“You are most likely still very tired and weak,” Rylo muttered. “You’re experiencing burnout.”
Her throat felt so dry it hurt to speak. “Where are we?”
She gave a tentative glance to the creature at the soup pot.
“In the home of Serieff. He’s a Hylax that has loyally served me for many, many years. You’re safe here, Morgan.”
As she looked around she noticed there were no other Nepheli present. “Where are the others?”
Rylo shrugged. “Flying with all haste to Nephel. Preparing our folk for the conflict to come.”
It hurt to continue speaking, but she struggled out the word, “Water.”
Rylo’s thumb began making tiny circles on Morgan’s palm. The Hylax near the pot must have heard her request for water. He brought her a wooden cup filled with a thick murky mixture before he returned to stirring, not looking at Morgan’s face during the whole exchange.
She scrunched her nose, but Rylo took the cup in his empty hand. “Drink it, Morgan, it’s safe. It will restore you.”
Morgan trusted him. She didn’t understand how she’d become so trusting of him, but she did. Rylo brought the cup to her lips and she welcomed the tangy, nutty drink, gulping it down in long draws. Immediately, her parched throat found relief and the swelling in her tongue went down.
“Why aren’t we back too?”
“You were too weak to continue flying. I wasn’t going to risk you harming yourself further. Serieff is an old friend and hewelcomed us to his home. His wife has made a stew, but is with their babe at the moment. Rest. When your sister experienced burnout she slept for days.”
A chill ran down Morgan’s spine. There was only one way that Rylo would know that. It had to have been when he captured Avery. What the hell was wrong with her, to be so trusting of the man who kidnapped her own sister?
Yet, he looked at her with shining golden eyes, and she thought he might fracture if anything bad happened to her. He pulled her hand up to his lips with a tenderness that made her heart thud with a tumultuous beat in her chest. All the while, his eyes stayed on her, like he was afraid she may slip away. That her being here and awake andalivewas so impossible that he couldn’t even blink, lest she disappear.
A squalling infant from the small room in the back of the cabin disturbed the moment and Morgan withdrew her hand from his.
Serieff spoke to Morgan for the first time since she’d awakened. His voice was rough, almost guttural, and she couldn’t control the shiver across her skin as he spoke. “The babe does not sleep well without my mate beside her. Even after the child has drifted to sleep, if she tries to slip away, the babe will cry out, reaching for her and will not stop until she returns the babe to her breast.”
Morgan didn’t know a thing about babies, but this seemed unusual. Movies always made it seem like human babies drifted to sleep in their cribs, little mobiles singing sweet lullabies as the mom and dad looked on from the door.
Serieff brought Morgan and Rylo rough-carved bowls ladled with the rich, hearty stew. Rylo helped Morgan sit up, propping a pillow behind her back. The ancient couch, with its threadbare leather and frayed corners, had a low back, designed to accommodate wings, and the additional pillow gave Morgan’s exhausted body the extra support she needed.
“That will pass soon enough once the babe is weaned,” Rylo replied. “It’s only natural that the babe should seek her mother while sleeping.”
Morgan wasn’t sure if she knew the man seated next to her as he dug into the stew with an appetite that was void of all his typical mannerly eating. She tasted her stew and found it to be delicious and filling, each bite seeming to restore her aching muscles and her heavy limbs. It didn’t take away her need for more sleep, but at least she didn’t feel like she’d been hit by a semi anymore.
Serieff’s mate stepped out of the back room, closing the squeaky door with a trepidation that made Morgan pity her. Trapped in the dark, alone as she walked on eggshells to escape her daughter’s needy touch. The woman wore a dingy dress that hung on her like a sack. Her hair was pulled back, revealing a face with a deep scar across her right cheek.
When Serieff saw his mate, he jumped from the wooden stool where he ate his meal and offered her the seat. Moving back to the pot, he ladled more stew into his own bowl and gave it to her.
“This is my mate, Aniel,” Serieff said as he took a seat on the floor, his broad wings draping against Aniel’s own wings. Claws at the tips of the wings moved, seeking contact from the other, like they couldn’t help but be entangled.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Morgan.”
Aniel bowed her head. “King Rylo has told us of you and your power. He also shared the importance of an alliance between the Hylax of the Wastewater, Nephel, and Latiah against the growing power in Goldoth. But tell me, what will stop you from growing in power untilyoucannot be contained?”
Serieff reached out a hand and took his soulmate’s in his, squeezing it tight.
Obviously, Morgan had heard about soulmates from Avery, and had seen the devotion that Kyla shared with Garnel. But,it was unexpected seeing it coming from two creatures who resembled something from a nightmare. Despite their terrifying appearance, they’d welcomed Morgan into their home, showing her more hospitality than she’d received from anyone in Aeritis. Even still, with Aniel’s question, Morgan didn’t feel unwelcome here. Just wanting to better understand what was at stake after their encounter in Goldoth.
“I’m not interested in taking over your world. I’d like to return home after I help King Rylo.” Morgan tilted her head toward Rylo and caught a moment of hurt in his expression.
Why did he have to look at her like that? Like her words meant something to him? Likeshemeant something to him?
Aniel gave a nod and didn’t press her further. She ate in desperate spoonfuls, sharp teeth sinking into the bits of meat. A squealing cry came from the other room as Aniel began eating faster. Serieff went to the room, shushing the babe and speaking sweetly in his guttural voice. The baby continued to cry, only growing louder as Serieff tried to appease her. Finally, Aniel stood up, placing her bowl on the stool. “She’s cutting her first teeth. She can’t sleep without me beside her due to the pain. Poor Serieff has tried to comfort her, but to no avail. Be well tonight.”
