Page 8 of Eclipse of Fate
“You’re brothers. You will make up. I’m sure of it. Dax loves you, Trent. I’m sure this was a moment of weakness for you both.”
“You didn’t see it, though. Something is different this time, Rae.” I know what he’s talking about. I sensed it the last time he and I talked. Nonetheless, they are brothers. Family. They can’t behave like this. Dax is the damn king of Aldramani, though it’s unannounced. He can’t behave as though his actions don’t hold precedence. He should know better. Standing, I storm to the lone window in Trent’s room and look through just in time to see Maki launch himself into the sky in search of Dax.Where are you, Dax?
Chapter seven
A growl erupts frommy chest and echoes through the forest where I’ve landed. Creatures scatter, recognizing the predator amongst them. What I did to my brother will haunt me for a long time to come. His words still try to fracture my cold heart. I’ve landed on a large pine branch that juts out over the Creale Sea. With one arm holding onto the branch above me, I lean forward, watching the moonlit waves crash against the rocky cliff slide. The ferocity of them mirrors the energy warring inside my body.
The chaos of my thoughts and emotions consumes me, and my vision goes black as the furious power I’ve tried for so long to hide surfaces. The magic pulses, causing my skin to crawl. It blasts from me toward the angry ocean waves; dark shadows explode from the palm of my hand as my vision is blacked out from the torrent of power I’m finally expelling. A bellow rips through my throat asI allow the pain of everything to consume me entirely. My arms ignite in the flames of my element, scorching the tree I hold on to. I let go.
My instincts won’t let me fall to my death. The raven inside me would burst free to aid me before it could happen. I don’t want my own death, though. Before I slam into the ocean and the rocks far below, my wings snap out, and I glide along the water. The spray of the sea mists my face as I close my eyes and just let myself go. My power, unsuppressed, simmers below my skin, and I decide then—I won’t be hiding it any longer. I know I am a disappointment, and it is time I own my faults.
I need to get back to Ravendene. Cano has likely already realized he is no longer welcome in the territory. I received word fairly quickly that my people had taken control. That gives me at least some sort of comfort. Although, nothing will comfort me more than standing over Cano’s listless body. Banking right, I circle back toward Loema, and when I finally face the land again, I see Maki standing on the cliff edge, black wings on display and arms crossed over his chest.
He knows about Trent.
My boots land with a heavy thump as I come to a stop in front of my cousin. His face gives away his emotion as he stands rigid, his lips pressed into a hard line and his brows pinched.
“Don’t fucking look at me like that.” I let my wings hang at my back and saunter to the land’s edge once again, looking out at the vast expanse of water.
“You could have killed him,” Maki says darkly. I turn to meet his gaze as he stands at my side.
“Could have, you’re right, but I’m sure as you are standing here that my loud ass little brother still lives to speak all the bullshit he usually does.”
“This isn’t you, Dax. No matter the asshole persona you have given yourself. This?” His hand sweeps me from head to toe. “This is not who you are.” My shoulders tense further under his scrutiny, and I draw in a long breath.
“It is now.” I growl, and the finality of those words echoes through my head. I can’t be anything other than the monster I was born to be now that my heart has died. Ella was the light in my life. The thought brings me back to my conversation with Seriah.“Being afraid is fine, Dax, but secrets can fester and poison what is good and growing. Do not dwell in the shadows when you have the light among you.”I scoff.
“I think it’s time you come back. Raelle is with Trent, and she is very concerned, cousin, as we all are.” I grunt, spinning on my heel. I squeeze my fists into tight balls, then let them loose before shaking them out again and again, trying to help ease some tension in my limbs. “You know you did quite the number on your brother. He’s in the infirmary being healed for some pretty bad damage to his head. The boy was rambling on about all kinds of things.”
“When is Trent not running his mouth?” I seethe, but as soon as I say the words, they taste like soot on my tongue. I love my brother. I know staying angry with him is not going to last. He is right about everything he said. Much of this is on me, but it’s also on Cano, and I plan to be his judge, jury, and executioner.
Striding up to the castle with Maki at my side, I look up to see Raelle standing at one of the arched windows, looking down at me. Her hair glows like the moon. Grinding my teeth, I take in her somber expression as our eyes lock. The pity and uncertainty I see there causes anger to flare in me once again. That’s not how I want my mate looking at me, but what can I do about it now?
Once Maki and I enter the castle, we make our way toward the infirmary, but before we get to the antechamber that leads there, Raelle is stepping out into the grand corridor. The somber look I thought I saw on her face was replaced. She stomps toward us with her hands at her sides in fists, her normally pouty lips pursed in a firm line, and her brows dipped in anger. She throws daggers as she pins me with her glare.
“I think this is my queue to leave you to it, cousin. Good luck with that.” He dips his chin in the direction of Raelle as she stops in front of us with her arms crossed.
“Raelle— I,” She doesn't let me continue before her small hand comes in a flash of speed across my face. The unexpected impact forces my head to whip to the side, and the sting that blooms on my cheek—I’m sure we both feel it. Slowly, I let my head turn back to face her. Her chest rises and falls on quick breaths as tears well in her eyes.
She pulls her trembling, full bottom lip into her mouth, biting down on it as the tears spill across the blotchy skin on her face. Anger vibrates through the air that surrounds us, and my heart gallops in my chest as we look at each other, and she doesn't say anything. She lets out a choked sob before she stomps past me in the direction of the courtyard, flipping her braid over her shoulder as she does.
I follow behind her with quick strides, and before she makes it too far, I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her back into my body. Tucking us away in one of the rooms off of the hallway. She sucks in a sharp breath at the sudden change and spins in my arms, but I don’t let her push me away like she tries. I hold onto her, wrapping her in my arms.
“You almost killed him!” Tears stream down her face as she screams at me. Her warm breath brushes across my face at our proximity. “Your brother! The only family you have left, Dax! How could you do this?” Her screams are absorbed by the room as I look down at her. The paintings and furnishings that line the walls of what appears to be Maki’s smoking room take the echo of her voice away. When I say nothing, because there is nothing I can say, she begins to wiggle in my arms. She slams her fits into my chest over and over, but I hold her as she comes apart.
In a way, I’m happy to see how passionate she is about my brother’s well-being. She cares about my family like it is her own. Now, my family is hers. I should have known how all of this would affect her. The loss of Ella, surely brought up the pain of losing her family. Even if she didn’t truly remember my sister. Each hit she lands on me begins to weaken before she stops entirely. She presses her forehead to my chest as she lets out racking sobs.
Between each, she sucks in a sharp breath and expels one word at a time.
“I’m—worried—about—you…” I close my eyes as I take in her words. I can’t allow her to soften me, though. I drop my arms and move to walk past her. Her hand whips out and grabs onto the back of my tunic, pulling, but I stand rigid.
“I told you many moons ago now. I am not a good man, Raelle. We may be blessed by the gods, the first bonded mates in our generation, but I stand by what I told you then. I’m the nightmare. I’m no dream come true. I know you don’t remember that, but…”
“NO! You don’t get to do this! You don’t get to push me away. You need to see the light that is in front of you, Dax!” Her words sound off like an alarm in my head, like fate is warning me. I turn to face her and close the distance between our bodies in two strides, and slam my lips against hers. Even though I feel like it’s the most selfish thing I’ve ever done, I refuse to allow Raelle to slip through my fingers. I will not lose this woman.
Passion fills the kiss as I force her mouth to open for me and devour her entirely. I pull her up into my arms, and she immediately wraps her legs around my hips. After two more steps, we collide with the dark stone wall. Her hands are shaking as she rips at my tunic, pulling it over my head—my hair falls in my face. She rocks her hips against mine, sending a tremor through my body. I pull at the strings in the front of her leather vest, uniting it and letting it fall from her shoulders. I tear the tunic she wears down the middle, exposing the perk pink flesh at the peaks of her breasts. Groaning as she shifts again, arching her back further, I take the hardened bud into my mouth.
“Gods, Dax,” Her moan sends a pulse of pleasure through me. I drop her to her feet and crush my lips backon hers. We are both frantic in our movements. She kicks off her boots as I pull at her leggings, needing the barriers between our bodies gone. She struggles with my belt, but I can’t wait. I don’t remove my breeches fully or boots before I lift her once again and slam into her wet heat. She pulses around me as I rock deep into her. Her back grinding against the cold stone wall. Her cries transformed in the minutes since entering this room, from sobs to screams of pleasure.
