Page 67 of A Spark Of Revenge

“No… You told Razar I was to stay put,” I growl back, crossing my arms over my chest in defiance. “You didn't say a single word to me on the matter.” Nox glowers at me and leans down, bringing our faces so close I can feel his hot breath whisper over my heated skin.

“Why are you always a stubborn little brat?”

“Why are you such a bull-headed bastard?” I snap back, making Valen chuckle, then slap his hand over his mouth, pale eyes dancing in amusement when Nox flashes him an angry look.

“Nox. Razar needs you. Heal him and take this anger out somewhere else. I’m taking Meyer to my room tonight. Tell Creed so he can sleep in his bed if he needs to,” Valen suggests. He pats him on the shoulder, then presses lightly, nodding for him to follow after the rest of their brothers.

“Fine,” Nox grits out between bared teeth, spinning on his heel, making his hair flare out around his shoulders dramatically as he grabs his ax and heads back to the castle.

“What a princess,” I mutter under my breath, making Valen laugh as he pulls me close.

“You need a bath and some rest. You feel exhausted,” he whispers as we slowly make our way back to the castle.

“You can feel me?” I ask in surprise, and Valen nods.

“Some things. I was trying to figure out if you were wounded earlier. I'm not gifted in healing the way Nox is, so I can only tap into our mental link I created to see if I could find anything.”

“Creed said that it was called a Legion Bond,” I mutter, making Valen pause and then nod.

“Yes, that's right,” he agrees, and I eye him suspiciously.

“Why didn't you tell me that?” I ask, and Valen winces, keeping me close as he nods at a few of the Hunters we walk past the closer we get to the castle. There are bodies of dead Beastia strewn all over the place, and I try not to look at them as we walk.

“I told you exactly what the link did, Meyer. But I didn't want to scare you. I was speaking the truth when I said you could break the bond, and I will fully support you if that is the choice you make,” he whispers, leading me toward the castle. My eyes double in size when we walk past a section of the wall that is completely caved in and swallow hard at the line of bodies lying on the snow, covered with black furs.

“How many?” I rasp, and Valen shakes his head.

“We don't know yet. It would have been more if Creed hadn't taken out the three Wraiths that breached the wall. Elaine took the DeLuca and Drakos bloodlines out to hunt down the remaining Beastia before they got away, and then we can get a final number.” I follow Valen up the stairs, then gasp and look behind me as my mind finally decides to play catch up.

“Jordan and Theo?” I ask in a panic, moving to run back down the stairs to find my friends and make sure they’re okay. Valen's arm tightens around me, not letting me break from his hold as he points to the far side of the courtyard, where I find Jordan helping Billy and Sabrina drag a smaller Beastia out of the way.

“They’re fine. Creed made sure Jordan was safe, and I watched Theo,” Valen reassures me, making me look up at him in surprise.

“You… You guys made sure they were okay?” I whisper, my lip trembling a little when Valen smiles softly down at me and leans forward, dusting his lips over mine.

“Of course. I would like to say it was my idea, but Creed deserves the credit. He knew them getting hurt would devastate you,” Valen says softly, and I nod.

“Yeah, I need them to be okay. They’re… my family,” I whisper back, inhaling a shaky breath as I wrap my arms around Valen for a tight hug.

“We’ll keep them safe. Theo is with his mother, and god help anyone who tries to hurt her son while she’s there. I’ve never feared a Hunter before, but that woman makes me question things,” he admits, and I laugh and nod.

Yeah, Elaine is a badass.

“I need to get my stuff from Creed's room if I’m going to yours tonight,” I murmur nervously. I hadn't expected Valen to say I was sleeping in his room tonight, but I'm not going to lie, I’m a little relieved. Last night, I had a hard time sleeping after everything that happened in Nox’s dream, so maybe having another Dream Walker there will ensure I don't accidentally kill myself or another person.

“I’ll grab everything while you bathe,” Valen says with a soft kiss on my head, and I shiver as his warmth surrounds me. “Come on, Mi Sol. Let's get you clean and tucked into bed.”

Bright light blinds me as I open my eyes, blinking and looking around in confusion as I turn in a circle. The air is warm and fragrant, smelling of fresh water and flowers, instantly relaxing me as I look down at the narrow cobblestone path under my blue silk slippers.

A dream… I’m dreaming again. My breath hitches as I peer around, waiting for something bad to happen. But when I hear the sounds of children laughing and a mother calling after them, I turn, smiling when I see two small children, a boy and a girl, each with silky white blond hair and pale green, almost white eyes. The woman calling after them laughs as one of the children spins and twirls in a circle, calling for her to join them in the large garden.

I smile as I take in the scene of the mother nodding and chasing after her children, picking up the hem of her elegant pale yellow gown as she runs to them. Her hair is long and twisted away from her face in a mess of spiral curls that hang down her back. She has a small silver crown on her head, its delicate metal curving naturally along her hairline, making it look almost like water.

Spinning, I take in the lovely garden surrounded by light blue, almost crystal-like walls that reach for the sky with their brilliance. I gasp as I turn, realizing the garden is resting at the center of a large castle, its beauty almost indescribable from its large turrets to the grand arches at each side of the garden leading the way back inside. My eye catches on a familiar-looking man as he steps into view, leaning a broad shoulder against the wall as he smiles adoringly at the woman and children playing in front of him. His fine-tailored suit coat is light blue with gold lining the cuffs at his wrists, his white hair is short at the side and styled back, accenting the much larger crown resting on his head.

“Meri! Valen!” the man calls, a smile firmly in place as the mother and children stop their playing and turn to face him.

“Papa!” the small boy yells, leaping over the girl in the matching yellow dress and racing for his father. My mouth drops open in shock as the man crouches down and scoops the boy up into his arms with a laugh.

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