“Nothing of consequence. Just fight for your survival and end my greatest enemy.” At that, Rylo walked past her and leaped off the broken terrace. His golden wings stretched out as he soared through the skies, like some magnificent bird of prey soaring through the open skies.
Chapter fifty
Savine
Savine saw the towers from miles away as they rose through the afternoon light. A day that had started out in pouring rain had turned into a bright, cheerful autumn day. The wind chilled Savine’s skin, despite his fighting leathers. They protected him from an enemy blow, but not from the blowing wind a thousand feet above the canyon landscape below. It gave him some protection from the elements, but nothing like the down insulated armor worn by the Nephel warriors.
The eagans and flying fae descended through the sparse clouds toward the tower that haunted him below. The Tower of Teeth. Its golden facade was a ruse. Blood red coated the walls of that damned place. Savine’s body flinched as the eagan angled toward the Tower of Teeth.
Here it comes.
The place that haunted his nightmares.
But the eagan banked, heading for the royal residence and the shimmering golden rock tower that gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. Savine exhaled like he’d forgotten how to breathe. Perhaps Rylo was up to some trick that would favor Savine?
The golden prick himself stood on the top of his royal residence. Golden wings spread wide, and his light-blonde hair shone in the sunlight. The sparkle of his essence on his cheek glistened all the wayfrom up here, like the gaudy peacock had angled himself to catch the light just so. The sun crown glistened on Rylo’s head.
Savine’s heart clenched in his chest as he saw the slight figure next to Rylo. Wingless, but dressed in one of those frilly Nepheli dresses.Avery. His Avery was here—alive and standing far too close to his enemy. Rylo’s massive wings shadowed Avery and seemed to brush against her back. Rylo stretched his arm toward Avery and put his hand on her back as he leaned in to say something to her. Avery’s eyes shot up and looked at Savine.
She was alive. She was waiting for him.
But all Savine could think about was how that monster had his hands on Avery. He shook with frustration, trying to rein in that growing urge to protect Avery. To pull her to him and keep any other male from touching her ever again. His jaw ached as he ground his teeth together.
Savine was going to kill that golden asshole for touching Avery. For taking his soulmate from him.
He took steadying breaths to tamper that urge to protect Avery. This was not the time. His actions would either damn them or save them both, and he planned on getting both of them out of here as soon as possible.
The eagan soared down and landed with grace and precision on the enormous roof. Savine didn’t wait for the eagan to tuck its enormous wings in before he jumped down to the ground. With the antlers of the King in his hands, he took powerful strides toward Rylo and Avery. Avery didn’t hesitate to tear her body away from Rylo’s touch. She was running at him.
Rylo didn’t even try to stop her. What fucked up game was he trying to play? Savine tossed the antlers at Rylo’s feet as he scooped Avery into his arms.
His little flower. She was alive, and she looked unharmed.
Despite the full dress, Avery wrapped herself around him. Goddess alive. The scent of her alone was enough to make the blood coursing through his body heat. His essence shuddered under his skin from her touch. The electric feel of her touch rippled through him, intoxicating him. The bond between them flared alive with a pulsing beat. Avery nuzzled her face against his neck as she whispered, “You came for me.”
He pulled back to look at her. Her rich brown eyes shimmered as a single tear ran down her cheek. “I’ll never leave you, Avery. Never will I let another take you.” He wiped that single tear from her perfect cheek.
Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed her. His kiss was gentle at first as he communicated his relief to be back with her. She responded to his kiss with a desperation they both felt. Pulling her chin up, he deepened the angle as she opened her mouth to him. Her slick, soft tongue touched his, and his world felt like it had been reduced to this moment. The touch of her tongue inside his mouth made him feel like a man unleashed. His essence bucked like it was going to burst out of his skin. He could die from the taste of her alone. His mind rattled as he thought,never again.
Never again will I leave her. Never will I let anyone harm her.
“Always heartwarming to see lovers reunited. Although I was under the impression you were just friends?” Rylo’s deadpan voice was a harsh crash back to reality. Savine and Avery pulled their lips apart and looked at Rylo, who held the antlers in his hands. “Now, tell me these antlers are not from any typical elk.”
“What do you think, Rylo?” Savine tried to hide the sneer from his tone as he spoke. But it was beyond him. With Avery in his arms, the thought of Rylo touching her made him want to rip the other male from limb to limb, starting with those golden feathers.
Avery leaned into him, her mouth leaving a trail of kisses up the column of his neck to the line of his beard, where she pressed her face into the rough curls in his beard.
Rylo studied them both with those predator’s eyes. Savine was going to rip him to pieces if he didn’t get his eyes off Avery. Savine growled at Rylo, and Rylo’s gaze shifted to Savine. To the crown of boughs on his head. Understanding registered on Rylo’s face. A faint grin lifted in the corner of his lips. He heard Raikin or Jay make a restrained sound in his throat. He’d forgotten all about them in his rush to have Avery in his arms.
Still holding her as she pressed herself against him, Savine turned to see Raikin’s warning stare looking at him. Savine nodded. He understood he was not acting rationally. The feral side of his fae nature was rearing its ugly head. With Avery’s lips on his jaw, he did not think that the animalistic side, the side demanding he claim his mate, was going to fade anytime soon.
“Ave, you need to stand, my sweet flower,” Savine murmured into Avery’s rounded ear. She very abruptly stopped kissing Savine. Avery pushed her hand against Savine as she slid down his body to stand next to him. His skin prickled at the loss of her warm mouth on him. He could feel her gaze shift to Rylo as she waited for his reply, but he did not speak.
Raikin said, “Yes, they are the antlers of the King of Latiah. Savine has claimed the boughs. The trees answer to him alone. The elk fought against the loyalist and we believe soon our rightful king will take his throne. My prince and I appreciate your hospitality, however unconventionally you sought it by taking our witch.”
“Well, Savine, at least one of you has not disappointed me today. I believe I underestimated your capabilities to take action when necessary,” Rylo said. What in the Abyss was that supposed to mean?
Avery looked at the antlers in Rylo’s hands. Recognition took form on her face as she realized what those antlers meant.
