9. Chapter 9

Chapter nine

W hile the accident hadn't caused any permanent damage to the festivalgoers, Fenix didn't know if the same could be said about Owen.

After the mage's departure, the situation had stabilized fairly quickly. Shifters and weres transitioned back, confused but no worse for wear. Magic users were a little unsteady, but they would be fine after a good night's sleep.

Skye had swept in with a small army to settle everyone down and restore the charms and enchantments. She hadn't asked questions, hadn't made accusations. She had simply addressed the issue with calm authority, and when someone like her spoke, people listened.

Once Fenix had regained control, he'd dressed quickly and checked in with his team. Reassured no one had been injured, especially Iliana, he breathed a sigh of relief that he would be able to deliver good news to his mate.

"Go after him." Pushing to the front of the group, Iliana grabbed his hand and clutched it between her own. "He didn't mean to do it."

He appreciated her defense of Owen, but she didn't have to convince him. "I know."

"Oh, he's probably so scared right now," she fretted. "Please, go find him."

"Return to your cabin and stay there."

For once, she didn't argue. "I promise. Go."

He happily obliged the order.

His heart pounded as he sprinted down the long corridor, burst through the doors, and turned toward the forest. He didn't think Owen would enter the dark woods, but in his current state, he could have gone anywhere. Nothing dangerous lurked in the trees, but that did little to alleviate his fears. And with temperatures falling, finding his talei was more imperative than ever.

Following the scent of lemon and vanilla, he came to a stop first in front of his cabin. Owen had passed, maybe even entered, but the chemosignal was too faint for him to still be there. Still, he had to force himself to keep moving instead of wasting time in a fruitless search of the quarters.

As he trekked into the forest, Owen's scent became stronger, more distinct. Better than smell, however, he'd also left behind a strong energy trial that pulsed like a beacon. It led past the treehouses—and some very confused fae—and into the denser parts of the woods.

Fenix hurried his steps, pushing his way through the thick underbrush. Occasionally, he stopped to listen and reorient himself, but he didn't bother calling out. If Owen wanted to be found, he wouldn't have been out there in the first place. He would have been at the cabin waiting for him where it was safe and warm.

After what felt like an eternity, the trees thinned and opened up onto a stone pool surrounded by manicured gardens. Blue and purple lights illuminated the depths, and steam rose from the surface before being swept away by the wind.

No lights shined from the clubhouse, and the area appeared to be completely empty. Yet, he could smell Owen's scent, and from somewhere inside the building, he recognized the distinct rush of running water.

Nearing the entrance, it became clear that the shower wasn't the only noise coming from inside. He also heard the heartbreaking sounds of muffled sobs. Though he couldn't hear Owen's thoughts at the moment, the full weight of his fear and despair hit Fenix hard enough to steal his breath.

He found his mate at the end of the row of showers, curled up on the floor of the tiled stall with his head buried against his knees. Water crashed over him, soaking his hair and clothes and pooling beneath him.

As much as he wanted to jerk him up from the floor and demand to know what he was thinking, Fenix did neither of those things. Owen needed a calm, steady hand. He needed understanding and patience. Most importantly, he needed someone to show him that everything would be okay.

Without a word, he stepped into the enclosure and shut off the water. Then he crouched in front of his talei , his treasure, and stroked the top of his head. The impromptu deluge had chilled his skin, and his wet clothes couldn't be comfortable. For the moment, however, no immediate danger existed. So, Fenix continued to sit with him in silence, lending him strength in the only way he knew how.

It took several minutes, but finally, Owen's sobs quieted, and he lifted his head to meet his gaze. His face appeared ghostly pale in the moonlight that poured in from the windows high on the wall, making his red, puffy eyes stand out in sharp relief.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking twice.

Telling him he hadn't done anything wrong wouldn't make it true. Telling him he hadn't meant it wouldn't help, either.

"No one was hurt," he decided after a pause. "Confused and a little scared, but no lasting damage."

"Iliana?"

"Completely fine. She's at her cabin resting." At least, she had better be.

Owen bobbed his head slowly. "That's good." His bottom lip quivered, and he shivered visibly. "How much trouble am I in?"

"You're not in any trouble, talei. "

Instead of reassuring him, the information triggered more tears.

"Why is this happening to me?" Owen wrapped his arms around his knees and rounded his shoulders, collapsing in on himself. "Am I being punished for something?"

"I don't know why this happened, but it's not your fault."

According to Owen, no one else in his family, going back to his great-grandparents, had exhibited even an ounce of magic. Acciperes were rare, but to have only one born within several generations was nearly unheard of.

With enough digging, he could probably find the answers, but he doubted logical, mundane reasoning would bring any comfort to his mate. Hell, maybe it would be better if he had been cursed by the gods. Then he would have someone to blame besides himself.

"I don't want to be like this."

When Owen lifted his head again, Fenix schooled his expression despite the ache in his chest. His mate was in such obvious pain, and his very soul hurt for the guy. He also felt an overwhelming sense of undirected anger when he realized there wasn't a damn thing he could do for him.

Fenix could help him learn control. He could seek guidance from someone more experienced. It would take time, though. Maybe years. And in that time, Owen would continue to suffer as he lived in fear of his own existence.

Instead of offering false promises or weak platitudes, he decided to do something useful. "Come on, talei. On your feet."

After a lot of coaxing, he managed to get Owen out of his hiding place and into the main part of the clubhouse. He found a tower of fluffy towels, along with a separate stack of black cotton robes on a shelf by the row of sinks. At the same time, a glint of moonlight caught his eye, drawing his attention to the nearest basin.

A clear vial laid on its side, its stopper removed, and the remnants of thick green liquid stained the rim of the drain. Well, now he knew why Owen had made a stop at the cabin first.

He didn't mention it as he grabbed the towel on the top of the stack and unfolded it. "Come here."

Owen shuffled closer, his head down, and his eyes on the floor.

While he wanted to get his mate dry and warm as quickly as possible, he took his time, fussing over him while he blotted his face and hair. When he finished, he stripped Owen out of his sodden clothes, patted down the rest of his body, then wrapped him in one of the robes.

Now that he had assured his mate's safety, Fenix finally allowed himself to feel all the emotions the night had brought. Scooping Owen into his arms, he held him close and breathed in his scent. When he wrapped his arms around Fenix's neck and burrowed into him, he realized he had needed the physical contact as much as Owen.

They stayed that way for a long time, just silently holding each other in the darkness. Even when it came time to leave the pool house, he continued to cradle Owen against his chest as he carried him out of the building.

Rather than trekking through the woods, he followed the lighted, stone path that led to the Manor. When the castle came into view, however, every muscle in Owen's body went rigid, and he tightened his arms around Fenix's neck.

Not wanting to add to his stress, he took the more expedient route, turning off the trail and cutting across the lawn to his cabin. Inside, he carried his mate to the bed, but when he tried to place him on the mattress, Owen tensed his arms again, refusing to let go of him.

"Shh, easy, talei . I'm not going anywhere." Pulling the blankets back, he tucked Owen beneath them, then stripped out of his own clothes before joining him. He gathered him into his arms and kissed his brow. "Everything is okay now. Just rest. Things will be better in the morning."

Exhausted, both physically and mentally, Owen fell asleep quickly, but he never fully relaxed. His fingers remained clenched around Fenix's wrist, and worry lines marred his brow, even in slumber. It took hours for his pulse to slow and his breathing to even, but every once in a while, he would flinch and gasp.

Despite what he'd said, he didn't honestly believe daybreak would bring relief. So, it came as no surprise when the sun rose on a despondent Owen. He hadn't, however, anticipated the depths of his mate's depression or how long it would last.

For two days, Owen only left the bed to use the bathroom. He didn't shower or change his clothes. He refused to eat. He didn't speak, and he barely slept. Instead, he curled up in his blankets like a burrito and stared off into the distance, his eyes glazed and unfocused.

When the third day dawned with no change, Fenix had reached his limit. He was bred for action, not patience, and he hated feeling so fucking helpless. No amount of cajoling, bribing, or pleading had made a difference. His frustrated commands had been met with nothing more than slow blinks and stony silence.

There had been no interruption in the activities happening at the castle. No guests had decided to check out and leave early. While none of them knew exactly what had happened or who had caused it, many hotel patrons spoke of the incident with a sense of amusement.

If Owen could just see that, maybe he would understand that things weren't as bad as they seemed. To do that, though, Fenix had to get him out of the cabin. Since the only emotion his mate had shown in days was stark fear at the mere thought of being near people, he doubted he could make that happen.

It went against his instincts to leave Owen alone, especially when the guy needed him, but he couldn't just sit around and do nothing. As much as he loathed to admit it, he needed help, and there was only one place he could find it.

He located Princess Iliana at the lobby café in her favorite booth by the windows. As usual, a small crowd surrounded her, including several staff members who appeared to be on break. Sometimes, she really could be too welcoming for her own good. To be sure, she wasn't in any danger, but he didn't really want an audience for the favor he intended to ask.

"Fenix." The princess rose gracefully to her feet and met him in front of the table. "How is Owen?"

"The same."

Her face fell, and a quiet sigh slipped past her lips. "Is there nothing we can do?"

"Actually…" He glanced at the surrounding eavesdroppers. Fuck it. Owen was far more important than his pride. "Can you call your brother?"

"Of course, but—"

Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed a little O . Then, just as quickly, her expression turned resolute, and she nodded with determination. With a straight spine and squared shoulders, she pinched the charm around her neck between thumb and forefinger, rubbed the glowing gem.

The necklace had been a gift from her brother's mate, an added layer of protection in the event of an emergency. When he had asked her to call Orrin, he'd intended a subtler means, but he also wouldn't argue.

A cold wind whipped through the café, the air shimmered, and in the next moment, five males appeared from virtually nowhere. The two Guardians held their daggers at the ready, while Erus, the Original Guardian, held a fireball in his right palm.

Pepper, the smallest of the group and Erus' assistant, just looked bored.

"Iliana!" Orrin exclaimed, grabbing her by the shoulders. "What is it? What's wrong? Are you okay? Bloody speak to me."

"I'm completely fine." Huffing, she shoved him away and straightened her robes. "You!"

"Me?"

Without warning, she launched herself at the prince, beating him soundly about the head and shoulders. "You absolute arse!" she shouted. "I can't believe you never told your friends about me. What is wrong with you?"

"What?" He caught her by the wrists and held her at arm's length. "Damn it, Ili, stop hitting me."

The group of onlookers wore nearly identical expressions of shock as they watched the interaction. For those who knew the siblings, however, the exchange had actually been pretty mild.

"I guess they really are related," a male employee mumbled. "Also, remind me not to piss her off."

Shaking off her brother with an unladylike grunt, Iliana turned to Erus with a big, adoring smile. "I missed you!"

Erus laughed as he extinguished the fireball and embraced her. "What trouble have you gotten yourself into, Princess?"

"Not me." She glanced at Fenix. "It's a bit complicated, but I need your help."

"What do you need?" he asked without a hint of hesitation.

"Wait," Orrin interrupted. "You brought us here because you need a favor? That charm is for emergencies."

Iliana swung around and pointed a finger in his face. "Don't you start with me. I'm still mad at you."

Orrin held his hands up in surrender and wisely closed his mouth.

Apparently satisfied with the reaction, Iliana launched into the story, telling them about Owen, his abilities, and ending with the unfortunate episode after the escape room.

"Now, he won't even leave his bed. He's scared, and he's suffering," she concluded.

After hearing her story, the prince stepped forward and offered his hand to Fenix. "I'm sorry to hear of your mate's struggles, but I congratulate you on your bonding."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Fenix took a deep breath and prepared to grovel. "I apologize for my impudence, and I'll accept any consequences you deem appropriate. If you can help my mate, though, I'll be indebted to you."

"Something tells me the means of our arrival wasn't your doing." He cast a sideways glance at his baby sister. "Besides, we're family, and we take care of each other."

Erus cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "To be clear, what exactly are you asking of me?"

"Take it away, of course," Iliana responded.

Fenix's heart sank to the pit of his stomach when the god shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but that's not within my ability."

"But—"

"Not within my ability," he emphasized.

A cocky smirk tugged at one side of Orrin's mouth. "But I can do it."

As the newly appointed Guardian of Lost Souls, and in possession of all the powers that came with it, he should have been the obvious choice from the beginning. Owen's soul might still be connected to his body, but Fenix had never met anyone more lost.

"Well?" Iliana demanded. "Get on with it."

"Apologize."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Apologize for being a right brat, and I'll consider it."

"You lied about having a sister!"

"I didn't lie. I just never mentioned it."

"Same bloody thing!"

"Okay, okay," Erus interjected with an indulgent grin. He wound an arm around Orrin's waist and pulled him back to his side. "That's enough." Once he had them settled, he turned his attention to Fenix. "Where is your young mate?"

"In our cabin."

"Lead the way."

"Just so you know," Orrin muttered to his sister. "I'm doing this for Fenix. Not you."

Iliana made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat. "Oh, piss off."

Normally, Orrin was the epitome of a doting brother who spoiled the princess beyond reason. They were still siblings, though, and when they did get into it, their arguments could last for days. Since there had always been an undercurrent of affection to their bickering, Fenix often found it amusing. Maybe a little endearing.

At that moment, he had neither the patience nor the humor for it. Too bad he couldn't exactly do anything about it. He was already pushing his luck by asking for their aid, and telling their Royal Highnesses to shut the fuck up probably wouldn't lend itself to his cause.

And this could be his only chance to save his mate.