“I recall Rylo showed you the same level of dignity when Savine arrived in Nephel.”
Savine tried to hide a smile as Avery’s eyes went wide with rage. “No way are you comparing this to our experience! Youkidnapped me!You invaded my soul and forced truths from my mouth. We don’t even know what Rue has to say about this!”
Rue let out a hiss in Avery’s direction.
Avery let out a harsh laugh and said to the fox, “Don’t even start with me. If you knew and kept this a secret from me, I’ll never forgive you!”
Hyacinth nodded and spoke for the first time since Savine entered the room. “Enough! All of you out! Rue won’t be getting any rest with you bickering!”
Savine wasn’t taking any chances on Selene escaping. He let his essence rise, binding Selene in thorny vines. “Kyla,” Savine said with a nod toward his sister.
Kyla pressed her hand to the winged fae, and Selene relaxed against her grip. Kyla began leading Selene toward the door. From the other side of the room, Rue became increasingly agitated. Her yips filled the room and Savine watched tentativelyas Avery turned back to Rue. Tension coiled in his stomach at the possible threat to his mate, and he heard Selene give a low growl in warning.
Rue stopped yipping and sat still, gazing at Avery as she approached.
“I might be mad at Selene, but I won’t let anything happen to her. I promise. Feel better soon, Rue.”
The fox bowed her head gracefully before she curled herself in a tight ball, trusting Avery completely at her word that Selene would be protected.
Savine fisted his hands, feeling the pent up energy coursing through his veins. Abyss damn him, he wanted to exact years of revenge on Selene, wanted to hear her cry out in agony for all she’d done to him. But, he’d never do something to jeopardize Avery’s relationship with Rue. Never intentionally hurt one of Avery’s closest friends, and a loyal guard.
Savine followed his sister as she led Selene down the staircase and toward the main buildings of the King’s Residence.
“Where would you like her?” Kyla asked. Avery caught up to them, her small hand slipping into his.
“Bring her to the City View Room. I’d like to have Raikin and Garnel there, but I sent them to investigate the explosion with some of our warriors. I’ll have Darby get Jay. He can stand in for Raikin.”
Selene turned in Kyla’s grip. “Savine, you disappoint me. I expected to be visiting that fetid hole you call a prison.”
Avery spoke up before he had a chance. “I made a promise to Rue to not let anything happen to you, Selene. Savine understands that and will respect my word.”
His heart warmed and he smiled down at her. She wasn’t even looking at him, instead, had her gaze fixed on Selene, her typically soft features hardened. Just a few hours ago they’d faced an attack on both of them. She’dkilledone of the Huntersfor him, and now she wasn’t accepting any nonsense Selene may be putting on him. Day by day, he was learning to accept that her love for him, her support, was real and was forged in iron that would eviscerate their enemies.
Selene’s face went back to a serene blank stare. He knew that look, and knew Kyla must have manipulated Selene’s emotions again. They walked the rest of the way to the City View Room in silence.
Selene’s exposed skin showed tiny rivulets of blood where the thorns of her bindings cut into her skin. Savine let the bindings fall as he shut the door to the room behind him. Avery and Kyla moved to the couch, but Selene continued to stand in the entrance to the room, docile as a lamb.
“What did you do to her?” Savine asked Kyla.
“I may have gone a bit too hard on manipulating her emotions. I wanted her subdued, but she’s a powerful fae. I could feel her essence wanting to escape as we walked. She was fighting my essence so hard, I didn’t know how much more I should apply to her. After she said that comment to you, I pressed more of my essence into her, and it was the tipping point. I should have stopped then, but I was angry, knowing how she goaded you.”
Selene stared blankly at them, lacking recognition. “How long should this last?” Avery asked.
“Selene is one of the strongest fae I’ve met. She should be back to herself in no more than a few hours.”
It was like Savine finally had a chance to breathe after the day he’d had. He let himself sink into the couch, leaning against Avery and taking in her sweet honeysuckle and mint scent. Avery reached up and gently stroked his cheek, playing with his cropped beard.
Kyla stood and took Selene by the hand, guiding her to a chair. She helped her sit, making her wings as comfortable as she could.
He’d never change them, but both his sister and soulmate had too much kindness in them for their own good.
Suddenly, Selene’s eyes widened. The deep purple of her iris seemed to expand and her wings flared, knocking Kyla to the ground. Avery let out a gasp, but whispered something under her breath, knocking Selene to the ground in a plume of brilliant green light.
She continued to hold Selene back and Savine released his essence, once again wrapping Selene in a crushing tangle of vines.
“I told Rue I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, but I’ll be damned if I let you hurt Savine or Kyla,” Avery gritted out.
Savine let out a bitter laugh. “Perhaps we should arrange to bring you to our fetid prison after all.”
