Page 125 of Rage of Her Ravens

“I do not regret loving him,” she continued, her eyes glossy with unshed tears, “but I do regret waiting so long to do it. I could’ve had three extra years with him if it hadn’t been for my stubbornness.” She paused, giving me a look of understanding. “And, yes, he was a brute, but he softened with me, for me. He gave his life to save the children and me. Some days I miss him so much, I pray to the elements to take me. If it wasn’t for the boys needing me, I think I would’ve already thrown myself from the tallest tower.” She stopped rocking, fisting her hands in her lap. “And now the girls give me a renewed sense of purpose. I think Bjorn led you and the girls to us. I will be here for them as long as they need me, but when the elements call me to be with Bjorn, I will not fight it.”

I could barely see through my flood of tears. Had she shared this story a few days ago, I might have thought her purpose was to shame me into mating with Draevyn. Now, I realized she was right. I had no idea how much time my mates and I would have together. Malvolia’s mages could take them from me just like they’d killed my other father. Would I waste what little time we had together quarreling, or would I use that time to reconcile with Draevyn and finally seal the bond? Draevyn had already apologized, and he’d proven himself worthy of my love by sacrificing himself for the girls. I didn’t know what else he could do to prove his devotion.

“Thank you for sharing that with me.” I paused, searching for the right words, though nothing could bring back her mate. “I’m so sorry about Bjorn.”

She smiled and looked away, her eyes awash with distant memories.

Another knock sounded at the door, and two young women servants came inside carrying trays of supplies, a water basin and several towels, plus bars of soap.

They both curtsied to me.

“Excuse me, Your Highness,” one of the servants, a young woman with wavy dark hair and pale skin said while bowing her head. “We’re here to clean Lord Inferni.”

“Oh, leave it.” I waved them off. “I’ll clean him.” No way was I trusting anyone else to take care of Draevyn after what the nurses had done to Nikkos.

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” the servant asked.

“No,” I answered curtly, giving her no room for refusal. “I don’t need help, thank you.”

Mrs. Euphemia got up as the servants left the trays on a nearby table. “I’ll leave you to your cleaning,” she said with a wink.

My skin flushed as I looked lovingly down at Draevyn. Yes. I would be the one to clean my mate. My brave, selfless mate who, despite all his flaws, nearly sacrificed his own life to protect my nieces. I would never forget that.

* * *

Draevyn

Iwoke to the soothingfeel of a warm, wet sponge wiping my brow. I released a moan when I felt gentle hands on my wings. My nostrils flared as I recognized her scent—Shirina, my mate. I watched her from beneath my lashes as she carefully cleaned my feathers. Had I died and gone to heaven? For I swore I could feel her love for me in each gentle stroke. I didn’t want her to know I was awake, for selfish mage that I was, I feared she’d stop cleaning me, but I also worried she’d notice the growing evidence of my desire soon enough. How could I not be aroused by her gentle touch, or by her delicious ripe breasts hovering over my face while she stretched across my body to reach my wingtips. Elements, I wanted to roll her over and plow into her.

I dug my fingers into the blankets, a moan escaping my lips. “Uhh.”

“Draevyn?” She rolled off me. “Are you awake?”

I swallowed, blinking up at her while willing the evidence of my desire to recede. Luckily, she hadn’t noticed, or else she didn’t acknowledge that she’d noticed.

I slowly sat up, doing my best to adjust to the overhead candlelight that pierced my eyes.

She steadied me with a hand on my elbow. “Don’t sit up too fast.”

I hung my head in my hands with a groan as I felt her weight dip and then heard her slip off the bed and pad across the floor. Was she leaving me?

“Here.” I peered up at her as she handed me a drink. I downed the goblet of cool water in a few swallows and handed it back to her. She refilled it and bade me drink again. Then she wheeled a cart to the bed and began scooping food onto a plate.

“I can’t eat yet,” I said, trying to push the food away.

“You can and you will,” she said sternly. “It took a lot of energy to heal you. You need to replenish.”

Suddenly, memories came racing back. Sol and Bertram! The fire! The girls!

I clasped my aching chest. “The girls?”

She smiled, holding a bite of food out to me. “Sleeping.”

“They’re not hurt?” I asked as I swallowed the food, hardly registering the taste as I got lost in the amber swirls of her beautiful eyes.

“No.” She dabbed the corner of my mouth with a napkin. “They’re fine.”

“It’s late,” I said as she shoveled another bite into my mouth. “Why aren’t you resting?”

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