20. Xavier

Chapter 20

Xavier

“ F or the last fucking time, it was necessary,” Freya growled, shrugging off Idris’ golden bonds and straightening her flight leathers. “You think I wanted to hurt her? There was a choice to be made, and I made it. If you’d actually listen to me instead of losing your shit, you’d probably agree.”

I considered how much trouble I'd be in if I shifted into my dragon and just ripped Freya’s head right off. Instead, I buried my nose in Vale’s hair and took in her scent. Granted, it didn’t lessen my anger one bit, but at least I could reassure myself that my mate was still alive. Vale had yet to stir in my arms since I'd woken, the coppery tang of her blood still lingering in my mouth.

It reminded me of when she’d been in my arms on the way to Tarrasca—her small body clinging to me as I wondered if I would ever see her beautiful green eyes again. And just like then, I had to fight off the urge to find the person who’d hurt her and rip them limb from limb.

“You slit her fucking wrist without warning anyone—least of all her—and let her bleed enough that not only did she pass out, but I can scent death on her,” I hissed, hanging onto sanity by a thread. “Please tell me in what world would her mates not be absolutely livid?”

“It's not my fault that you took forever and a day to wake up. I was saving your life. You're welcome. If you're so pissed that she hasn't woken up yet, maybe you should heal her yourself. You and I both know her blood is powerful enough that you're at tip-top shape. Why don't you stop whining at my methods and realize that I'm right.”

It didn’t matter that she was right. Energy thrummed through my body, racing up and down my limbs like a brushfire. The ache of the wound at my side was long gone, the only irritant the stitches I no longer needed. But through it all—through the scents of incense and herbs from the maesters’ tonics and potions, through the perfume of blood and death, was just the sweet scent of Vale in my arms.

“She trusts you,” I growled, clutching Vale close to my chest, willing her to rouse. “Did you ever stop to think that she has never had another female figure in her life other than her own mother to rely on? Never had anyone teach her? You're a thousand years old. You should be smarter than this.”

Freya dabbed at the rapidly healing scratches at her neck, while Idris held Kian in a half-broken chair, the golden ropes of his power preventing another violent outburst.

“She could have fallen back into the Dreaming. She could have been stuck there, unable to get back,” Idris murmured, fear etched into every line of his face. “She could have gone where I couldn’t reach her. Arden could have taken her—you don’t understand how fragile her power is—how special. She’s connected to the Dreaming in a way I’ve never seen. Not since?—”

Zamarra.

Not since Zamarra.

All roads led back to that woman, and I hated that Vale was caught in the middle of all this shit.

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Freya fumed. “I took a calculated risk based off the information I had.”

“I suggest you,” Kian rumbled, still fighting against Idris’ bonds, “think for once bef?—”

Freya’s cool gaze flicked to Kian. “I suggest you listen, you big idiots, before we take too long and end up on the wrong side of fucked. While I’m still pissed at Rune, I’m glad he came to get me. Flying back here, I caught sight of a battalion of Girovian mages moving for Tarrasca.”

That had me sitting up in earnest and Kian fighting his bonds tooth and nail.

“How close are they?” Idris growled, his attention never once leaving Vale’s still form in my arms.

“Two days at least—maybe three if the wards hold,” Freya said, tossing the bloody gauze she’d used on her wound into the bin. “So I need you out of this hospital, on the back of a dragon, and married in the next twenty-four hours. If the curse doesn’t break, at the very least, it will show the people you’re trying. Worse comes to worst, Vale will have the protection of the Crown.”

Not that it would do her any good right now.

She was still as the grave, the only movement her chest as she slumbered. If what Freya said was true, we didn’t have time to waste. Closing my eyes, I willed a fraction of the power she’d given me back to her, praying that she opened her eyes. And just like she had on the back of a horse what seemed like eons ago, Vale curled into my chest, rubbing her cheek against me like a contented cat.

“Did it work?” Vale mumbled sleepily, slipping her frail arms around my neck and burying her face in my shoulder. “I hope it worked.”

Tightening my hold, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “It worked, my love. Though, I would have preferred you hadn’t been hurt because of me.”

Pushing back from my shoulder, Vale’s piercing green gaze fell on me. Relief I could sense through the bond filled my chest, as her eyes welled up with tears. A moment later, she fell into my chest, squeezing me tight like she thought if she didn’t, I’d fade away from her somehow.

“I… We… almost lost you. I thought I’d lost you. Never do that to me again. You understand me? You can’t leave me. I promised I wouldn’t leave you, didn’t I?” Her breaths came in short, panicked pants, her sobs wrecking my soul.

“I’m not going anywhere. I promise. You won’t lose me.”

She pushed back again, this time her nose was bright red, and her eyes were puffy and tight. Still, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“This is touching and all, but…” Freya’s words trailed off as Idris’ bonds fell away from Kian’s shoulders.

He stood from his chair, his scales rippling over his arms as his pupils narrowed to slits. But he didn’t lunge at Freya or rip Vale out of my hold. No, Kian simply sat at the edge of my bed and brushed a strand of hair from Vale’s face.

“You’re just about the only woman who could cry her eyes out and pull it off.”

Vale blushed and reached for his hand, pressing it to the side of her face. “But you’re about to tell me bad news, aren’t you? I can practically hear it buzzing in your mind.”

Kian’s smile was a little sad, but I chose not to see it for what it was. It was the same feeling in my chest when I thought of her marrying Idris and not us. When I thought of watching her promise herself in front of the whole kingdom, even though we’d never get recognized as her mates. It was a burn I wondered would ever heal.

“We need to move the timetable up on the wedding,” Kian said, the ache in his chest echoing my own. “A threat is headed for Tarrasca, and we need you protected. And if that mage insisted that you should never bond with Idris, then I think you should do the opposite. It’s a shit plan, but it’s the best we have.”

Vale’s gaze went from Kian to Idris before falling to her lap. Her mind was eerily silent for once, like she’d shut us all out, carving out a small space for herself.

“How soon?”

Freya skirted the bed, heading for the door. “Tomorrow evening at the latest. I don’t think the ward will hold much past that.”

Vale nodded to herself as if she was coming to terms with everything. “Do you think you can get everything ready by then? I never did my dress fitting or study all the protocol you said I should learn.”

I curled Vale into my chest, dropping a kiss to her temple. “We’ll make it work. I promise.”

Vale pulled back before slipping from the bed altogether. Standing on her own two feet, I watched as she donned the mantle of Queen in her mind. Her spine straightened, her shoulders set, she lifted her chin and regarded Idris.

“I’m ready if you are,” Vale murmured, and it made my heart twist in my chest.

Idris took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to the inside of her now-healed wrist, the faint line of the scar fading even now. “I've been waiting two hundred years to marry you. You could say I've been ready for some time now.”

I'd like to say that it didn't rip my heart out of my chest to watch Idris usher her from the room, but I'd be lying.

The love of my life had just agreed to marry one of my best friends.

And I’d have to watch.

Hours later we arrived at the castle, the trip exposing just how much energy it had stolen from Vale to heal me. Shifting back into my human form was smooth, and yet, I could feel every ache in her bones, every strain of her muscles as she dismounted from Rune.

Vale was exhausted, barely able to hold herself up as Idris carried her inside. Freya immediately went to work, peeling off to manage wedding plans with murmurings about expanding the guest list and making sure the council knew about the change in date. Kian also left, his focus on his soldiers and making sure the castle and Festia was as secure as he could make it.

I doubted either would sleep tonight.

I wouldn’t, either.

I caught myself following behind my King and my mate, knowing that this would be the life we would always lead. I would forever be one step behind them, never recognized for who she was to me. I feared it was a sting that would grow over time, a cancer that would rot me from the inside out.

I’d always said that it was Idris’ jealousy that had been his downfall. That had he not been blinded by his brother going after the woman he loved, he would have seen what Arden and Zamarra were planning. That had he opened his eyes, the continent wouldn’t have been bound with this curse.

But watching them walk up the stairs to the castle entrance, I realized that maybe jealousy would be my downfall, too. I didn't mind the fact that Vale had three mates. I didn't mind sharing her. I minded the ring on her finger and the realization that I’d never wear a matching one.

I minded that her mark would never be on me.

I minded that if ever she bore my young, I would never get to claim them.

And yet I could never stand in the way of this wedding—not if it kept her alive.

Not if it kept the kingdom safe.

Not if it managed to break the curse.

The love of my life was getting married tomorrow, and it wasn’t to me.

“Xavier?” Vale called, her voice barely above a whisper, but singing to my heart all the same. It snapped me out of my pity party.

“Yes, Love?”

Those gorgeous green eyes peered over Idris’ shoulder. “Are you coming? I need to ask you for a favor—and Kian, too, when he gets a chance.”

Her expression was so apprehensive, so nervous, it nearly brought me to my knees. How had such a little thing bent me to her will so easily? And why didn’t I mind?

“You know I’d do anything for you,” I murmured, catching up to them as we swept down the hallway. “Ask and it’s yours.”

Vale’s gaze went from me to Idris, their faces close as if their minds had melded into one. She nodded, and a faint smile lifted the tips of her lips.

“Do you think you and Kian would want to walk me down the aisle tomorrow?” Her eyes flooded as she looked away, but no tears fell. “Freya said it was custom for someone from your family to do it, but I—” She shook her head. “I don’t have anyone except Nyrah. And you and Kian are my family now in a way, and I thought?—”

“I’ll do it,” I said, cutting her off.

Giving her away would gut me, and yet I couldn’t say no.

Not to her.

Never to her.

And even if I had to call in every favor and twist every arm, Kian would tell her the same damn thing.

I’d make sure of it.