A hand reached out to him. He flinched, looking at Aniel grasping him. “Are you alright, My King?”
“Yes, just a bit over set I believe. Right, Morgan?”
Morgan looked at him, her shadows still circling around both of them. “You’d know best if you’re not feeling like yourself.”
A bang on the door interrupted the tension and the door was forced open. He immediately recognized the captain of his guards. Behind him were several guards and eagans meant for carrying supplies and large amounts of folk.
If he were here, something would have gone terribly wrong in Nephel. It was impossible that Maglar could have rallied his forces this quickly. But… Was Rylo already too late? Had he left Selene and his folk unprotected while his enemy skirted the Wastewater without his notice while he slept on the dirt floor with this human?
“Did the others from our envoy arrive at the Towers yesterday?”
“Yes, the eagan and fae are resting today. That is not the matter I needed to address with you. It’s Selene.”
Rylo felt his essence stir, but he kept his outward demeanor calm. He couldn’t lose Elio and Selene on the same day. Herelied too heavily on both of them, for more than just the running of his nation.
“She fled north. She left a message with the human witch, Susan. She said her soulmate was in grave danger.” The man looked uncomfortable delivering the news. To abandon one’s post would lead to a sentence in the Tower of Teeth, or worse. For him to be delivering the news that the Sage of Nephel had done just that, well, the consequences would be grim.
“Her mate?” Rylo spat out the word with such loathing that he could feel Morgan scoot back from him. “It’s that Latian shifter girl. It has to be. I suspected as much, but she wouldn’t reveal anything.”
He had to get back to his folk immediately. Selene had left them unprotected in the most dangerous time possible.
“Come, Morgan.” Rylo reached out and grabbed her wrist, harder than he anticipated.
She looked at him with trepidation, but didn’t say anything.
As they made their way to the door, Rylo turned back to the Hylaxes who opened their home for him. “You will be rewarded for your hospitality, as always Serieff. I’ll send an envoy to hear what your council decides.”
The man bowed to Rylo and as they walked out the door, the baby began another loud, shrill cry.
A fresh eagan was waiting for them outside. Rylo climbed into the saddle as Morgan followed after, taking a seat behind him. Moments later, they were airborne, climbing above the marshy lands of the Wastewater.
Morgan
Morgan’s heart was thumping so loud that she thought it might jump out of her chest. Rylo hadn’t said a word to her since she shut him out of her mind, closing the connection that he’d figured out how to infiltrate. Even throughout the whole flight to the Towers, Rylo refused to say a word to her. When she asked him if he was worried, he just ignored her question.
Finally, she tried to let the silence settle over her, embracing the wind in her face and the soft feathers that brushed against her bare legs. The breeze had a bite to it, especially as they continued farther north. So much so that she was wishing she had a warm jacket. But, she refused to complain. If Rylo wanted silence, she’d give him silence.
He had a right to be mad, but she had a right to keep her secrets. She knew that if Rylo heard how Elio died, he’d be devastated. She couldn’t do that to him. Sometimes the truth was better not known.
As they landed at the top of the Tower of the Moon, Rylo motioned her to follow him. Chaos ensued as soon as they were off the eagan. Fae she didn’t know were running up to Rylo, filling him in on what was going on, and asking what they should do. For his part, Rylo kept that neutral calm about him as everyone around them was in a panic.
“Find Susan and meet me in the library,” Rylo ordered Morgan, his golden eyes swimming with something she didn’tunderstand. They were the first words he’d spoken to her since they left the small cabin in the Wastewater.
Morgan nodded, but didn’t say anything in reply. Turning, she walked out of the room. Finding Susan didn’t take long. She must have already been alerted that they were back, because Morgan turned a corner toward Susan’s room and there she was. When she saw Morgan, she began running, wrapping Morgan in a tight hug that made her feel twitchy.
“You’re back, and you’re okay! I was so concerned when I heard the rumors of your escape. Did you get the other relic?”
Morgan’s throat felt so dry, it hurt to speak. “Yeah, I got it. Rylo’s got it now.”
“But you still have the necklace?” Susan asked, pointing to the brilliant yellow stones around her neck.
She gave a half-hearted nod. “We’re supposed to meet him in the library.”
When they entered the library, Rylo was already waiting for them. He’d somehow had time to change and comb his blonde hair into neat waves. He was wearing a black linen shirt and black leather pants, the combination making the gold of his skin and wings more brilliant.
With a cup of tea in hand, he almost looked back to his typical casual ease. Almost, but for the imperceptible tension in his neck and shoulders. Morgan swore only she would be able to catch that tightness in his countenance.
“Sit. Pour yourselves a cup of tea if you’d like. Would you like anything to eat?”
