Before I can answer him, Gideon is striding towards Fury, my body still held against his chest.
When he gets to Fury, Gideon sets me in front of him, not giving us a second look, walking through the stone archway.
“Wha—” I barely get out the words before I hear another voice come from inside the dungeon room.
“Have you found the girl, brother? Horus is up in arms about your extended leave. He is questioning your loyalty,” a gruff voice, similar to Gideon’s, can be heard from within.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I dart too quickly for Fury to catch me, poking my head around the archway, my self-preservation completely thrown out the window with three large protectors following my every move.
“Pet.”The growl rips through my head. I ignore the winged God behind me.
“Love?”Rivern’s question is softer.
I answer neither of them, intrigued by the new double I am seeing of Gideon. A tall, muscular male with short black hair and a clean-shaven face stands next to my much scruffier-looking wolf shifter—mywolfshifter. They almost look identical, apart from the scar slicing Gideon’s eye.
The other set of amber eyes in the room finds mine in a glance, Gideon knowing precisely what the replica of him is looking at, setting off a series of growls coming from in front and behind me.
In a blink of my mortal eyesight, Fury stands before me, his wings stretching wide, blocking my view of the males in the room—their need to protect overkill.
“Fenrir, your blood bond to the king is now severed. You are free.” My God’s voice is a menacing echo through the thick, tunnelled stone walls.
“Orion.” Fenrir’s voice is rageful, addressing Fury. He follows it up with a hearty laugh. “Well, brother, you have been busy while you were gone.” Sarcasm laces his every word.
“If you mean I have found a way to free us from Horus, yes, I have, brother. And now you are free to live as you choose.”
Gideon comes into view beside Fury, my protectors showing a united force.
While this is going on, Rivern weaves his fingers through mine. I can’t take my eyes off the ruffling onyx feathers obscuring my view.
“What is this, Gideon? Are you bowing before the God who sent us away?” Fenrir spits out the words.
“I’m here to rid this kingdom of Horus. You are free to help us if you choose, but once again, brother, it is your choice.”
In the next moment, I hear Fury’s rumble, his wings ruffling behind him. “I will make the king pay for everything he has put my creatures and bonded through. He will be an example for the rest of the peopleof this land. As Gideon said, you are free to go. Your free will is your own once again.”
A deafening silence descends upon the room, followed by a loud sigh.
“Well, fuck, old man, what do you expect me to do with that? The last rhythm I was free, I had a mate and a pack. Now, I have nothing. And it seems as though my brother has found a new pack. Am I not right?”
Gideon steps forward, exchanging some gruff, mumbled words with Fenrir. Since Fenrir is Gideon’s brother, I have no qualms with him helping us, as long as he is kind to the villagers.
His voice rises. “I will find that pipsqueak, Castor, and bring him to the steps for you. I’ve been dying to char the prince’s bones for turns.”
Fury’s wings draw inward to tuck neatly behind his back. Once again, I’m faced with Gideon’s replica.
“I will go to Horus myself and bring him before the steps. Saff is due to fly in soon. You will both bring Dove to the village.” It’s not a question. It’s the statement of a God ruling over his people. I can feel that Rivern is not happy being told what to do, and Gideon’s face is all hard lines, but I know they both don’t want to let me out of their sights, so they both give in.
Walking past his brother, Fenrir stops next to Rivern, his words directed at me. “I smell him on you, little human. I hope, for his sake, you are a true mate.” With his piece said, he walks away, leaving the rest of us to head on our way.
I travel back through the tunnels with Gideon and Rivern. The sights and musky smell bring on a sense of déjà vu to the last rhythm I was here with Rivern, when we were leaving the kingdom.
Now, we are here to save it.
Goddess. So much has happened over the last several turns, I don’t know where to start.I’m now back in this place, my home, with not one, but three people who want me. My new family—a strange dynamic that I’m still trying to figure out. One they are also trying to figure out. My wolf and prince have come to some silent agreement. Fury is another story. I still don’t know how he fits into our group.
Everyone stares as we walk from behind the curtain partition separating the basement from the quiet tavern above. To everyone in Haven, Gideon is still a warden. Still a protector of the king. They presume he is on king’s business. They do not question him, even with a human and fae in tow. They have never seen a fae before, so the golden lines of Rivern’s body make him stand out like a sore thumb.
Gideon, nonplussed, pushes ahead, opening the wooden front door for me, allowing Rivern to follow, out into the light of the circular cobblestone gathering area at the base of the long, wide manor stairs. When I was a young girl, they used to hold market stalls here, and people would sell all manner of goods. Now, the streets are barren,no flowers lining windowsills, or the savoury smell of dinner drawing children in from play. The Kingdom of Haven has lost all its life, and I intend to give it back.
