Her Immortal Mate (Brides of the Vrakken #3)

6. Mae

6

MAE

T he air crackles with tension as dozens of vrakken gather in the makeshift war camp. Fires cast dancing shadows across pale faces, their dark eyes reflecting the flames like obsidian mirrors. Long hair whips in the evening breeze - some pure white, others in shades of midnight and storm clouds.

"We must send search parties to the dark elf territories," a winged vrakken named Tara demands, her voice carrying across the clearing. "The First could be their prisoner."

"And risk more of our people?" Another steps forward, his lips stained crimson from a recent feed. "The dark elves want exactly that - to draw us out, weaken our numbers further."

I hang back near the edge of the gathering, trying to blend into the shadows between two silk tents. The vrakken barely notice my presence anymore - I'm just another human to them. Basically cattle.

"Someone must convene," someone shouts from the crowd.

"Who?" Tara spreads her wings, the membrane nearly translucent in the torchlight. "We've not seen Akeldama since we first came here. Now the First is gone. We need new leadership now."

"Your presumptions need to cease." Brinda emerges from the largest tent, her fiery hair elaborately braided. "There are some of us that have been at the First's side since her first night. We will decide what needs to be done."

Murmurs ripple through the gathered vrakken. Some bow their heads in deference, while others bare their fangs.

"And what would you have us do, Brinda?" Tara's wings flutter in agitation. "Hide while the dark elves claim victory?"

"Mind your tone." Brinda's eyes flash dangerously. "You may have wings, but you're young. The First has Made us all. We are strong — strong enough to survive no matter what."

"The First is gone!" A male vrakken pushes to the front. "Perhaps Akeldama has recalled her, rewarding her faithful service. We must seek his guidance through the blood rites."

"Blasphemy," another hisses. "The First would never abandon us without a word. The dark elves must have found a way to capture her."

The arguments escalate, voices overlapping as more vrakken join the fray. I watch as our tentative camp cracks under the strain of uncertainty. Without the First's steady hand, the careful hierarchy begins to splinter.

I wrap a bandage around the vrakken soldier's arm, careful not to brush against the blistered skin where sunlight burned through his glamour. "Keep this dry and clean. Come back tomorrow so I can check for infection."

He nods, pale features tight with pain. The medical tent has become a strange sanctuary over the past weeks - no vrakken willing to spill blood within its confines. The same can't be said for the rest of the camp.

"Your kind has gentle hands." His dark eyes study me. "Most humans would let us suffer."

"I took an oath." I start organizing my supplies, keeping my voice neutral. "Everyone deserves care."

The tent flap rustles and another vrakken stumbles in, blood seeping from a gash across his chest. I have to assume that he is from another faction as \the vrakken before me tenses but doesn't move from his cot.

The camp has been fractured into factions: those who want to find the First, those who believe she abandoned us, and those who support the newly formed leadership.

"Sit there." I point to an empty bed, maintaining the delicate peace. "I'll be right with you."

As I clean the wound, I catch snippets of whispered conversation between two vrakken guards outside.

"...meeting tonight..."

"...new leadership structure..."

The vrakken grabs my wrist, his indigo eyes boring into mine. "You hear much in this tent, human."

"I hear nothing but complaints about my stitching." I carefully extract my arm from his grip. "Now hold still unless you want an ugly scar."

Another vrakken enters, this one sporting massive dark wings. She carries a young soldier whose leg is mangled beyond recognition.

"Healer." Her voice commands attention. "This one first."

"Everyone waits their turn, Tara." I don't look up from my current patient. "Unless they're actively dying."

She bristles but settles her charge onto an empty cot. The neutral ground holds, barely. I continue my work, ears sharp for any useful information while my hands remain steady and sure. In this tent, I'm more than just a human captive. I'm the bridge between two ancient enemies, whether they realize it or not.

The soldier under my care mutters something about troop movements to his companion. Across the tent, Tara discusses supply lines with another winged vrakken.

I memorize every word while appearing absorbed in my tasks. Information is power, and this medical station has become an unexpected wellspring of it.

I wipe blood from my hands with a damp cloth, exhausted after hours of treating wounded vrakken. The sun pours in through gaps in the tent's canvas roof. When I push through the flap, I freeze at the sight of Eike's towering form.

"Mae." His silver eyes catch the moonlight.

I've hardly seen him in these past weeks, not since chaos has really taken over the camp. That hasn't stopped me from thinking of him every night. His wings fold against his back, the metallic sheen unmistakable even in the dim light.

"Busy night?" He nods toward the medical tent.

"The usual." I stretch my stiff shoulders. "Lots of sun burns, some fighting injuries. What brings you here?"

"Your climbing experience." He steps closer, voice low. "Brinda needs scouts to check a cave system nearby. Could be good shelter from the dark elf raids."

I arch an eyebrow. "You have wings. Why do you need me?"

"Wings make me an easy target in confined spaces." His jaw tightens. "And I can't maneuver through narrow passages either. But you - you can slip through where we can't, see if you can find something. I can always open up passages later if they're worth it."

"And if I run into trouble?"

"That's why I'm going with you." The corner of his mouth lifts. "Someone needs to make sure you come back in one piece."

I study him for a moment. Despite his imposing presence, there's something oddly reassuring about his direct manner. No games, no threats - just facts.

"When do we leave?"

"Now, if you're not too tired."

"Let me grab my gear." I gesture toward my tent. "Meet you at the eastern perimeter in ten minutes?"

He nods once, wings rustling as he turns away. "Don't keep me waiting, little human."

"Wouldn't dream of it, big bad vrakken," I call after him, earning a deep chuckle that sends an unexpected warmth flooding me.

I grab a bit of rope and fashion myself a harness around my body the best I can. Then, with my pack of herbs and bandages I never leave and a full waterskin, I go to meet Eike.

The eastern forest stretches before us, a mass of twisted trees and jutting rocks. I adjust my makeshift harness, testing the strength of the rope against my weight. The familiar motions bring back memories of scaling cliff faces in Colorado.

"This way." Eike's wings twitch as he leads us deeper into the woods. His silver eyes scan the darkness ahead, alert for any threats.

The cave entrance looms ahead, a jagged mouth in the mountainside. I pull out a small crystal that glows with magical light - a gift from one of my patients.

"You feel anything yet?" I ask, securing the light to my harness.

Eike's nostrils flare. "Magic. It's faint, but..." He tilts his head. "There's definitely something here."

I run my hands along the cave wall, feeling for good holds. The rock is cool and slightly damp under my fingers. "These formations look promising. Lots of natural handholds."

"Be careful." Eike's voice echoes off the stone. "Some of these passages could be unstable."

I wipe my hands off on my pants, wishing I had chalk, and start climbing, working my way around a narrow ledge. "You sound worried. Don't trust my skills?"

"I trust you're skilled enough to get yourself into trouble."

"That's half the fun." I squeeze through a tight passage, my light casting strange shadows. The rock here feels different - almost alive under my touch. "The texture changed. It's almost...vibrating?"

Eike's wings rustle behind me. "The magic's stronger here. There's a portal nearby, but I can't pinpoint it. These caves are like a maze."

I spot a promising crack in the wall. "There's an opening up ahead. Might be big enough for me to check out."

"Mae." His tone carries a warning.

"Relax. I'm just going to take a quick look." I wedge myself into the narrow space, inching forward. "The rock here - it's got these weird veins running through it. They're glowing slightly."

"Those are magic lines. We're getting close to something." Eike's voice sounds strained. "Don't go too far. I won't be able to reach you if-"

"If what? I get stuck?" I laugh, though the sound feels strange in the confined space. "I've been climbing since I could walk. This is nothing compared to some of the chimneys I've squeezed through."

We spend most of the afternoon working around the cave system, and it feels amazing to lose myself in it. The system isn't too deep, but Eike thinks the magic will be useful.

He keeps saying it feels like the portal that brought him to Protheka, but we never find that entry point. But as the sun starts to set, we decide to call it a day and head back.

But we're not ready for what we find.