With that dire warning, his spy strode away toward the trees and slipped into the forest. They were right, of course. His responsibility asking was to put his people first. Yet how could he rule them when his sole focus was only on one thing?
He watched Dyna move around the open tent set up for the wounded. All he wanted was to take care of her, but it was selfish to impose himself on her. It was best to be nearby when she needed him.
Sighing, Cassiel turned toward his tent.
Nausea sank through him, and he fought a sudden spell of weakness as the world spun. Cassiel whipped around to Dyna in time to see her eyes roll. He was running before she tipped over, caught her before she hit the ground. Butthat onereached her at the same time, with his presuming hand cupping the back of her head.
“I’ve got her,” Cassiel snarled.
“You did. Once,” Raiden replied coolly. He shifted his position for a better hold. “I will take care of Lady Dyna from here.”
They were locked in a stare, neither budging to let go. Whatever claim this fool thought he had on her, Cassiel was finished allowing it to continue.
“Do you like having hands, Raiden?” His eyes flamed blue. “Then I suggest you remove themoffmywife.”
His Seraph fire swarmed up his arms and enveloped her in a cocoon of heat. Raiden immediately leaped back with a curse. Standing with Dyna in his arms, Cassiel tucked her against his chest. All eyes followed him as he took his mate away.
In that moment, he carried his whole world.
CHAPTER 63
Dynalya
Dyna woke to warmth and a familiar scent. Her body seemed to sway, and she blinked up in confusion at the night sky speckled with stars. What happened?
Her heart jolted to find herself cradled in Cassiel’s arms.
The sounds of the camp and firelight grew further away behind him. He was taking her away somewhere.
“What are you doing?” she asked, alarmed. “Put me down!”
Cassiel sighed as he looked down at her, and she sensed his relief mingled with annoyance. “You fainted, Dyna.”
She fainted? It took her a moment to recall her vision tilting before falling over in front of everyone. That was rather embarrassing.
“I can walk.”
“You have met your limit. I’m putting you to bed.”
Dyna muttered another protest, but attempting to wiggle out of his hold hit her with a dizzying wave. Her vision tilted again. Groaning, she buried her face against his shoulder, eyes squeezed shut as she fought a wave of nausea. He was right. She was done for the night.
Her body settled back into his hold, and Dyna listened to his heart. He was warm, skin damp from the rain, but she didn’t mind. It accentuated his ambrosial scent that inexplicably put her at ease. She had always liked how he smelled.
Like wind and divinity.
But it left her with awkward unease to accept his help after publicly spurning him. Now they watched him carry her away. It felt inappropriate. Too intimate. Even if that man was her husband.
Had been,she reminded herself.
Cassiel slipped in through the flaps of a tent and placed her on a bed. It was a very nice four-poster bed carved from a pale gray wood. The blue bedding felt soft against her palms. Not something one expected to find in the middle of the wilderness. And magic hovered in the air, she could sense it.
The tent was enchanted.
“Whose tent is this?”
“Mine.” Cassiel went to the brazier, lighting it on fire. The blue flames turned to yellow and filled the space with warm light. “And yours, for as long as you need.”
She took in the fine furniture: a desk with scrolls, a dining table, iron candle stands, the blue drapes adorning the canvas ceiling, and the dark blue rug embroidered with a filigree of gold. Behind her hung a banner with the sigil of Hilos—a flaming sword with wings. His scent was strong here.
