Savine grunted out a bitter laugh. “That’s ironic, coming from you. The one in this camp who seems to have her prayers to the Premier Goddess answered. Tell me, how did our little human come to speak our language? Because she certainly didn’t understand me on the mountain.”
Kyla glared at him. “You know how.”
“Then I’ll ask you to not tell me what I’ll do with the first gift Althea’s given me in my life. I want to discuss our travels to the winter encampment in Bayberry. Avery needs to be ready to travel in a few days’ time. I know she’s injured, but I am not willing to put our people at risk. Get her ready to travel. Get her on an elk and make sure she can ride.” Savine looked into his sister’s eyes.
Kyla looked back at Savine for a long moment before speaking. “I still don’t think we should take her to Bayberry. The poor woman is injured and upset over the loss of her family. I think you should let her go back to Quartz Mountain and try to return home. It isn’t fair to keep her here.”
Savine sipped at his wine, thinking of a solution to their problem. “Actually, that’s not a terrible idea. We can test her strength and let her think that returning to her realm is possible. I will take her back up to Quartz Mountain. If the portal is open and she returns to her realm, so be it. But I suspect the portal will remain closed, in which case the Goddess still has plans for her on Aeritis. Her journey to Quartz Mountain will determine if she’s ready to travel to Bayberry.”
“And if she is able to return home? You would sacrifice an end to your rebellion? It’s not like you to choose the needs of one person over the cause.”
“You misunderstand my intentions. Shewill notbe returning to her home. Althea wouldn’t mark Avery without giving her a purpose in Aeritis. This will test her strength,” Savine said as he shook his head at Kyla.
“Regardless of your motives, I should be the one to lead her up Quartz Mountain,” Kyla said.
“No. It must be me. I found her.Ibrought her off the mountain andIwill return her to Quartz Mountain. Then, after she can’t go through the portal, I will make it clear what she will do for our cause.”
His tone demanded Kyla’s cooperation. He allowed his sister to share opinions and even disagree with him, but his decision was final. The scowl on her face told Savine she knew this was one of those times.
“The journey to Quartz Mountain will most likely take us a day to go up and return. After all, I’ll be traveling at the speed of an injured mortal woman,” Savine said.
Kyla’s eyes twinkled at him. Oh fucking spare him! Kyla was going to change tactics just to annoy him.
“Althea brought her to you. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps there is a deeper connection you have not explored yet…” Kyla smirked at her brother. She sniffed the air. “Are you thinking of her? I believe I sense lust wafting off your body.”
“Abyss, spare me your terrible jokes. I am not interested in the woman,” Savine rolled his eyes at his sister as he spoke.
“Not that it’s any of my business, but it seems like it’s been a Goddess-damned long time since you’ve had sex. I’m sure your hand is exhausted,” Kyla said, laughing as she spoke. His sex life was none of anyone’s business. But all of his council seemed to love nothing more than to chastise him for his unintentional celibacy.
“Stop fixating on my sex life and go to Garnel,” Savine said. Every fae longed to have what Kyla and Garnel had— to find their soulmate. Someone who was made for his soul. But not this tiny creature. Not someone who didn’t even possess any essence.
Bronze feathers flashed through his mind. A soft, sensual moan escaped the lips of the woman he once loved so long ago. No, the Goddess had damned him to never have a soulmate after what happened with Lilith. Lilith, who was too good for him and never meant to be his.
Besides, he had very different plans for Avery Hollis. Sure, he’d give her the hope that she would return to wherever Montana may be.Then, after her dream failed, he would carve her into his own personal assassin against the King of Latiah.
“As you wish, brother. Now that we’ve settled our plans, I have a mate to get back to. One who has missed me very much the last few days,” Kyla said while she stood and finished her glass of wine.
Chapter eight
Kyla
Kyla found Garnel guarding the encampment wall with other warriors. The wall around their summer home was crucial for keeping the large civilian population safe from the ongoing conflict. It had been one of the first things Savine had insisted on when they chose this location for staging battles against the crown. Not only was it a barrier against the larger city of Bayberry, but the Middens had some of the most fertile grazing lands in all of Aeritis.
Garnel looked relaxed, his long red braids bouncing as he laughed at something one of the soldiers said. She loved to catch glimpses of her soulmate when he didn’t know she was looking. Seeing that he was always naturally bringing life to this community filled her with pride. It wasn’t only her that found his presence magnetic. It was the whole community. Even the young children ran to their general, eager for his jokes and his hidden sweets.
Someday he would make a wonderful father. It was something she’d been wanting for some time now. To grow their family and see Garnel playing with his own children. But they both agreed that the war must reach an end first. And so she waited.
She saw the flash of recognition in Garnel’s eyes the moment he noticed her. He leaped down from the towering wall and onto a lower platform before he ran to Kyla’s side. As soon as he was near enough to touch her, Kyla sunk into Garnel’s arms, feeling his warmth encircleher. Joy and love coursed through their bond as Garnel tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. His lips crashed into hers as his tongue swept in to claim her.
Kyla would never get enough of Garnel. He was the best kind of addiction, and going without his touch, for even a few hours, felt like the most painful denial possible. She’d never grow tired of feeling his emotions, either. The love and desire that was ever present between them was more palpable than any of the other emotions she detected as an empath. Even when she was on the battlefield, overrun with the fear and rage of everyone around her, she still felt that bond between them like a lifeline, tethering and grounding her to what was most important.
As she pulled back from Garnel’s kiss, she heard him grunt in protest. “My great bear,” she whispered in his ear. “I missed you.”
Garnel smiled as he wrapped her close before giving her some space. “It’s only been a few hours since we last saw each other.”
“It doesn’t matter. Any time away from you feels like a loss.”
Garnel scratched his dark red beard before he looked down at her. She resisted the urge to pull him back into another kiss. “I was wrapping up, checking on the guards. It’s been a quiet day. I’ll let them know I’m leaving.”
