Laryn took her to another realm. I no longer had any doubt, and I could no longer keep Tahr or Sarn away from their brides. My head pounded from lack of sleep and too much alcohol. I told them that if today's search failed to uncover my bride, Tahr and Sarn would return to their homes and I would return to mine.
Alone.
Sarn, offering his lair, saved my sanity over the past few days. But I had to find a way to go home, though I wasn't giving up my search. I needed another plan. One was contacting Dmitri and having him make inquiries throughout the earth realm.
The sun had gone down, but the moons showed the gold and jewels that littered the area under my perch. I didn't care; there was no treasure worth more than the one I'd lost. My dark room just added to the gloom. Her smell overwhelmed me and I almost turned around and left when I heard a slight rustling from the bed. It had to be my imagination, but something drew me closer. My feet hit a hard surface then something wet slopped against my legs as I tripped over whatever it was and fell on the bed. On my bride.
"Bastian?"
Her sleepy voice was the sweetest music in the realm. A dream. This couldn't be happening. She was in my arms held against my chest before I took another breath. It was her. I stood, refusing to release her, kicked the spilled items away, and carried her out to the perch where I could see her in the moonlight.
I lowered my face into her hair, running my nose over her neck and absorbed her scent.
"I smell."
She shook against my chest, her tears soaking my shirt. "Wonderful," I breathed against her ear.
"I need to bathe."
I gently pulled back so I could see her face. Beautiful. I wasn't letting go. "Forgive me for failing you, Acasia."
"No, Bastian, I failed you. I was punishing you, I..."
I kissed her, refusing to listen. Pulling away a few moments later, I breathed her in again-running my hand through her hair.
"Please, Bastian, you can bathe with me, but I can smell myself and I need to be clean."
I could smell her too and him, but it wasn't the smell of sex. He'd brought her back, carried her, but hadn't touched her intimately. A part of my heart eased. If he raped her, it was on him, but my own failure would have been complete. My rage at Laryn continued to burn beneath the surface, but it could wait. Killing Laryn would wait.
I carried her into the bathing room and finally set her on her feet. I didn't mean to scare her, but I ripped the clothes from her body. She stood shivering, her head turned away.
I tipped her chin around, but she wouldn't look in my eyes. "Acasia."
She gazed up and what I saw broke my heart all over again. "He didn't touch me. He didn't, I swear."
She was afraid and it tore me to shreds. "Shh, I know he didn't. Do not worry, I've got you now."
She leaned against me and began sobbing. I kept ahold of her while I turned on the water and adjusted it, pulling her in and sitting down as the water filled. She cried against my chest while I held and soothed her.
"Shh, I'm not leaving you again." It was a small lie. Laryn had to die, but it could wait.
She calmed and I began washing her from head to toe. I took my time combing the tangles from her wet hair. Her shoulders began shaking again; she took a deep breath, fighting for control, and won. I knew exactly why Laryn returned her. He couldn't fight her internal strength. I smiled against the top of her head. She was strong, far stronger than my previous brides. And precious, the most prized of my treasures.
The only one who truly mattered.
I lifted her from the tub and dried her with a soft cloth as she clung to me. "What have you eaten?" I whispered against her cheek.
"Just broth."
"When did you last have a meal?"
I felt her tremble and moved away slightly. I pulled back on her hair gently, making her look up at me. "Acasia?"
"Not since he took me."
I would kill him slowly. I sent a message to Maxwell for a full meal. I placed a robe around her, picked her up, and carried her to the library, releasing her long enough to light the lamps. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. She looked so small on the overly large couch. I did something I would never have imagined. Going to my knees, I sat back on my calves and pulled her feet into my lap. I started massaging the arch of one foot. She smiled.
"Tell me, Acasia, let us talk about what happened."
Her eyes closed and I didn't make her look at me. I waited.
"He found me in the cave." Her voice was surprisingly strong. "I don't know where he took me, but we crossed a realm and stayed in a one-room cabin."
I had her foot in my hand and had to remind myself not to flinch or show my fury in any way.
"He tried to feed me, but I would not eat."
I closed my eyes; it was killing me to think of her suffering. I continued rubbing up her foot to her ankle before taking her other one and massaging it too.
"I stabbed him."
Shocked, I opened my eyes and saw she stared at me with such intensity. It was the first time I took a good look at her face. A fading bruise outlined her cheek.
"I'm going to kill him, Acasia."
She shook her head and my anger grew.
"Yes, he needs to die."
She touched my face, leaning forward so her fingers skimmed down to my jaw. "His greatest punishment is loneliness. He seeks death. I feel sorry for him, but mostly for you, Bastian. I fear for the time you are like him, waiting for your next bride. I promise if you leave him be, I will fight to live every day of my life as long as possible."
I couldn't speak. The anger clenched inside of me, but my heart swelled. If any bride was capable of being my mate, it was Acasia. To think I would lose her in fifty years was unbearable. I didn't know if I could keep my hands off Laryn. I actually knew it impossible.
"You promise?"
"I do, Bastian."
Our food arrived. "Do not move. We shall eat here."
She drank water first and asked for more. I knew she had also denied herself liquid. I watched her eat slowly and her eyelids grow heavier. "Two more bites and I'm taking you to bed."
"I thought I was no longer hungry, but for that I will gladly eat another two bites." Desire showed in her eyes.
"Silly female, you need your sleep."
Her eyes twinkled and a soft smile played on her lips. "Silly dragon, I need you."
I carried her to bed and pulled back the covers. I removed her robe and lay her down memorizing each detail of her perfect body. Her arms lifted, but I pushed them down to her sides.
"I wish to look."
She blushed.
I leaned in and ran my finger across the bruise on her face.
Her words were so soft. "It doesn't hurt."
"It hurts me."
"Make love to me, dragon, so I may forget that I was stupid and almost lost you."
I pulled back. "I would have found you." I kissed her, learning her mouth again, cherishing her taste. Thrilling at each sigh she gifted to me. I moved over her, my body covering hers. Her softness and warmth drawing me in. She wrapped her legs around my hips while lifting hers.
"Take me, dragon."
I tried to enter her passage slowly, but her arms settled on my back, her fingernails digging into my flesh. "I wish to be gentle," I groaned out between my teeth.
"No. I want everything you can give to me. Now."
And like so many times before, I couldn't deny her request. I pulled almost out before thrusting back in, over and over. Her sighs turned to moans, her moans to a cry as she let go. Two more strokes and my body released. I was home; she was my lair.