Page 88 of Their Trials

Callum stomped around, pacing the beach back and forth with his arms crossed. His wolf pushed at the surface, wanting to shift and follow after our Chosen, but we all knew that it was impossible. The Lady had only welcomed Rhowyn within her domain. So now we were relegated to simply waiting for her return.

Charity had jumped from the cliff after we had made it to the shore, her Consorts following her with the same result. However, Charity had returned within a couple of hours, and we were still waiting for Rhowyn.

“Are you sure she’s okay?” Charity asked for what seemed like the thousandth time. Two of her Consorts sat next to her around the fire, trying to calm her as she wrung her hands together nervously.

I barely prevented the exasperated sigh from leaving my lips. Pinching my nose, I searched for the patience I was known for. Sadly, it was almost depleted after waiting for Rhowyn to return with no clue as to how she was faring. Still, I didn’t want to worry anyone else unnecessarily. “Her bond is still showing up, although it’s faint. I can’t tell you much more than that. The distance is too great.”

“Surely the Lady wouldn’t hurt her. She seemed so kind when speaking with me. I expected Rhowyn would have returned sooner than I had and would be waiting for me upon my return,” Charity continued, speaking more to herself than anyone else.

I had expected the same thing, but here we were, preparing to wait all night if we had to. A loud thump hit the ground before my feet, and I sighed once I realized what it was. My gaze traveled up the long, muscular legs of Callum, only to find him glaring at me. Desperately, I searched for my patience as he spoke, “If she’s not back after dinner, I’m going after her.”

This time, I couldn’t bite back the sigh of exasperation. “And just how exactly do you expect to find her? If the Lady wanted you there, she’d have allowed you to follow Rhowyn. Do you know of another entrance? Some secret way into her domain that you haven’t bothered to share with us?”

“I can’t just stand around waiting. I need to find her,” Callum grunted out, his eyes flashing with a golden hue, his wolf peeking through as he wrestled for control.

“The last thing Rhowyn would want is for you to get hurt or lost trying to reach her. You know she’s okay. You can feel the bond same as I can.”

He ground his teeth together. “I don’t care. She should have been back by now.”

“If you insist on being stupid, then at least wait until you’ve eaten. I’ll cook the boar that you’ve so graciously brought us,” I said, clearly irritated with him as I eyed the animal he just dropped at my feet.

A low growl snaked out from his chest. “Fine. But not a moment longer.” Not waiting for my response, he stomped back off toward the beach.

I prepared the boar and held it over the fire, hoping that Rhowyn would make it back before Callum went off and did something idiotic. Hell, I had half a mind to join him. Even staying busy as I was, I couldn’t shake the unease that seemed to crawl along my spine and through me. It wasn’t exactly like I felt something was wrong, it was more like Rhowyn’s absence was affecting me. It was affecting all of us in ways we hadn’t been prepared for.

Sure, I had known bonding with her would ensure we would be together forever, but I hadn’t thought I would feel this pull to her. Something so much more than the bond, almost like what I had once imagined love was.

Long ago, I committed myself to honor and the cause. After seeing what love did to those people around me, I would gladly sacrifice it, seeking instead to care for others through my actions of leadership and as a warrior. I’d gladly lay down my life for my people.

Instead, Rhowyn was changing me. She was making me consider a life outside of such duties. For the first time since I could remember, I wanted more than just to lay down my life for honor. Now, I’d gladly lay down my life for hers. If that wasn’t love, I didn’t know what was.

She called to me, her body something I found myself craving. Now that I had tasted her, I couldn’t wait to sample her pleasures again. I wanted to feel her against me, writhing from the pleasure I would shower her with. I wanted to grow old with her as I learned everything about her, the good and the bad. She was everything I had ever hoped for and more. I needed her, and without her, I was nothing. Now, I just needed her to return so I could feel her against me again, so I could touch her knowing that she was safe and sound.

As if my thoughts conjured her, Rhowyn fell from a portal that opened just outside of our log circle. She landed on her feet before crashing onto her delectable rear in an ungraceful sprawl. She spluttered in shock.

All of us were frozen for a moment before springing into action, Baer reaching her before anyone else could. “Thank Avalonia, you're okay,” he exclaimed, engulfing her in his arms. She slowly melted into his embrace, wrapping her own arms around him and squeezing him tightly.

Lennox and Callum both stood just within reach, barely holding back as Baer assured himself that Rhowyn was okay. As much as I desired to hold her myself, I held back, waiting for the others to take her in their arms in turn.

Finally, she was on her feet and facing me. Both of us stood there for a moment before I cupped her face, studying her eyes. She had much to tell us, but I needed to hold her first. While my eyes told me that she was whole and without harm, I needed to feel her for myself. I dipped my head and claimed her mouth, grabbing her by the hips tightly and pulling her into me. My tongue darted into her mouth, exploring every inch as if it were the first time. Consumed by the heady rush, I succumbed to my need for her. However, as her body leaned into mine, granting access and permission to do as I pleased, I pulled back. Now was not the time.

I leaned my forehead against hers as we both caught our breath. Leaning back, I asked, “What happened?”

Thankfully, Charity and her men allowed us this moment of respite as Rhowyn explained what had taken place between her and the Lady of the Lake. So many revelations, and yet we were no farther ahead.

“Let's rest for the night. We'll get an early start tomorrow, hopefully completing the second trial successfully within the next day or two.”

Rhowyn nodded, her fatigue evident in her heavily hooded eyes and the slump of her shoulders. For now, I simply wanted to hold her next to me, even if I had to share her with Baer. Both of us needed the assurance that she was truly back with us. I never wanted to be apart from her again.

Chapter Forty Three: Rhowyn

We made our way through the forest and back to the castle uneventfully. Avoiding stopping at the village, we instead pushed forward, arriving in the middle of the night at the foreboding walls that towered above us even on horseback.

I barely remained in the saddle, completely exhausted from the journey. While sleeping between Baer and Arryn made me feel safe, allowing me to sleep deeply, as soon as they switched out for their turn on watch, I found myself wide awake, my mind turning. It hadn't stopped since, running through everything I'd discovered and what the implications of such information entailed.

The others, even Charity, allowed me my space, obviously sensing my need for it. It seemed she had come and gone from the Lady's domain while I traversed the never-ending tunnel. I was glad that she had succeeded in the task, but I sensed that she hadn't endured the revelations that I had.

My meeting had been so much more than any of the other Chosen had endured. From what I had learned from Charity's recount of her visitation, the Lady hadn't tested her like she had me. She'd also not given Charity a boon like mine, which remained hidden on my hip under my tunic and within easy reach. While I had shared my experience with Charity, I hadn't revealed everything, keeping that part between me and my consorts, who had all agreed it was best that we kept the blade a secret.

---