Sapphire Falls (The Lost Realm #2)

20. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Avery

A very woke up feeling panicked as she looked down at the tightly woven strips of cloth covering her naked body. She looked like a mummy, wrapped and ready to be placed in a sarcophagus. Maybe they’d thought she had died, and were preparing her for burial?

She looked at the heavy arm across her wrapped body and saw Savine asleep beside her. As she stirred, he opened his eyes and looked at her with such joy she thought her heart might crack right out of these wrappings.

“Hi,” she said softly. “Did you think I needed to be mummified?”

Savine cracked a half smile. “You must be feeling better if you’re making what I can only imagine is a human joke.”

“Got me there,” she replied, lifting her wrapped arms. “But what’s the deal with the wrap job?”

“Do you recall any of last night?”

Avery thought back. It all felt like a haze as she recalled Savine putting her in the bath and Hyacinth imbuing her essence into the surrounding water. “Kind of, but the details are foggy. I knew I had a fever, suspected I had broken ribs that were causing a lung infection. Maybe pneumonia? Plus the rest of me felt bruised all over.”

Avery began tugging at the itchy wrapping around her arm. Under the layer of cloth was a thick coating of plant matter. It resembled crushed and rotting leaves. “What is this supposed to be?” Avery asked.

“It’s Hyacinth’s work. Before we unwrap you I’ve been instructed to draw a bath and call for Hyacinth.”

“I thought Hyacinth was in Bayberry. How’d she even get here?” Avery asked as Savine made his way to the door to speak to the guard in the hallway. Avery guiltily thought about Weston. He should be the one in the hallway now. The one guarding his king. Instead, Avery had taken his life only for Rylo to prove a point.

Savine must have noticed the tension on her face as he made his way back to the bed. As he sat down, he explained all that had happened after she’d become delirious with fever.

Avery felt hot and itchy all over as she realized how she’d blamed Savine and ran into an angry mob without thinking things through. “I’m so sorry. I was an idiot for hitting you with my magic and bolting like that. And I know you weren’t trying to get rid of Morgan. I just feel so bad that Rylo took her and Susan like that. I shouldn’t have left them behind when I ran to you.”

“You can’t blame yourself for what happened, and don’t blame yourself for Morgan choosing to leave with Rylo either.”

“She chose to?”

“From what Raikin has extracted from certain individuals involved, yes. She attacked a Latian shifter, then killed several other Latians before fleeing with the Sun King.”

A tight knot twisted in her stomach. It couldn’t be true that Morgan would attack so indiscriminately. But she didn’t have time to think about what happened to Morgan before Hyacinth entered the room.

“I’ve prayed all night that you would pull through, and look at you! I couldn’t have hoped for better results,” Hyacinth said as she leaned in for a hug, the branches in her hair snagging on Avery’s own unkempt waves.

“Savine, I hope the bath is prepared. Let’s get the cloth off the girl and give Avery a good scrub.”

Avery looked at Savine, suddenly feeling slightly self conscious. He’d stayed by her side while she was sick, but now that she was feeling better, she wanted to retain some privacy as she had these festering plants scoured off her body.

“Savine, you haven’t left this room in days. Why don’t you go check in on your nation? I think Hyacinth and I can handle the bath.”

Savine scowled as he moved protectively closer to Avery. “No. I should stay by your side.”

Avery gave him a soft smile. She might never get used to having a protective, bordering on possessive man around her at all times. She never would have tolerated this kind of behavior from any human man she’d dated. While part of her loved the primal need he had to protect her, she also wanted to maintain her own autonomy in Latiah. If they were going to make this work, she’d need to still feel like she had a voice in her own choices.

“It’s okay, old man. I’m just getting cleaned up. Come back later when I’m looking more human again,” she said, trying to keep her tone light.

Savine sighed, looking like he wanted to refuse her gentle orders. “Very well. I’ll leave you two alone.”

He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on her forehead before he walked out of the room.

Avery felt a sense of relief that Savine wasn’t in the room when she glanced at her naked body in the mirror. Covered in pungent plants, she looked part swamp creature, part human.

“There were showers in Bayberry. Surely they’ve got them here too?” Avery asked Hyacinth as she looked at the clear water in the tub. “This is just going to make a huge mess.”

“You’re to steep in the tub until I say so, child. I’ll be using my essence on you to extract the last of the illness clinging to you.”

Avery didn’t argue as she slipped into the water, instantly turning the fresh water a deep tannin brown. Hyacinth submerged her hands into the water, slightly brushing against Avery’s arms as she began chanting. The water and Avery’s skin began to glow, but Avery just tried to lean back against the tub, relaxing as much as possible as Hyacinth worked.

As Hyacinth worked, Avery thought of Kyla’s goal to find out what the Divine Five were. Maybe Hyacinth knew what that meant.

“Hyacinth, have you ever heard of the Divine Five?” Avery asked as Hyacinth’s essence slipped across her skin.

Hyacinth paused, her nut brown skin losing some of its luster. “That’s something I haven’t thought of in a long time—but yes I have. Why do you ask?”

Avery shared the instructions Althea had given Kyla, and Hyacinth’s face tightened as she talked. Finally, Hyacinth took her hands from the water.

Avery could feel the clarity in her lungs as the last congestion disappeared. Her aching bruises were gone too, and before long Avery felt like herself again. Starving, but healthy.

“Do you remember when I told you that you must never use yourself as a vessel for deep magic again? It’s volatile, dangerous, and you could easily become overwhelmed by its power.”

Avery nodded and stretched, feeling vitality return to her body. “Yeah, and I haven’t tried it since. Why?”

“The Divine Five are five objects imbued with deep magic at the time of The Cleaving. The witches who separated the realms used them, but they were all that remained of them after The Cleaving. From what I understand, fae nations took them for themselves, but what has become of them from there is only legend.”

A fucking quest.

Unbelievable. They now needed to recover some lost relics for this deity.

“Thanks for sharing. Kyla will be happy to know what they are finally.”

The worry lines on Hyacinth’s face faded as she assessed Avery. “Of course, dear! And I must say, that went better than I’d hoped!” Hyacinth said as she dried her hands with a towel. “You may not have remembered it, but Savine sent for the only Bayberry healer in Orofine. She had no such luck healing you, but your body responded quickly to my essence.”

Hyacinth paused, her wrinkles pressed tightly together across her face as she put her hands on her hips. “I best meet with Maud. I recall her training many years ago. Perhaps there is something to Savine’s suspicions of the woman.” She seemed to be speaking to herself before she turned to look back at Avery, still soaking in the dirty bath water. “You can have that shower now. I’ll leave you to it.”

Avery found the shower behind a stone wall. Built to fit an army, the shower had a cedar bench around the edge and multiple shower heads. A shower for a king, she guessed as she washed up. Avery began feeling slightly lightheaded as she showered, needing to sit on the bench to rest between soaping her hair. Her body must still be weak, even if she was feeling better.

Savine

Savine couldn’t form words for the relief he felt when he entered his bedchamber to find Avery dressed and eating a hearty bowl of forager’s soup. A smile parted her lips when she looked up at him from the table.

“Thanks for letting me get cleaned up. Are you hungry? Hyacinth got enough soup for both of us.”

Savine closed the space between them and knelt beside her, pulling Avery close. His lips crashed into hers, and he kissed her with an intensity that bordered on pain.

As he pulled away, he scanned Avery, making sure he hadn’t hurt her too much. He hadn’t meant to. Just all the fear, all the concern about her was getting to him. Savine needed Avery to be safe, and he’d kept botching that up.

Avery grinned at him, she was unharmed and looking healthy again. “Wow. That’s a hello. I’m going to need you to greet me like that from now on.”

Savine chuckled as he sat in the chair beside hers. “Goddess help me, I’m just so thankful that you’re alright.”

Avery’s smile diminished. “I’m really sorry for what I did the other day. I shouldn’t have gone after Morgan like that.”

“The thing that matters most to me, Avery, will always be keeping you safe.”

She stretched out her hand to his, squeezing it tight, and Savine felt the warmth of her touch fill him. “No more reckless decisions, I promise. You’ve got enough to deal with. Also, I’m sorry I ruined the first few days I was in Orofine. I’d love a tour, but is it even safe for me to go out?”

Savine thought about the executions he’d ordered over the last few days. Those directly involved in her attack had paid with their lives after Raikin had interviewed them. That had been the only time Savine left Avery’s side. To serve out justice against those who tried to kill his soulmate. He wouldn’t tolerate it. His people would learn to accept Avery, or would pay if they threatened her.

“You’re safe now, Little Flower.”

Avery wrinkled her nose at him. “Did you kill them?”

Savine tried to make his expression blank, but the raw rage still pumped through him.

“You did, didn’t you? It’s written all over your face.” Avery gave him a teasing smack on the arm. “I’m never going to get used to you killing people to keep me safe. You know it’s not normal.”

Savine frowned. Was Avery lying? Did she not want him to protect her? “Harming you will never be tolerated in this nation. Not with me as king.”

Avery raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m going to be honest, and don’t think too much into it, but, it’s kind of a turn on. I’m not backing down that it’s not normal, at least not for humans, to have this insane level of protectiveness. But there’s something very sexy knowing the extent you’d go to keep me safe. Moving forward, let’s just try to avoid any unnecessary killings.”

“There will be no more threats to you here. The rebels are back from Bayberry, and the city and the King's Residence are secure. The Night of Feasts is just two days away, and there will be a celebration in our honor.” There was so much more they needed to discuss. So much that they’d left unresolved back in Nephel. Avery had shown up, just like she promised, but did that mean she wanted to be bound to him? Would she accept the role that being his soulmate would put her in? It felt better to not know than ask.

But just as if she read his mind, Avery said, “Before we have a celebration to honor both of us, maybe we can discuss where this is going?”

Savine felt his essence wriggle beneath his skin as he sat rigid in his chair. Here it came, the rejection he’d feared for weeks now.

Avery sighed and squeezed his hand. “I’ve had a few weeks to think about it. Between training and hanging out in Nephel, it’s all I’ve been thinking about. You know I’m adverse to responsibility. I always have been, and had no plans on changing my lifestyle at home. It’s been tough for me, seeing myself as a queen, or consort, or whatever we choose to call it. Plus you need to win your people over, and that’s not going to happen if you have to keep killing them on my account.”

Savine’s heart rattled against his rib cage. “What are you trying to say?”

Avery laced her fingers through his, looking at him with a kind of longing that made him dread her next words.

“I can’t be Latiah’s queen. It’s like the assassin thing again. I’m not ready for the role, and I feel like it’s an insult to your folk if I take that role.”

Savine pulled his hand from hers and pushed himself out of his chair. He was across the room in seconds, looking out over the city below. His hands shook as he grasped the windowsill.

Avery was rejecting him. She came back just to tell him this news in person. There was no denying that he’d worried for weeks over this, knowing that she couldn’t possibly choose him.

His own heart was beating so wildly that it was all he could hear, and Avery’s touch on his shoulder made him flinch. She tugged at him, turning him to face her.

“Savine, just listen. Please. I can’t be queen, but I want to be with you. All I could think about when I was away from you was how alive you make me feel. How you make me feel more at home than I’ve ever felt in my life. Nobody is going to take that from me, because, well, I love you. I love you, Savine, and I don’t want to spend another day without you. Now that I know you, now that I’ve met you, I can’t imagine living my life without you in it.” She looked up at him, and he was beyond words. Never did he think this was what she was about to confess to him.

She looked up at him, and his whole world was reduced to her wide brown eyes. “Well, say something!” she said.

Savine smiled down at her as he said, “I love you too, Avery Hollis.”

She stood on tip toes and he tugged her close to him, lips pressed together as she parted eagerly for him. Savine didn’t hesitate as he swept his tongue to meet hers. Avery loved him. His whole body strummed as he let her words sink into his soul.

She pulled back from his kiss, swaying on her feet as he steadied her. “Okay, woah. Can you help me back to the bed? I’m feeling dizzy.” Savine scooped her into his arms, carrying her across the room to the bed.

He brought her a cup of water, feeling the need to claim her as his soulmate continuing to stir within him. Goddess damn him, she was still sick, and all he could think about was burying himself inside her.

“What are you thinking?” Avery asked, sipping the water.

“Ave, you know what I’m thinking right now,” Savine smirked.

Avery let out a little laugh. It was like the twinkling of bells, so light and delicate. “You want to complete the bond? Well, considering my frail human body can’t handle kissing I don’t think that’s an option right now. But as soon as I’m better, I’m yours. I want to feel that full soulmate connection with you.”

“And I want that with you. How will this work though? You don’t want to be my queen. What will I call you to my subjects?” Savine asked as he thought about the logistics of what she’d actually said.

“Call me your soulmate, but can we wait a while before I take the official title of queen? Maybe just let me practice magic and support you from the sidelines. Then if your folk aren’t actively trying to kill me I can take a more open role. But I’m warning you, politics aren’t my thing. Don’t fire Raikin.”

Savine laughed at that and slid into bed with her, thinking about what she was suggesting. “You’ll need a title, and I’m not going to hide how I feel about you. The folk will talk about why I haven’t made you queen.”

Avery pulled her body closer to his, the bond between them pulling tight. “Let them talk. Nothing else matters as long as we know what we are to each other. I’m your soulmate, Savine and I’m not going anywhere. Now, I need a nap. Then I want you to give me a tour of your treehouse. By the way, how did you forget to mention that detail?”

Savine tangled his hands in her hair and pulled her head onto his chest. “It didn’t seem to matter at the time. It was always just my former home.”

Avery yawned.

“Rest, Little Flower, you’re safe with me now,” Savine whispered into her ear, more for himself than Avery’s reassurance.