“Please,” I sobbed as Bezaliel jerked her from my trembling arms.
He wrapped her quickly in my cloak, which was already in his hands, whispering, “Hold on, my sweet girl.”
Then he was on his feet and sprinting off with Haslek and Leifkyn behind him, both with a child in their arms. Brohm held Bes and another child in his arms and hurried after the others.
Redvyr hauled me close, my naked body still trembling from the icy depths and the terrifying plunge toward death. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I buried my face in the crook beneath his chin as he lifted me and bounded out of the clearing. All I heard was the pounding of beast fae boots, the crunch of snow and the swiftly beating heart of my love as he carried me back to the clan.
Chapter 28
REDVYR
“Still asleep?”
Bezaliel had stepped into my tent, but I hadn’t even turned to see who it was. My sole focus was on Jessamine, who was sleeping after taking a healing draught from Shearah. Wolf remained at her side, reminding of when he’d first brought her into my hunting camp.
When we’d returned, she was trembling so much, her skin as white as snow, her lips turning blue like Saralyn. Even after I’d covered her in the furs in my fire-heated tent, she still quivered, her eyes listless like she was on the edge of death. It wasn’t until Shearah rushed in with the draught Lorelyn had made that her tremors eased and she slipped into sleep.
Lorelyn had rushed to Sarlayn’s aid to assist, and as of yet, I hadn’t heard a word of whether the babe had survived.
Upon hearing Bezaliel’s voice, I rose instantly and faced him, preparing for the worst. But the wet sheen in his eyes coupled with his smile told me what I longed to hear.
“She made it.”
We met each other halfway and clasped one another as brothers. He thumped me on the back as I did him.
“Thank the gods,” breathed Bezaliel. “Thanks to your female.” He pulled away to look me in the eye, his gaze intense and powerfully vulnerable. “If it had not been for Jessamine, my baby girl would be dead. The wintry cold of the waters slowed her blood and her heart rate, even her need for air.” His eyes widened in wonder. “Lorelyn said this can sometimes save those who might otherwise drown.”
“By Vix.” I gripped his nape. “We are blessed.”
“Indeed.”
On a heavy breath, he broke the embrace and turned to Jessamine, concern pinching his brow. “Is she alright? I’m afraid I was consumed with my own worries…I did not know she was—”
“She is well,” I assured him, returning to Jessamine’s side and sitting on the stool beside our bed.
Ourbed. She was right where she belonged, her fiery red hair spilling across the pillow, her cheeks pink, her breathing steady and even. Safe and warm.
“I cannot begin to thank her enough for saving Saralyn. For saving all of them.”
“Did they retrieve Farla’s body?”
Bezaliel remained standing, crossing his arms. “Yes. Brohm returned to the battlefield as soon as he delivered the children. The clan females have wrapped her in a shroud.”
I grunted my approval. “How are the other children?”
“Lorelyn told me they are all well when Saralyn recovered. Bes has been chatting away ever since she returned.”
“Does she know who the other wraith child is?”
Finding both our clan’s children, as well as Tylok’s family and another wraith fae child, in the hidden chasm of the old oak was surprising to us all.
“His name is Gershal. He is from Belladum, but that is all she knows. Bes says he barely speaks at all. Apparently, he’d been in that tree all alone in the dark for longer than anyone else. The grimlocks would bring them insects and raw rodents to eat. They were starving, since they refused most of it.” He grunted in disgust.
“They were trying to keep them alive for their master. Whoever he is.” I clenched the fist on my knee, wishing I knew more. “These grimlocks aren’t just after light fae or simply children either, but women as well. Perhaps, they are only taking them because they are weaker and can be overcome easier to drag back to their master.”
I was frustrated that we now more questions than answers from when we’d begun. And while we’d defeated a horde of grimlocks, that foul fucker Selestos had gotten away. The frightening part was that Jessamine had clawed him she’d told me on our way back from Wyken Woods and that would’ve killed any fae, but Selestos was still alive.
What kind of black magick were we dealing with? And we still didn’t know the identity of this lord of evil who was feeding on innocents.
