Page 34 of Fated Unkindness
My patience wears thin each time she makes physical contact with him. I don’t realize I’m biting my lip until Dax turns my faceto his and lowers his mouth to mine, sucking my lip in between his teeth and smiling as it's caught there. When a soft growl escapes me, he kisses me softly and then pulls away like nothing happened. However, the whispers I hear throughout the room and the look of utter shock on the harlot’s face tells me that his behavior is not something they have ever witnessed from Dax, and it brings a smug grin to my face.
“Perhaps, it’s time to retire—” Maki is cut off as the dining hall doors burst open on a gust of mighty wind. Two guards enter the massive room with their hands held behind their backs. The one I recognized as Pascal steps forward.
“Sorry to interrupt, my lord, but there was a Raskin attack not far from our border. When we went to secure the area, there were people already in a battle with the creatures…” He makes quick eye contact with Dax, then his gaze meets Maki’s as he continues. “ Sir, Trent Fornax-Ravendene and his party of three others have been taken to the infirmary for evaluation and healing.” I feel like the air is punched out of my lungs at the revelation. Dax jumps to his feet, hoisting me up with him. In a blur of movement, we are well out of the dining hall and rushing down corridors, with the Lord of Loema quick on our heels as we make our way to the infirmary.
Chapter thirty-two
The drama with Raelleand Violet falls to the wayside as the guards interrupt the end of our awkward dinner. As much as I was enjoying that shitshow…when they announced that Trent and three others were brought to the Loema infirmary, nothing else mattered. I grab Raelle’s hand, running for the doors, not needing to pull her along because she is keeping up, even though my legs are much longer.
The sound of my cousin’s curses echoes through the halls as he runs behind us, questioning what is going on. He barks at his guards to stand down. The way Raelle and I sprinted from the room was not expected and had the guards confused about our sudden outburst, causing them to draw their blades in readinessand on high alert, ready for an attack. However, Maki would have known why we are acting this way if we had a more intimate dinner and were able to discuss such things. I couldn't care less about that right now, though. I focus my attention on what is most important. Trent, and making sure he is well, and finding out who has been brought in with him. Gods, why is this castle so fucking big?
We tear through the corridors hand in hand. Raelle’s grip is crushing as we race to reach Trent. Her need to see him okay is as potent as my own. As we round the final corner, we see the doors, and we burst into an antechamber, which resembles a small library. The double doors open just before we reach them, and a petite blonde vampire walks out, her eyes wide at our unexpected arrival. She gasps loudly and places her hand up, erecting a magical barrier blocking her and the door entirely. Her brows drop as she makes eye contact with me. Anger replaces her initial shock of our bursting through the breezeway, recognizing me as the young shifter who would cause a ruckus in the halls of this castle years before. She lifts her other hand, placing her pointer finger to her lips as she drops the air barrier.
“Shhh. Please be quiet. All of those who were brought in from the Raskin attack are still with us. They’re sleeping. They will not be disturbed tonight.”
“Nonsense. I will speak with my brother. Now.” I demand as I advance on her. Her hand whips up quickly, erecting the shimmering wall of air back into place. Her eyes narrow as she glowers at me. Her barrier will do nothing to stop me if I choose to take it down. One touch of my magic, and it would dissipate, likely ending the life of the Fae who placed it as well. I clench my jaw, and my fingerstwitch where Raelle holds it. She tugs at my grip, silently urging me to remain calm. I stop thinking about the dark thoughts of ending the vampire's existence for merely protecting the infirmary and tilt my head in Raelle’s direction. Her breathing hitches, one hand clutching mine and the other resting on her chest.
“Are you ok?” I spin her to face me.
“I’m ok, but Dax…” She shakes her head. “She’s telling the truth. I can feel it.” Her eyebrows pinch as she rubs up and down her sternum. She presses her lips into a thin line and makes eye contact with the vampire. “I believe that Trent is going to be okay in her care.” The vampire looks at Raelle, puzzled by her words. Clearly, this is some part of Raelle’s gifts developing further, a gift that resembles that of an empath. Which are not common any longer. “Truly, Dax.” She turns her face to me, and her thumb strikes a line across the back of my hand, the simple gesture warming my icy anger, and I nod in agreement.
“Please tell us—do you know who was brought in with Trent Fornax-Ravendene?” She asks the female vampire, her voice firm but kind.
“Mr.Fornax-Ravendene was brought in with two females who have remained unconscious through magical interference due to their injuries and an older gentleman, a wolf shifter if I’m not mistaken, who was awake for a while before we had to place him into a sleep as well. All of them sustained substantial injuries, but none I believe to be life-threatening. The Raskin numbers were great in this attack, or so I've been told.” She takes a deep breath, clasping her hands behind her back. “Some of our guards were injured as well. All of them have been placed into a deep sleep using magical intervention to quicken their healing. I will be checking on each ofthem, but…” She bows at Maki entering the room, his breathing coming out in puffs as he tries to catch his breath. Clearly, he’s been lax in his training. I make a mental note to remind him of the importance of keeping up with combat training and physical health, especially being a Lord. “ I assure you, the girl is right. No harm will come to them while in my infirmary,” she states as a matter of fact. Maki places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes firmly.
“Cousin, I think it's time we have that talk now.” His gaze meets the vampire in charge of the infirmary. “I promise you that Trent and whoever else came in with him will be well taken care of and likely healed by morning. Ginny will make sure of it.” He nods in the direction of the vampire. “Follow me; we can head to the library now to discuss whatever it is that is clearly going on—other than this Raskin attack.”
My gaze meets Raelle’s. I battle my own mind over just walking away without being able to lay eyes on my brother or without finding out if it was Ella and Kait who were brought in with him. It has to be them. And the older gentleman? It has to be Miles. Raelle shifts her body to stand in front of me and places her hands on my chest, then runs them across my shoulders, loosening the tension that has built here. They sag under her touch. She continues removing and easing the stress from my body as she brushes her palms across the dips and curves of my biceps, then back up again as she clasps them behind my neck. The room falls away as my focus narrows entirely to her. The vivid green in her eyes captivates me, as does the glow of her sun-kissed skin and the almost magical brightness to her hair as the moonlight seeps in throughthe window.
She reaches up on her tiptoes and presses her soft lips to mine. A warmth spreads through my body, slowing my racing heart with the simple contact. All of the anger and uncertainty wash away and are replaced by a keen sense of calm. My power vibrates at my fingertips in response. She flattens her feet, and her hands slide down to my chest, lingering there as she keeps her eyes trained on me. I wrap her in my arms, holding her in a tight embrace, and place a kiss on top of her head. I lift my head, my gaze locking with another set of green eyes. Violet stands rigid, watching us. She wrings her hands and runs her tongue across her sharp canines, tutting as she spins on her heel and storms from the room. I'm not sure what to make of her reaction, but as Raelle looks up at me, I don’t care.
Chapter thirty-three
As we follow Makito the library, each step I take is heavy. Exhaustion collects in my bones, pulling me down. The dinner, traveling, and days of no sleep since being cured– everything has finally settled on my shoulders. The weight of it all makes my very soul heavy. I spread out into the armchair in front of the fire as Raelle perches on the arm of my chair, bringing her legs over mine. We begin to catch Maki up on all that is happening as of late: the curse, breaking the curse, the bond, the memory loss. Everything. When he looks like he can't possibly process any more information, I run my hand down my face.
“That's not all, though; we think that when I was under the curse, I saw a prophecy. Tomorrow we plan to go to my father'sseer in town. Hopefully, we can get some insight.” His eyebrows shoot skyward, and he stands, starting to pace as he thinks over everything we’ve told him.
“Cano was here not long ago; we had a meeting by his request. He wanted to discuss plans about trying to take over Demetrey. He said he believed that Demetrey could be beaten out of power if we came together as a cohesive unit.” I scoff at that because I had been trying to tell the asshole that for years, and he wouldn't act on it. “ I denied him because we have seen more peace recently in Loema and feel there is no need, but clearly that is not the case.” He continues to pace the length of the library with his arms clasped behind his back and his eyes scrunched as he focuses on each step.
“Cano is working with someone. I saw him meeting with them at the cabin.” Raelle says, her gaze shifting between me and Maki. “I—I'm not sure who it was he was meeting with, though. Trent didn’t say he recognized them either. Whoever it was kept their hood up, masking their face in the shadows, but my power… it swelled, and they were giving me all the negative feels.” She scrunches her brows together, making a little crease in between them as she thinks back on the memory. “Trent might know more; maybe he found out who was meeting with him when I left the cabin to go to you.” She places her hand on my arm. I fold mine over hers, and with a dip of my chin, I place a kiss on the back of it. She has a point. We need to talk to Trent, and hopefully he has some insight.
“I want to see my brother at first light. Can you make that happen, Maki?”
“Of course I can. Meet me at the infirmary in the morning. We will go see them before breakfast; if they are well enough,they can join us.” He stares pensively into the fire, breaking his concentration as he shifts his gaze back at me. “Dax, this changes things.” He chews the inside of his cheek as his eyes bore into me. “If he is the ‘Lord of Ravendene’ that makes Ravendene an enemy of mine, of Loema… if he works with Demetrey… You mu—” I interrupt before he can finish the thought because it is not an issue.
“I am resuming Lordship over Ravendene effective immediately, regardless of what he has been up to, and if he wishes to fight me for the position, we will do so in the ways of old. We will battle in a duel, my magic against his. The more powerful takes the territory.” Raelle’s head snaps down to meet my gaze, and I smile as her frown deepens.
“Don’t worry dear; Ravendene has not lost a duel in many, many, centuries. I’m confident Dax would be no exception. Especially bonded and the most mature of his line.” Maki chuckles, but the worry doesn’t leave Raelle’s face. She stands, and I follow, wrapping my arms around her. I dip my chin, bringing my mouth to hover over her ear.
“Don’t worry about me, my beautiful mate. I highly doubt it will come to a duel anyway. Cano isn’t stupid. He would know it would mean his death. He will choose his life over anything else. Plus, I told you, I won’t leave you again.” She leans into my embrace, her cheek pressing against mine. She releases a heavy sigh, and I feel some tension leave her body as she does. I slowly inhale her warm vanilla scent, releasing the deep breath that tickles at the sensitive skin just below her ear. She shudders as goosebumps creep down her arms, and she arches into me. Maki clears his throat, dragging my attention away from Raelle and the press of my thickening cock in my breeches. He offers a glass of whiskey tome and wine to Raelle, then drops into an armchair and tilts his head, staring into the large fire sipping from his chalice.
“If it does come to a duel, I’m taking bets and making some money on this thing. I’m sure Trent would be my first bet.” He laughs as he drinks a hefty measure of his wine. Lifting the golden chalice in the air, he calls out, “Cheers to making enemies bleed!” A grin tugs at my lips, and I lift my whiskey. I drink to that, but Raelle doesn’t drink or smile at the declaration. Her brow furrows further, and sadness brackets her mouth. I rub her arm in comfort and step away toward the fire. With a wave of my hand, I make my fire foxes appear and dance into the room and around Raelle. She takes a ragged breath, and just as I wished, a soft smile graces her beautiful face, washing away the sadness that was once there. Her eyes light up in the glow of the foxes dancing around her.
Maki laughs again, clapping, then stands just as I extinguish the frolicking fire animals. He extends his arm, I grasp his forearm, and he pulls me into a one-armed hug.
“It's so good to have you back, cousin. Excuse me, but I must retire for the night. The morning will come before we know it. You two must need your rest too.” He backs away from me and opens his arms wide for Raelle. She offers her hand to him, and he chuckles, looking at me as he takes it. The denial of a hug amusing him. He sucks in a sharp breath, his eyes whipping up to meet hers.
“Your power, it—It calls to me and it's so very strong.” He shifts his gaze to me. “I have never met someone who has a power so potent.” He lingers there for a moment before he snaps back to his senses. He lays a kiss on the back of Raelle’s hand and bows his head to her. “Please excuse my brashness, Miss Raelle. I was just surprised, that is all. I do have a question for you, though, before Iretire.” He drops her hand. “Did you ever tell me your last name? With a power that strong, I’d assume we have crossed paths before. Your family must be of high stature.” He turns his head back to me, brows pinched.
