Page 9 of Fated Unkindness
“Dax Fornax-Ravendene and Cano Croix,” Now it’s my turn to smile because I take the opportunity to tell Cano to sit the fuck down. Stepping into the ring, I roll my shoulders, meeting Raelle’s eyes.
“You’ve got to be fuckingkiddingme,” Raelle mutters under her breath as she tries to catch it. I’m close enough now that I hear it, though.
“Notfucking kidding. If you want to smile smugly after beating a challenge, then perhaps you need to know what it feels like to lose.” I growl the words, but just as I move to begin the challenge, I'm grabbed from behind, stopping my advance. Spinning, I turn to find a face I didn't expect. Trent stands ramrod straight, boldly stopping me—a challenge in front of all the Fae here. My blood boils.
“This isn’t something we do, Dax.” He says in a low voice, still gripping my wrist. I move to yank my arm away from him, but he keeps his hold on it. My power is a fucking frenzy just below the surface right now. A deadly silent killer, no one in the room knows what they are in danger of. I take a step back, seething. Especially as I see Cano enter the ring next. Pulling Raelle to him by the back of her neck. She spins in his arms, and he angles her head up so he can ram his tongue down her throat.
Fire erupts along my forearms and hands. Trent hisses as he flinches back, his hand now burned where he held me. I extinguished the flames almost immediately, but the damage has been done. The room is buzzing with hushed conversation. No doubt, speaking of my momentary lapse of control.
“Give up the show, brother. Jealousy doesn't suit you.” Cano sneers, his arm slung over Raelle’s shoulders. She looks at me with something like pity in her eyes, and the sight of it causes a vibration to roll up my spine.
“Jealous?” I spit the word at his feet, but my eyes flick to Raelle as I swallow. Keeping my eyes locked with hers, I continue, “There is nothing to be jealous about…”
Spinning from the group of them, I turn on my heel and storm from the center, yelling over my shoulder, “Sparring is fucking done for the day.” The moment I’m out of the doors, my wings burst from my back, and I head for the sky.
“What the fuck is wrong with me?” I growl into the sky, taking off toward the lake. I land at the edge, raking a hand through my hair. How am I supposed to command a regime if I can’t even control my own fucking magic when she is around? I don’t understand why she fucking pisses me off so much. It’s everything and nothing all at once. The feeling she gives me. The reminder of my magic that stirs under my skin; a silent reminder of the darkness that holds me a prisoner. The way she almost cringes away from Cano but allows his tongue to evade her mouth and his hands to roam her body.
It’s not fucking jealousy. I refuse to admit my growing attraction to her. I can’t get close to anyone. Not knowing the danger I am to those who get close to me. Not knowing what I’m capable of. I don’t care that she makes me feel something I’ve never felt before. I don’t fucking care that my magic seems to guide me to her at every chance it has. If anything, it’s more of a reason to stay the fuck away from her. I don’t trust my magic, not after what I did.
My breaths are coming out in ragged puffs as I pace the area. My feet digging grooves into the soft soil around the lake. I stop abruptly as the shiver rolls up my spine and my shoulders stiffen as she says my name.
“Dax?” Her voice is hesitant and distant. When I don’t turn around, or even acknowledge her, she continues anyway. “I wanted to check on you. Are you doing ok?” Fuck, why does she have to be so caring and courageous? After the display I just gave? One would think to steer clear of the raging monster of a man, but here she is… asking ifI’mok.
I turn to face her then. Her cheeks are flush, and her perfectly arched eyebrows are pulled down as she looks me over. Head to toe, she takes my posture in, and as I take a step forward, she takes one back. Smart. As always. “I’m only going to say this one more time, Raelle. Stop fucking showing up for people who don’t deserve it.” The look in her eyes tells me she understands that this is meant to have a double meaning.
“I don’t think that’s in my nature, Dax. I know you don’t like me…”
“You know nothing,” I growl, cutting her off. My long strides have allowed me to catch up to her, and as her steps falter on the uneven ground, I reach out on instinct to right her balance.
“And who’s fault is that? Its not for lack of trying!” She shouts in my face, and I have to give her credit. Her voice stays as even as the glare she holds my eyes with.
“Stay away from me, Raelle.” My grip tightens on her arm as I lean into her body. “Train at a different time. With a different instructor.” Her chin lifts, but I see the hurt flash in her eyes. It fucks with something in my chest, but I push it away. We are onlyinches apart; I have to look down to meet her eyes. I feel my raven pressing to the surface, my eyes shifting for only a moment, but I push it all away. Just as I push everyone away. “If yourefuseto leave Ravendene, just fucking stay. Away. From. Me… I don’t want to be around you.” She flinches, but I can’t care.
I won't.
A moment of silence passes as we both stand only inches apart, but the space feels like miles of endless pain.
“Ok, Dax.” She blinks slowly, surprising me as she relents. She gives me a long look one more time before she turns and walks away. The emptiness I feel makes my brows cinch together as I watch her fade into the distance.
Chapter eight
“Prepare the crew, Flynn.If we are not out of here within the next hour, it’s your ass on the line.” I growl at my second in command. I’m tired of being on the road. I hate going on these pointless missions. Someone in my position shouldn’t be out here at risk for such niceties. A supply-run. This is grunt work. However, I go out on them nonetheless because it is expected by my people as their dutiful leader. I’ve only started going on these pointless escapades since Raelle has been accepted into Ravendene. Since then, I have made my best effort to make a show of becoming a better man.
However, every time I find myself out here, we also end up looking for those who have gone missing, and then I just get annoyed, especially since I am the one responsible for their disappearances. Regardless, I am still at risk being out here if there was a Raskin attack or something equally disturbing. I, for one, am notwilling to use the limited resources and men we have to separate these trips like some. Dax for instance. Those who are missing won’t be returned to us. Anyone who has been out in the kingdom, outside of the shields of the territories, understands this concept. The untrained and low-power victims wouldn’t stand a chance if they were out here on their own. Looking for whoever is missing would be a recovery, not a rescue mission.
It should be clear to every person who lives in Ravendene, that it's not safe outside of the barriers. Especially after what happened to Dax. Even if they feign unaware, they would have to know his lineage and what that would mean. Some extent of the power he houses. The fool went off on his own to try to rescue his young sister. I understand the thoughts behind it. She is family. One of the only family members he has left, but he is the commander of our regime, or I suppose was... He should’ve known better than anyone. Not to mention Mel is an eleven-year-old female who is not fully trained. Regardless of her power level. They should believe she is either long gone, sold to the less civilized nomads of the wastelands, or the creatures that roam the unshielded areas of Aldramani. Surely they got to her, or that's what they should think.
It’s unfortunate really, for the Fornax-Ravendene lineage. Such an influential family name hanging by a thread... The youngest sister is missing, and the oldest brother is cursed. All that is left is that loudmouth Trent. Arrogant dick.
I use the time I have preparing my horse and sharpening my short sword. The back and forth of the whetstone lulling me into a more calm state of mind. I watch as the small crew I brought with me packs up camp to head home to Ravendene. I never thoughtI'd come to miss Raelle something this fierce, that foul mouth of hers wrapped around my cock will be a homecoming I can’t wait to accept. It’s been nearly a week since we left on this mission. Which was only supposed to be three days, but we hit a snag with some road runners in the outlying villages. Things on this side of Ravendene have gotten rough. People are desperate. I will be happy to be home in the capital and not have to concern myself with these lands for, hopefully, a long time.
“Lord Cano, the scouts have returned to camp. It appears that the route is currently clear for travel. The crew should be ready to head out within half an hour.”
It’s about time. I roll my shoulders as I stand placing my short sword back in its scabbard. I look down at Flynn. I look down at nearly everyone with my nearly 6’4 height. The only person I see eye to eye with is Dax, and that is only in the literal form of the saying. Well, I did, before he was laid out cursed and dumped on our doorstep. Such an unfortunate circumstance. “Good to hear '' I say flatly. I catch Flynn briefly turning his lips down at the corners, worrying his bottom lip, but he says nothing else. Just gives me a curt nod and heads back to help with preparations for the journey. I don’t care enough to ask what is bothering him. He’s a good enough commander, but just as the last one, if he is more loyal to Ravendene than me, he will find himself a head shorter.
We are currently only a day and a half ride back to town and since this particular trip was not at all fruitful, we don’t have any additional weight dragging us down. What do you know… I informed the crew this morning that we are to travel nonstop to reach Ravendene within a day to be done with it. They all agreed reluctantly.
The ride back to the village was swift but uneventful. I cannot say the same about the return home.
