Page 76 of Within the Veil

Hunter scoffs and increases the force of his attacks, each hit reverberating up my arm, "So your plan was to sit behind her throne, a broken puppy waiting for scraps of praise to keep you warm at night?"

On my right, Oberon picks up his speed, testing my weak points where the harshest of my injuries lie, but I don't give him what he wants as I fight through the pain and pivot away from blow that would have decapitated me. In doing so, I take a small strike from Hunter's blade on my left arm.Fuck.

I barely keep the anger from showing on my face, " I understand my duty. Just as you understand yours. You have the benefit of having her mind, body, and soul to keep your monsters at bay. I have her friendship. Although, after tonight, I'll be fortunate even to have that. And even then, it will be enough."

He laughs cruelly, "Pitiful."

I let his words fuel the fire in me, because I am many things, but my love will never make me pitiful.

Suddenly, I pivot on my heel, breaking away from Hunter's relentless assault. The move is as fluid as it is quick, taking him by surprise as I slice my sword down his chest before I spin around, and launch myself at Oberon with renewed vigor. His sword meets mine with a clash that echoes around us, a symphony of warfare that thrills me to my core. I didn't know how much I would relish pushing myself to the brink of insanity but every night I saw the benefits. It calmed a monster that I wasn't aware lived within me. One that Oberon, once pointed out, lives within us all. We just had a choice whether to feed it with the blood of our enemies and the desire to do the right thing, or feed it with evil. Purpose.

I leap away, putting distance between us, but Oberon is on me in an instant. His pursuit is as relentless as the tide, each wave crashing against me with unabating force. Yet, I refuse to be swept away. I twist and turn, my body shifting like quicksilver.

"You say it is pitiful. You may think it makes me a martyr, but in reality, my sacrifice makes me stronger. I protect with the knowledge that I will not have the comfort of a mate in the darkness. I don't have someone to ease my pain and worries while I lose myself in the sweet promises of their body. I protect, despite that comfort, and I will always do so. So fuck your pity, I don't need it," I grit out, my muscles burning with exertion, but the pain is a distant echo drowned out by the longing in my heart. But I hold fast to my words because they are true. I don't get even a tenth of what they have with Hudson. I do not begrudge them that, but he has no right to begrudge the little I do have; duty.

"Hold!" Oberon yells, and our movements cease. I step back, facing forward and widening my stance as I cross my wrists behind me, my swords still in hand as I take shallow breaths. I should be weak from the blood loss, but each rivulet streaming down my body, it is a symbolic release of the tears I refuse to shed.

"Why?" Hunter steps closer, his tone harsh and his eyes flashing red.

I don't bother to pretend not to understand his question. Why would I settle, why wouldn't I try for more, why would I accept a life without her love? It's simple.

I shake my head and meet his gaze dead on, "Because I meant what I said, with Hudson, I'll take what I can, even if it's simply her friendship. Because love isn't measured by how much someone can give you. No, it's something that is measured by how much you're willing to give of yourself without expecting anything in return. It's the unspoken promises whispered in the stillness of the night that she will never hear, the unyielding loyalty in the face of adversity that she will always see, and the stubborn flicker of hope deep within in my soul that lingers even when all else seems lost.

It's in the way my heart clenches at her laugh, in the way my soul yearns for her presence, in the way her happiness becomes my life's mission. It's a consuming, selfless kind of love that illuminates even the darkest corners of the loneliness that I sleep with every night, filling them with a light that's exclusively hers.

So, if all I can ever have is her friendship, I will cherish it like a lifeline, for it is a connection to her, a bond that I wouldn't trade for anything else. I will stand by her side as a protector, a confidant, and a friend, silently loving her with everything that I am and everything I ever will be because Hudson is not just a part of my life. As her Sentinel, sheismy life, the heart within my chest, the soul within my being. As a man, to love her in any capacity is an honor I willneverregret."

ChapterSeventeen

Hudson

Two Days Later- 5/6 weeks, two days left until labor almost 14 weeks

* * *

Present 7 am.

I blow out a breath in frustration and toss another textbook on the huge table in the Knowledge Library. For the past couple of days, I have made this place my bitch--from the moment the kids woke me up at six am like fucking clockwork--soaking in all the brain power of the Fae and, errr...trees...that came before me. When I first walked in here, I about lost my ever-loving mind. It is every bibliophile's dream.

* * *

Two Days Ago

With determined waddled strides, I walk into the Keepers Royal Court and follow the bookporn lover in me until I reach a hallway with giant ornate doors that I know to lead to the Knowledge Library. Stopping myself from doing a little dance, considering I will probably fall over, I push the doors open, walk in, and almost give birth right there.

I struggle to breathe as I close the doors behind me, refusing to be interrupted while I touch myself to the sight of literary heaven. "Holy shit. This has to be illegal," I murmur, almost delirious with happiness. This moment is mine, and I'm grateful I told everyone, very gently, of course, to leave me the fuck alone while I mentally masturbated during my first-time exploration of the library.

Trying and failing to calm down, I close my eyes and moan as I take a moment to breathe in the scent of pure, unadulterated lust- aged parchment, ink, and pages upon pages of knowledge.

I let my eyes flutter open as I recover from my nasal orgasm, and my jaw goes slack as I look around. The room, if you can even call it that, stretches out in all directions, filled from ceiling to floor with fully stocked gold bookcases that shimmer and twinkle as they are lovingly caressed by the soft rays of the natural light filter through tall windows. And yes, I AM jealous of the sun because I want to caress all the damn books at once, too... lovingly or provocatively or whatever-- Greedy ass sunlight.

My ears twitch as the soft sounds of a harp lightly tinkle throughout the library as my feet move of their own volition to explore. In the center of the room is a large dark table that is begging to be covered in books as I furiously come up with a plan for world domination. It is the kind of table where you stand around with a huge map and stare down importantly while you and several buff angry-looking people talk about a battle plan--the kind of table where you sweep everything off dramatically in a fit of rage. I sigh happily at the plans I have for this table. The plush chairs all around are nice too, but I mean you can't sweep shit off a chair.

I continue my journey and run my hands down around the beautiful lamps that are placed all around, their gentle light giving the room all the warm and fuzzy feelings that make my heart twerk. Other than the relaxing tones of the harp, the library is silent as my feet move silently across the marble floors. I poke my head into a room that has a full luxury bathroom, complete with a shower, and I smile gleefully. Stepping back, I make a right and walk down several aisles until I see a large desk set in front of a bay window, which gives off a light, almost imperceptible glow of magic. Curious, I step closer.

I expel a deep breath as I run my fingers along intricate carvings of various Fae depicted in different scenes throughout history. The sun streaming from the window dances over the details, seemingly bringing the desk to life before my eyes, and I narrow my eyes as I look closer, and I swear, for a moment, that the Fae DID move.

"I must be losing my damn mind," I mutter.

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