He did not speak, but Kalvoxrencol did. “His parents have joined the Crystal.”
A high keen came out of Monqilcolnen as he tugged me even closer. Tears burned the backs of my eyes as I returned his tight grasp. Pain cascaded through me. How could they be gone? While I hadn’t known them for long, the short time had changed me. I’d cared about both of them as if they’d been my own parents. I felt warm tears land on me moments before Monqilcolnen began nuzzling me, scent marking me, claiming me, and yanking on my shirt, trying to get it off.
I ignored Kalvoxrencol and Serlotminden, who would hopefully leave, and helped him. Monqilcolnen needed this. He needed to feel me.
The door opened and closed, signaling his cousins’ departure.
Shirt off, my harness went next. We both stripped until we were bare. Monqilcolnen rubbed and marked me frantically, and I massaged the glands on his sides to help him spread his scent.
He was trying to claim me in his sadness, and I understood—he didn’t want to be alone. Part of me wished to tell Monqilcolnen I was his mate and I would never leave him, but in his state he would agree without truly thinking about it. And later, after he’d recovered, he would stay true to his word, even if he didn’t want to be my mate.
While I was almost certain Monqilcolnen did want me and would eventually want that bond, I refused to take advantage of him and his fragile state right now.
I kissed his head. “Take what you need from me, Star. Whatever you need is fine.”
Monqilcolnen did not respond as he kept scent marking me.
Eventually, Monqilcolnen had fallen asleep, curled up half on top of me. I had been able to sit up and cover both of us with a sheet before reaching for my touchstone—it was still inactive.
“NAID,” I whispered.
“Yeeees?” it responded in a distorted voice.
“Tell the Princes Serlotminden and Kalvoxrencol to come in.”
NAID didn’t respond again, so I had no idea if it was getting them or not, but I refused to move Monqilcolnen. He needed me. As much as I desired more information, it wasn’t worth it to upset him. I pressed another kiss to his hair, and he curled in tighter against me.
The door slid open, and I demanded in a quiet voice, “What exactly happened?”
Both of them lifted their eyebrows at my tone and Monqilcolnen’s and my position, or my wing, perhaps. Ihonestly didn’t even care. I needed to know how best to help my mate.
Serlotminden offered me his throat, and I blinked in surprise. I would have never suspected he’d do that to someone like me.
“You are Monqilcolnen’s, and we owe you our gratitude for holding him,” Serlotminden explained with a slight smile.
“What happened to his parents?” I asked again, my soul throbbing. My grief was nothing compared to Monqilcolnen’s, but it was still present. Cold darkness, like the void of space, threatened to draw me under, but I refused to allow it.
“Jemtonkilsol died unexpectedly. His soul just stopped. No warning. Nothing. He just died,” Kalvoxrencol said, wiping a tear off his cheek. “Dilvonsil refused to allow anyone to inform Monqilcolnen no matter how much Father and Hallonnixmin begged. They started to wither.”
I closed my eyes. Mates very rarely survived one another. We loved too fully. It was difficult to live when the reason your soul beat was no longer beside you.
“They wouldn’t speak to Monqilcolnen, even though the doctors recommended it. Sometimes connecting with family can slow or even halt the process, but…” he trailed off.
I stroked Monqilcolnen’s cheek. “Dilvonsil chose to follow their mate.”
“Yes,” Kalvoxrencol said.
Tugging my mate closer, I kissed his forehead, and in his sleep, he nuzzled my chest. Keeping him close, I said, “I have him.”
They both hesitated.
I growled, not even upset or sorry about it. My wings flared. “Monqilcolnen is mine.”
Serlotminden grinned, crossing his arms. “So he is.”
Kalvoxrencol smiled as well, but it was tempered. “We shall be right outside.”
I cupped the back of Monqilcolnen’s head. I did not need them. I would soothe my mate and keep him safe all on my own.
