Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Anash

"You what?" I lift my head and meet his gaze. This sounds like a story I want to hear. When I'm with Zenith, it feels like I've known him forever. Then he'll say something wild like this, and I realize how new our bond really is. We still have so much to learn about each other, and I'm looking forward to every moment.

"Saved an incubus during the war." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and caresses my cheek. "Ages ago."

"You did? But why? Weren't you supposed to be fighting them at the time?"

"We were, yes. But toward the end of the war, when our win was all but inevitable, I saw no need to add to their suffering. They'd already been cursed by the fae and bound to the land of their birth. Half their number was banished to the earthly realm. They no longer had the means to fight back. To wound them further would have been cruel."

And my mate doesn't have a cruel bone in his body. "Not everyone would have felt that way."

"They didn't."

"So what happened? Tell me the whole story."

"There isn't much to tell."

"Tell it anyway."

"If you insist." He kisses my forehead. "But it's not a nice bedtime tale."

"I insist."

"I figured you would. Let's see. We were up north, just shy of the Gatekeeper's territory, and on the march back south toward Lemossin."

"I've never been up north, but I'd like to go someday. To see snow for the first time."

His eyes take on a faraway stare as though he's picturing it in his mind. "It is a wonder."

"What happened next?"

"Well, a skirmish broke out between fae soldiers and a straggler group of incubi guarding an underground den. I don't know how it started, but I broke it up. Sent the soldiers ahead to set up camp. As I was leaving, a pained wail pierced the icy air. The sort of sound that can't be ignored."

"What did you do?"

"I ran to the source. A couple lay in a bloody tangle on the frozen ground. So much red. At first, I couldn't tell who was injured. One of them? Both of them? The woman made the sound again, a mournful cry as she clung to his shoulders. He was sputtering, struggling to breathe, one weak arm wrapped around her waist. There were others, watching cautiously from behind a dark tree line, afraid to approach with me there, even to help their fallen comrade."

"Oh, that's sad."

"I told you it wasn't a pleasant story. But yes, it was sad. No one deserves to die like that. Butchered and bleeding when the war has already been won. ‘What's his name?' I asked. She hissed in response. I did't blame her for hating me. ‘We have a healer who can help him,' I said. ‘Let me take him.' But the woman only snarled at me, refusing to leave his side. So I pushed her away. In her fear and fury, she bit me. Gave me this scar."

Zenith shows the raised tissue on his forearm. He's covered in misshapen scars, which are just part of him. I'd never noticed this one in particular.

"Ouch." I trace a gentle finger along the marks. "Now that I'm looking at it closely, I see it's in the shape of a bite mark, isn't it?"

"Mmm. Hurt like a pogglewomp punch too, but I got him from her. ‘I'll bring him back to you. Promise,' I said before taking flight with the injured incubus in my arms. I'm sure we rained a trail of blood drops in our wake."

"Was your healer able to help him?"

"Yes. Incubi are a sturdy lot, as you know, not prone to infection, and they heal quickly. He needed stitches, hundreds of them, and a poultice for the pain. Medicine to speed his recovery and keep him alive while his body replaced all the blood he'd lost. But ultimately, he pulled through, and I returned him to his den and the woman, as I said I would."

"Some of the other soldiers weren't so pleased I'd use our resources in this way, but I outranked everyone but Talus, and he approved."

"Did you ever find out his name?"

"I did. He was called Clavio."

"What?" I can hardly believe my ears.

"Clavio. And the woman was Minia."

I gasp. "Zenith."

"What?"

It's not possible! But Zenith wouldn't lie. But also, no way. But also, it's a miracle.

"What, tell me. You've gone all bug-eyed."

"For good reason. Those are my grandparents. We've never met. But my father is Clabrivio, named after Clavio, his father. You saved my grandfather."

It's his turn to gasp. We look at each other in stunned silence.

The truth sets in, at least for me. "I would never have been born if it weren't for your good deed that day."

His jaw hangs open. It's cute. "Fated." He sighs. "Written in the stars, you and I. No wonder we are drawn together so."

I kiss him. My dear, sweet, strong, kind, stubborn, dutiful mate. "Wait until my mother and sister hear this. They're never going to believe it. I mean, they are. But at first, they aren't. You know?"

He chuckles. "It is rather unbelievable."

"I can't wait to see their faces when we tell them." I can't wait to see their faces in general. We've never gone this long apart. Which reminds me that I should check for letters while we're here. The Willowood incubus brothel has become somewhat of a base of operations for Suvi's operatives.

"With luck on our side, it will be soon."

"Speaking of. What's your plan? I know you have one." And don't think of leaving me behind.

"You'll stay here, where it's safe. I'll return tomorrow and meet with Randal and Isolde. I think most of my soldiers will follow me, but I need to leave at dawn. My absence is bound to be noticed soon, if it hasn't been already."

I clear my throat. " Our absence is bound to be noticed soon, if it hasn't been already."

"I will make an excuse for your continued absence."

"No need because I'll be at your side where I belong."

"Anash."

"Zenith."

"We've discussed this. You have no combat training. If it comes to a fight?—"

"Then I'll be safe with my guards. I'll keep out of the fray, like we agreed, and I'll have Nola and Rolan to protect me. But I won't be left behind. We're stronger together."

"I knew you'd say that."

"Then we're in agreement."

"As you say, Nasha."

I grin. "I could get used to the sound of that."