Chapter 42

The next morning, I rolled over and cringed as a fresh wave of pain lanced through my side. Whatever the creature had been in the dark alley, even Helga’s herbs and magic were doing little to heal the wounds it left.

But I had arrived in time to rescue the two ladies from the bar. They, like me, hadn’t seen the creature. Both were terrified. I’d done a small healing spell on them and wiped out the worst of the encounter and sent them home.

I eased the covers off and stood, half-hunched over. The morning sun lit up the dew on the garden below like crystals. I turned away from the window.

Too much time had already been wasted with Darrius watching over Avery. It was now officially my day with her and if I knew Darrius, he’d been awake this whole time at her side. Probably bombarding her with his nightmare stories of Unseelie.

My cousin would need to move over and get some rest whether he liked it or not. And luckily, I had enough magic for this little trick even after losing the fight with the shadow kin in the alley yesterday.

After I had bathed and dressed, leaving Helga’s dressing over my wound alone, I swung by the kitchens and picked up two bowls of porridge. If Avery was awake, she could have one and Darrius could get his own.

I passed several servants who dipped in curtsies and two brownies who dusted the bookshelves in the library. Their magic held the books in the air while they worked. I gave them a nod and continued down the corridor.

When I came to Darrius’ room, I paused. He was lying on the bed, with his arm around Avery, and snoring. I cringed from the sound. She looked to be the same as yesterday with pale skin and soft breathing. Darrius was passed out. I should let him sleep and return later today. With disappointment weighing heavy in my gut, I turned away.

“Is that porridge?” Darrius asked in a thick voice, sniffing the air. “I’m starving.”

“Here.” I re-entered his room and handed him a bowl. “Any change in Avery?”

“None. I was able to slip some water into her. Only a capful at a time, but she drank it.”

“Good.” Probably wouldn’t be able to chew though and Helga had said broth even after she woke up. I sat down on the chair across from the bed, suddenly not hungry anymore.

Darrius finished his bowl in seconds and eyed mine a few times, before looking over at Avery. I muttered a sleeping spell under my breath and his yawn helped me hide.

“Here, have mine too.” I handed him my porridge.

“Yer not hungry?” His eyebrow arched.

“I already ate,” I lied. “Why don’t you take one of the spare rooms or even my chambers for the day? I’ll stay with Avery. We probably shouldn’t move her unless necessary.” I was certain I’d gotten the information from one of those hospital shows I used to watch when Earthside.

“I’m fine.” Darrius dug into the second bowl. “Ye and Simeon can work with the staff and find out where the bastard who hurt her is hiding. Then I’ll let you keep Avery company while I pound the guy’s face in and his ribs.”

“Not happening. You need rest and someone needs to be awake when she regains consciousness.” Using magic on Darrius had been the right thing to do.

“I’m fine. Remember the Warog’s War? I stayed up for three days straight. Won our victory because of it.” Darrius set both empty bowls on the floor and stood up, stretching. “Thanks for breakfast, but—” He frowned, blinking hard, and wobbled on his feet. “What’s happening?”

“You may hate me later.” I rose from the chair and clapped him on the back. “But it’s for your own good.”

“Ye mother-fuc—” His eyes rolled in the back of his head and his knees crashed to the floor before I eased the rest of him down. What he didn’t know was after the Warog’s, he was delusional and paraded around the castle naked, except for his sword. Nearly cut down a serving maid too before Simeon and I intervened and put him to bed.

“Varaux,” I called, relieved my cousin was going to get rest regardless of what he wanted.

“What the shit has happened now?” the brownie backed away from Darrius.

“Use your magic and take him to my chambers so he can sleep off the spell.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t remove the magic either. The oaf needs rest, or he won’t be any good to Avery or us.”

“Fine.” Varaux shook his head. “But if you tell him I had anything to do with this, I’ll make your underwear itchy for a year and give you a rash even Helga can’t cure.”

My side burned at his words. Might be too late for that.

With curses and grumbles, Varaux touched Darrius’ arm and they both vanished.

I went to Avery, brushing my knuckles against her cheek. No fever. A lock across my ribcage eased a fraction. That had to be a good sign.

After sending the dirty porridge bowls to be cleaned, I stretched out beside Avery listening to her steady breathing. I hummed a healing spell. Nothing as powerful as one of Helga’s, but one I remembered my mother singing to me.

My throat was dry, and I sat up and sipped some water. I’d need to give Avery some as well like Darrius had done.

“Don’t stop,” Avery said in a thready voice.

“Avery.” I spun, nearly drawing her into my arms, but stopped. I didn’t want to jostle her and injure her further. “How are you feeling?”

“Like my head was turned into a dodgeball.” She cracked an eye open and the dark circles around her gray eyes made me wince.

I should’ve been here. Should’ve protected her.

“Makes sense. You hit your head pretty bad.” I poured the water into one of the goblets Darrius had beside the bed and handed it to her. Relief flooded me. She was awake and talking at least. “Sip for now.”

“Thanks.” She did as I asked, watching me over the rem, before handing the cup back. She looked around the room, her brow furrowing. “What happened, how did I get here?”

“We carried you and we didn’t want to move you around too much with your head injury. This was the closest bedroom to the weapon chambers.”

“What about the creature?” She tried to lift her head and groaned. Her eyes squeezed shut for a few seconds before she opened them.

The pain behind her gaze made me tighten my grip on the goblet, the bronze etching digging into my palm.

“Did you guys track it and kill it?”

“I’m afraid not.” I set the goblet down on the table beside the bed before I bent the metal. Dark Fae slipping away was becoming too commonplace lately. I needed her safe. Knowing she was in danger cut at me deeper than any blade. “Could you tell what kind of shadow kin it was?”

“No. I-I couldn’t see anything but darkness and shadows.” She frowned.

My gut clenched with dread. “Did it remind you of the one you fought in the kitchen?”

“Not at all. Well, except for it moving out of the shadows, I guess.” She shook her head, then hissed a breath before adding. “The one from the kitchen had tentacles and a body made of pitch or something.”

That didn’t bode well. It sounded like dark magic. First, someone had delivered more elixir to my bar and trigged whatever dark Fae preyed on women who drank the martini. Now two different creatures had come after Avery. Hurt her. She patted the bed next to her and I lay down beside her, lacing my fingers with hers.

“Until we’ve searched and found the two creatures, you can’t be alone, Avery.” I pulled her hand up to my lips, kissing her knuckles.

“I can defend myself,” she said softly, sounding more vulnerable than I’d ever seen her before and I longed to chase away her fears.

“Actually, I’m going to advise no one in the castle goes anywhere alone for now. Once we’ve eliminated these creatures, then we can ease up protocol.” Didn’t need to tell her my suspicions of how there might be more than two shadow kin in the castle, or that I had been attacked too. I needed to keep her safe. She was my everything and we’d only recently found each other. I wasn’t going to lose her now or ever.

“H-How long was I out?”

“When I saw you lying there with the blood soaked into the floor around you—I thought I was too late. I can’t go through that again.” Touching her hand was enough to bring me a sense of peace for now. “About a day. I had to send Darrius to another chamber to get some rest as he hasn’t left your side since he found you.”

“And he went along with this? Letting you spend time with me in his room?”

“He didn’t have a choice.” I cleared my throat. Wasn’t sure how she felt about subterfuge, but Darrius had needed rest. We had an enemy within our walls and the pig-headed stubbornness of my cousin would’ve had him dead on his feet from lack of sleep. “Helga will come by in a bit and see how you’re healing is going. Is there anything I can get you in the meantime?”

“I’m starving.” She gave me an impish smile and my heart warmed.

“Broth only.” Though with the puppy-dog look she was giving me, I’d cave to whatever she wanted.

She moved to sit up then plopped back down on the pillow with a grimace. “Scratch having anything. I think I’m going to throw up.”

“Here.” I grabbed the half-empty pitcher of water and held it up to her.

She swallowed and pushed back the pitcher slightly. “Never mind, my stomach and head have calmed down now. Thanks. Might have to wait a bit on the broth.”

“No rush.” I lay back down beside her.

She turned slightly on her side, facing me. “What was the melody you were humming earlier?”

“A simple healing spell.” I shrugged.

“It sounded familiar.” Her brow furrowed and she tucked her chestnut hair behind her ear. “I think my mom used to sing it to me whenever I got hurt.”

“Are you sure?” I trailed my hand up and down her arm. “I don’t know of any Unseelie who would know it. Your foster mother was an interesting Fae.”

“Yes, she was.” Her voice shook. “It’s still painful to think of her loss. Can we talk about something else?”

“Of course. What type of movies do you like?” I said the first thing that popped into my mind.

“Movies?” She laughed softly. “Really? We’re in the Fae realms, you guys don’t even have indoor plumbing…well, without magic.”

“Humor me.” I kissed her shoulder. “And once everything is settled, who says we can’t go Earthside for a date night?”

“Okay.” She settled deeper into the bed, smiling up at me. “If you had to guess, what would you think I’d like?”

“Hmm…action movies?”

“Nope. Get enough fighting Fae—I mean shadow kin.”

“No offense taken.” I smiled, thinking what would surprise me the most of this strong, yet sensitive woman. “Romance movies.”

“Close. I love romantic comedy. It has love and silliness wrapped up in one movie. I laugh and sigh at the same time. And I think the world, both Fae and human, needs more humor in life.” She squeezed my hand. “What about you?”

“Horror movies.” I shrugged. “Think they are hilarious. The victims know they are in danger, but they don’t grab weapons, or they go into the creepy basement. So, I guess, to me, they are humorous too.”

“What else would we do on this fantasy date of ours?” She snuggled up closer to me, pressing against my side.

She seemed to be feeling a bit better, but I wasn’t going to relax completely until she was one hundred percent healed. “I’ve always wanted to play mini-golf.”

For a moment, she lifted her head and looked at me as though expecting a punchline. “Wait. You’re serious?”

“One hundred percent.” I rubbed lazy circles across her back with one hand. “The clever designs and having to hit the colorful balls at the perfect angle.”

“What about regular golf?”

“Anyone can whack a ball and send it sailing. No, I think the greater skill is knowing how soft, direction, and timing.” I kissed her forehead. “How about you? Anything you’d like to do, but haven’t?”

“Not really.” She bit her lip.

“Come on, I told you one of my deepest darkest secrets,” I teased.

She let out a shaky breath. “It’s just…I’ve always wanted to try skydiving.”

“Then we’ll do that first.”

“Not that easy.” She wiggled closer. Her scent of roses and vanilla filled me.

“We’ll teach you.” I lightly lifted her chin and brushed my lips across hers.

She sighed against my lips. “I wish it were so simple. But I’m afraid of heights.”

I mulled her words around in my mind for a bit.

“Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. I’m supposed to be a badass and fighter and not supposed to be afraid of anything. And now I have these wings and I don’t know how to use them, and I’m terrified to try.”

“Everyone is afraid of something. I’m scared to death of spiders. Once I leapt out of a moving car because of one.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Don’t tell Darrius I told you. He gave me grief about it for years. Something about their beady eyes and eight legs.” I shivered. “But I found something I’m more afraid of.” I looked down at her, rubbing my thumb across her lower lip and staring into her gray eyes. My chest tightened and I inhaled a sharp breath. “I would battle a thousand spiders if it meant keeping you safe. Losing you would gut me. And seeing you lying so pale and still…I nearly lost it.”

“I’m okay.” She let out a shuttering breath. “I don’t want to lose you either. Ever.”

I kissed her, feeling her softness against me. She was recovering. I kept telling myself. Still, it took all my willpower not to do more than kiss her satin lips.