“That fucking bastard!” Raven shot to his feet.
“Bastard or not, it saved me. It gave you the time to reach me. I made it to his thighs and couldn't go any further. Touching him after being with you made me want to vomit. But hekept pushing me. You interrupted right before I touched his . . . manhood.”
“Motherfucker!”
“Why are you mad?” I got to my feet and went to him.
“He would have forced himself on you, Eliel.” Raven took my upper arms. “After making you touch him. It was a deception. To calm you and make you feel as if you were a part of your own rape. Don't you see? It's even worse than rape. It's fucking maniacal. I will tear him apart for this. Slowly.” He cupped my face again, but this time it was to seal his vow. “He will pay for what he tried to do to you.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
“My foundling.” With those wounded words, the King pulled me into his arms. “You're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again.”
“I love you, Raven. And I love how protective you are, but I'm not the one in danger now.” I leaned back to look at him. “I saw his warriors. They're in pain. They're loyal to him, but I think that's part of the magic. He's abused his own people, and who knows how many others? We have to save them.”
Raven's face twitched. “I failed them, as I failed you.”
“That's not true. You never failed me. You saved me. And you're here to save them. You're their only hope, Raven.”
“But I failed to see a traitor in my own court.”
I took his hands. “Part of leadership is failure. Everyone fails, Mate. What matters is what you do after that.”
Raven shook his head. “You are so much more than your beauty. I bless the day the Goddess brought you to me.”
“It was the best day of my life too. You helped me remember who I was and then helped me become more than that.”
“And I'm a better man because of you, Eliel.”
I shook my head. “I wish I could take credit for you, but you've always been a good man.”
“I've always tried to be a good king, yes, but you've honed me. I thought my kingdom was peaceful until you showed me the truth. You've shown a light on my shortcomings.”
I squished up my face. “That's awful.”
He chuckled. “No, it's wonderful. As I said, you've made me a better man—a better king. I'll pay closer attention from now on. I will see the things I missed before. And it's because of you. With you at my side, I'll never forget that a smiling face can hide a world of pain.”
“Ugh!” I pulled away from him and went to sit at the table. “Let's not talk about pain now. We're mated. Let's have a moment to celebrate.”
“You're right.” He sat down across from me and grinned. “You dining nude with me is all the celebration I need.”
“Perhaps we could seal our mating with one more round of lovemaking?” I suggested. “I'd like to make love to you without the magic driving you.”
Raven grinned wickedly. “Anything my mate desires.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dressed at last—it had been five days since I'd worn clothes—I sat beside my mate in Nahel's tent. We were on the floor, sitting around the low camp table with his knights to plan our attack on Nahel. Unlike the Okon transporters, the spy had information to give up. Vanoak had gotten the location of Nahel's fortress from him.
“Of course it's in the Burning Lands,” I muttered as I stared at the map of Tabaa spread out on the table.
The kingdom's most unique geological feature was a volcanic fault line called the Burning Vein. It was the source of materials for many magical items, including the lava-glass blades the Dragons of Tabaa favored. It was also in the most dangerous region in the kingdom, prone to earthquakes, spotted with volcanoes, and veined with crevices of bubbling magma. Most people avoided the Burning Lands. So, of course, Nahel lived there.
Raven took my hand even as he pointed out the path we'd take across the Burning Lands. “We can't take the horses, so we'll fly in. We land here.” He tapped the map near one of the main volcanoes of the Burning Vein. “I don't want him to see us coming. So, we'll walk from there. His fortress is underground,somewhere around here.” He tapped the map at the base of the volcano.
“His warriors are victims too,” I said.
“We will try to merely incapacitate them,” Raven assured me. “But I won't have my knights hindered by mercy.” He looked up at them. “Do what you must.”
