing the bandage wrap from the Wolf’s outstretched hand.
Her small responding chuckle warms his chest, giving Malice the slightest bit of hope she isn’t as far gone as he thought.
“Help me sit her up,” Malice orders. Emrys scrambles to Aerin’s other side to support her frame as Malice wraps the material around her torso.
[You need to take me to the Viper Den.]
“Are you insane? I’m not taking you to the Viper Den. I’m taking you directly to the Royal Village. You need the best Fae healers,” Malice says out loud. He shifts to his feet to pick her up. She’s fragile in his arms.
A weak grip on his arm stops Malice from taking flight. Aerin’s eyes open. She looks at him with something akin to desperation.[The Viper Den.]
Malice hesitates, looking at his bonded-mate. Her eyes are dull, her skin sullen and pale. She’s sweating despite losing so much blood. Something inside of him loosens, or perhaps tightens. The Viper Den it is.
“Fine.”
Finally, Malice looks to the Wolf standing next to him in Fae form, well over Malice’s height. Malice isn’t sure if this is his true form or some manifestation of Aerin’s will. Isn’t sure exactly how it all works.
The male is lithe and long-limbed, lean muscle stretched across his narrow frame. His facial features are sharp and harsh, hallowed cheeks, a long nose that ends in a point, dark eyebrows and shaggy raven colored hair that contrasts with the paleness of his skin, so pale Malice can see the veins under the surface. The only soft part of him is his eyes, a light brown like honey.
[In the backpack, there are identification papers for Emrys. Don’t leave them behind.]
Malice wants to chastise her for acquiring forged papers. He wants to know how she even got her hands on such items. So many secrets, they are never-ending. The feeling of betrayal grows, but desperation to save Aerin prevails. He can yell at her later.
“She says she got you papers, an identification card. It should be somewhere in the mess you’ve made,” Malice gestures to the upturned contents of the backpack.
The Wolf makes quick work of sorting through the items.
“How are you speaking with her?” he asks cautiously, coming up with the identification card quickly.
“None of your business,” Malice grumbles. He extends his hand from under Aerin’s folded knees in his arm, indicating to the Wolf he should give the card to Malice.
“Why do you want it?” Emrys asks suspiciously, holding the card to his chest as if it’s his lifeline. Maybe now that he has no pack, it is.
Malice grinds his teeth. “Because,Wolf,I am flying her back to the walls. I’m assuming you need to be in your other form to keep up, if you can keep up at all.”
[Be nice,]Aerin snaps in his head.
Aerin isn’t quite as menacing when she’s laying all but limp in his arms. Emrys seems torn, but eventually, he places the identification card in Malice’s hand. Still maneuvering around Aerin’s body, Malice manages to pocket it.
“I’ll meet you at the wall.” Malice doesn’t wait for a reply, doesn’t even wait for the Wolf to shift, before launching into the air. “I’m leaving the Wolf behind if he is too slow,” Malice grumbles to Aerin.
[You will do no such thing.]She orders it, but in her weakened state the bond doesn’t snap like it normally does. Malice beats his wings faster.
He’s only marginally relieved to see the white Wolf barreling through the forest on four fully functioning legs. Keeping up for now at least.
“If it comes to a choice between you and a Wolf, you know my choice. And even if it wasn’tmychoice, the blood-bond, and the Dragon won’t allow it to be any different. All three of us know you come first,” Malice says softly.
Aerin’s body begins shivering uncontrollably against his chest. Malice immediately lets off heat, warming her up as much as he can. Worry ratchets through him.
“Aerin, when we get to the walls, what about the cameras?” She’s in no state to disguise them.
[The Vipers can take care of it. We’ll just have to hope the Royal Guard doesn’t notice before they can. Emrys can’t be a Wolf in the city, not yet at least. If you take flight again once weare inside, they shouldn’t be able to track us as long as you stay high enough. Land on the roof of the Viper Den. Vyx and Quinn will know what to do from there. Once I’m safe, you have to go back for Em; he won’t know how to navigate the city. You have to protect him.]
