Sapphire Falls (The Lost Realm #2)

15. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Avery

E det tutted as she tried to comb out Avery’s unruly waves. The woman’s sandpaper rough hands worked their way through Avery’s hair before she set the comb down with a sigh. Avery studied her roughened, reddish features in the mirror. She still didn’t know what kind of a fae Edet was, and thought better of asking her. She clearly had some sort of rock essence. Sandstone if Avery had to guess, since she so closely resembled that type of rock. Avery sighed, but didn’t say anything as Edet returned to prodding at her wind-tousled hair.

Her sister was locked in the Tower of Teeth, and Rylo had refused to see her for the last two days. Anxiety had spurred Avery’s body until she couldn’t sit still any longer. After one day of letting herself sink back into guilt and despair, she forced herself to get outside with her friends. Susan, Kyla, and Rue were all up for training and they’d set up a good system for her to bury her concerns for Morgan in physical activity. This morning they hiked the craggy mountains of Nephel. She needed to explore the rocky canyon and the high alpine peaks miles from the Towers. To get away from this place and just be free in the wilderness. Her body craved the wild, rugged areas away from the opulence of Rylo’s court. Only that could calm the increasing worry she had for Morgan.

To her surprise, Rylo had approved of her outings, even though he’d refused to meet with her. The only caveat was that Selene joined. Avery didn’t even know how the Sage of Nephel had time to go stomping through rocky outcroppings with them, but it seemed to be made into a priority. To nobody’s surprise, Selene refused to walk on the dusty trails and the dying grasses that dotted the mountains. Instead, she flew above the women, just near enough to intervene if they tried something that Rylo deemed unacceptable, which seemed limited to running away and hurting a Nepheli. Neither were something that Avery planned to do anyway.

Only hours after she got back from her hike, Edet had arrived. Apparently Rylo was willing to meet with her, but only at a formal supper. As she dressed for her first mandatory meal with Rylo since the Latians left, she wondered what Savine was doing at that moment. She’d been so scared for Morgan’s safety that Savine’s own well being wasn’t holding its place in the forefront of her mind. She wondered if she could send some sort of communication down their bond from this distance. Why couldn’t she? She could still feel that connection, even if it was faint. Mentally, she grabbed onto that bond and caressed it, feeling slightly foolish.

“What’s got you looking so star-eyed, girl?” Edet asked.

Avery flinched at Edet’s voice. “Oh, nothing.”

“Looks to me like something. You’d be missing your soulmate, I’m sure. And not even accepting the bond yet.” Edet tutted again as she shook her head. “No wonder you humans are all but eliminated here. Not much sense in your heads.”

Avery didn’t respond as Edet began piling her long blonde hair into some sort of up do. “Only death could separate me from my soulmate,” Edet said as she shook her head again and continued wrestling Avery’s hair into submission. “And even then I should have joined him. Should have never… Oh what matter is all that? I mean to say, don’t be a fool about your soulmate again, girl.” Edet turned Avery so she was looking up at the woman, her scratchy hand on Avery’s chin. “Cherish what Althea gave you. Don’t waste it away, not even on family.”

Edet released her chin and Avery turned to face the mirror again. At that moment, she felt a soft caress through the bond and a warmth filled her inside and out. It was so reminiscent of that early warmth she felt when she and Savine touched for the first time, and the sensation left her with such a longing that she had to remember to breathe. She gave the bond another squeeze and mentally stroked it in return. So she could still communicate with Savine on some level from this distance. She let herself relax, thinking of good days to come, and sent all the joy and hope she could muster down their bond.

“There!” Edet croaked. “You’re as presentable as I can make you. I’ll leave you to your pining. Remember what I say now. Don’t take your soulmate for granted again, foolish girl!” With that, Edet turned and left the room.

Avery felt a wave of Savine’s response down the bond. It felt like a cool breeze in a coniferous forest, like going home. Her heart longed to feel his strong arms wrapped around her. She sat in the chair, looking at her reflection as she tugged on their bond, bringing forth the feelings she experienced when she was safe in his arms.

Things would have been different if he were here. He wouldn’t have allowed Rylo to send Morgan to the Tower of Teeth. He would have stood up for her, protected her in a way that Avery couldn’t possibly manage.

A soft caress went down the bond and across her spine. The heat in that caress made Avery think of Savine’s lips pressed against her skin, the tingling sensation that arose when he touched her. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes as warm pressure built deep in her belly.

She imagined tracing Savine’s roiling essence, the way he groaned as she pressed her lips and tongue to the faint lines under his skin. The bond between them, so faint compared to how it felt when they were close to each other, went still as she waited, the anticipation of how he would respond making her flush with heat.

His response rocketed into her. Needy desire pulsed through her tingling skin as she imagined his hands tracing their way along her thigh. She gasped for more as a delicate, light touch grazed her skin. Strangely, she didn’t even need to touch herself, the trace of Savine through the bond was enough to have her biting her lower lip and gasping for more.

Avery imagined peeling Savine’s leathers off him, exposing his beautiful, hard body and pressing her hands against his bare skin as she worked her way down to his hard length, imagining herself working around him everywhere but where she knew he’d want her hands.

She gasped as Savine’s reply came quicker than she expected. Pressure built inside her core that left her eyes rolling in her head and her hips bucking. Avery imagined stroking, teasing his erection as she rode the wave of desire he’d sent her.

The waves of his desire were rising now, crashing against her like the sea against sand, breaking down her barriers as she felt herself becoming raw and exposed to the bond that was stretched between them. Finally, her climax overtook her, ripping through her as she tried to stifle the cry that broke from her parted lips. Savine’s orgasm spilled down their bond, the magnitude of it taking her breath away.

Soft, gentle embraces wrapped around her and she looked at herself in the mirror. The tightness in her face had relaxed, the anxiety that had been haunting her since Morgan had been taken eased, at least for now.

Avery sent her own waves of caressing love down the bond as a gentle warmth enveloped her senses. Why hadn’t they tried this earlier? This would be enough to get her through the next couple of weeks until she could be back in Savine’s arms.

A knock on her door stirred her from their bond and back to reality. Selene entered the room, her posture full of stately grace, but for the tight lipped frown on her face.

“I’m to fly you to Rylo now,” she said as she assessed Avery’s appearance.

Avery nodded as she stood. “Do you get sick of being his messenger?”

Selene’s frown deepened. “I am happy to serve my king in any matter of tasks, but I look forward to you and your sister’s departure. I have more important things to do with my day than tend to your needs.”

Avery grinned as they made their way to the balcony. “I can’t wait to leave either. With my sister.”

Selene didn’t respond as she lifted Avery and flew into the skies. Her black wings beat upward and Avery couldn’t resist noticing just how stunning the satin sheen of her wings looked against the sunset.

Selene unceremoniously placed her on the floor of the expansive balcony outside the banquet hall. The last time she’d been here was the evening Savine left. God, she missed him. She mentally caressed the bond between them, needing to feel that connection before she faced Rylo and begged for her sister’s freedom.

The room had about a dozen winged fae, all staring at her as she followed behind Selene. She noticed her friends already seated at a long table as others made their way to their chairs. This must be an intimate supper, featuring only Rylo’s closest courtiers. Avery took her seat near the head of the table, across from Selene who sat next to Kyla. On her right was a man she recognized from her kidnapping. She didn’t know his name, and she felt a chill travel down her spine as she remembered his eyes on her after she stabbed Weston. The cold, cruel smirk on his face as Weston breathed his last breath.

Her heart stuttered as she tried to control the anxiety growing in her. She didn’t know if she could do this. How could she convince these cruel folk to let her have her sister back? How would she even get them to listen to her, when they’d already hurt her so much?

Kyla gave her a wary glance. She wished she could ask for Kyla’s help. Now that she was experiencing her own crisis, she had a better understanding of how Morgan must have felt that evening in this very room.

“Excuse me,” Kyla said to Selene. “I need to speak with Avery privately.”

Avery’s ears were ringing as she silently slipped from the table and followed Kyla to a private alcove draped in diaphanous black curtains.

Kyla placed her hands on Avery’s shoulder as Avery choked back a cry. “That man I’m by. He was there when I killed Weston. Just being by him made the memories of what I did to him rush back.” Avery couldn’t stop the shaking that went through her body as she continued, “It was easier when Savine was with me. It’s been easier to have them avoid us. But I don’t know how I’m going to convince them to release Morgan when I keep picturing Weston’s blood on my hands.”

Kyla made soothing circles with her hands on Avery’s neck and shoulders, the tension she was carrying slowly fading. She didn’t manipulate Avery’s emotions, didn’t even ask. “You have experienced a tremendous amount of trauma since you arrived in Aeritis, Avery, and you’ve faced it with such courage. You’ve chosen to see the positive side of your situation and you’ve handled yourself better than can be expected. I know from my own experiences in the war that past pains can haunt us at unexpected times. The man you’re sitting by is Elio, one of Rylo’s closest courtiers. Perhaps it helps to name the man and see him for what he is. His allegiance to Rylo is strong, perhaps even the closest thing a king like Rylo can have to a friend. It’s your natural instinct to feel this way to him. You know you’re sitting between two wolves, with Rylo on your left and Elio on your right. It was purposeful on Rylo’s part. He could have easily placed Susan or Rue next to you. They aren’t on the other end of the table just because of their rank.”

“What should I do?” Avery asked, the trembling in her body becoming less noticeable. Kyla let her hands fall to her side.

“Take courage. Rylo wouldn’t dare harm you. Not when he knows it would cause a war with Latiah if he did. Stand up for your sister, and don’t let Rylo’s obvious intimidation tactics get to you. Some battles are fought on the battlefield with weapons, but you’ll soon learn that many more are fought at dinner parties with words. Never forget that I’m here for you.”

Avery took Kyla’s hand in hers, squeezing it tight. “Thanks for the pep talk.” She let out a steadying breath as she said, “I know you wanted to be in Orofine with the others, but I wanted you to know how thankful I am to have you with me.”

Kyla smiled and bowed her head, the tiny beads and bells in her hair clacking together.

They walked in silence back to their chairs. Rylo still had not joined the party, but everyone else was seated. When a servant offered her wine, she took the bottle and poured a glass for herself, not risking being under the control of a Nepheli, even a servant. Drum beats on the balcony had everyone turning to see Rylo flying into the room. Everyone stood, and Avery followed as the Sun King made his pompous entrance into the throne room. The orange and pink glow of the sunset seemed to be drawn into the room with him, his skin glowing in glorious radiance as he flew toward Avery and his seat at the head of the table.

Rylo looked at her, a twitch in his lips was the only thing he revealed on his indolent face as he took a seat and motioned for the table to do the same.

“Good of you to join us this evening, Avery,” Rylo drolled, the same smirk on his face as a servant poured him a glass of honey colored wine. “Kyla, it’s always a pleasure.”

“Likewise, Your Highness,” Kyla said, taking a sip of her own wine.

“I trust you have been comfortable? Has Selene provided you with your needs?”

Avery noticed Selene tip her face toward her king from whatever held her attention down the table. Her violet eyes sparkled against her dark skin.

“Yes, of course,” Kyla said. “Selene was kind enough to join us on a hike through your mountains today.”

Avery’s hands shook as she tried to contain her growing anxiety over what Rylo would say about her sister. She couldn’t imagine how Morgan must be suffering right now as she sat here, drinking a glass of wine in a room drenched in splendor. It made her sick to think about.

“Please,” Avery squeaked out and she felt the fae man beside her shift his attention to her. Rylo looked at her as well.

“What was that, Avery?” Rylo asked, leaning back in his seat with wings draped neatly over the low chair.

“Please… Just let Morgan out.” Her voice shook, but she forced herself to continue. “She just misses our home. It’s not fair to punish her for that.”

Selene raised an eyebrow. “I’ve personally seen to your sister’s needs. She is not in any physical danger.”

This made the aching dread in Avery build. Selene could do so much worse than physical danger. Savine was a personal victim of her abilities.

“That’s not encouraging, and you know it! Just let her out. She’s suffered enough.”

Rylo’s eyes became slits as he shook his head. “She will be released when she is ready. For now, you have my assurance that your sister is in no real danger. She is alone and no one is to bother her as she convalesces.”

“ Convalesce? She’s going to need to convalesce from being in your torture tower!” Avery said, her voice shaking with emotion.

“Do not speak to what you don’t understand,” Selene said. “Your sister will come back to you stronger due to her time in the Tower of Teeth.”

“I grow tired of this conversation. Due to our previous agreement, you know I cannot harm Morgan and I will release her to you in Orofine,” Rylo muttered before he turned his attention to Kyla. He wasn’t going to let Morgan out until it was time to leave this awful place. She’d failed her sister. Avery’s shoulders slumped as Rylo spoke to Kyla. “Tell me, why did you choose to change your hairstyle? It hasn’t gone without notice that you two and Morgan chose to cover your foreheads.”

“It’s an American style,” Kyla explained. “Perhaps I was trying to help the witches with their homesickness.”

Elio spoke for the first time to the group. “Or perhaps it has something to do with you disrupting our goddess. Selene shared how you dared approach her without express permission just after you altered your hair and stopped wearing headdresses.”

Rylo cocked his head to Elio. “Good point, Elio. After you wore that ridiculous headdress to supper, and now you cover your forehead with hair, I must wonder if you are keeping things from me, and seeking answers from our goddess.”

Avery had to lie for Kyla. She couldn’t let Rylo know that Althea had marked her. “Kyla’s right. Morgan and I are homesick and we convinced her to change her hairstyle with us. I was being nosy and wanted Kyla to bring the goddess down to me. I’ve never met a deity before. Apparently that’s not a thing, is it? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

Elio chuckled as he said, “You really shouldn’t indulge these humans, Kyla.”

But Rylo and Selene stared at her unconvinced. Fortunately, the servants arrived with trays of meat. It appeared to be venison, but Avery was never really sure what she was eating here. Kyla rose and walked to Avery’s side as she placed a generous portion on Avery’s plate. Her warm smile shone with gratitude as she made her way back to her chair.