Sapphire Falls (The Lost Realm #2)

37. Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Avery

A very woke with the worst case of the twitchy itchies since the morning she and Morgan faced the bear at Quartz Mountain. She couldn’t get past this feeling that something bad had happened to her sister, that she was in danger and too far for her to reach.

Her stirring woke Savine and he pulled her close into his embrace. The hard ridge of his muscular stomach pressed against her own body, and she relished in his warmth and comfort as she shared her concerns about Morgan.

“At some point we are going to have to address this situation,” Savine spoke up. “If you think she wants to return home, we need to get her to Latiah. Raikin said Kinlon told him the key to returning is having a piece of the land from the other side of the portal. It will work as a key to get the traveler back.”

Avery’s eyes widened and she hopped out of bed, running to her backpack stashed away in the closet. She dug through the top pocket of her bag, finding the chunk of quartz that Morgan gave her.

“I’ve had the key all this time,” Avery whispered.

Savine looked at her with a pained expression as she slipped back into bed and under the fur covers. Avery gave him a teasing tap on his bicep.

“Don’t look so worried. I don’t want to leave you,” she said, nuzzling against the scratch of his beard.

“I still won’t stop you, if that’s what you want. I only want you to be happy. I can survive anything, knowing you’re happy.”

Avery shook her head and smiled. “It’s crazy to think that if I hadn’t thrown this rock against the tent I was staying in at the encampment, I’d have gone back to Montana that day you brought me up Quartz Mountain. I’m happy it didn’t happen, Savine. I don’t want to live my life without you.”

Savine pressed a kiss to her forehead. “But we could use this to help Morgan return home. It would be a challenging journey to get to Quartz Mountain this time of year. It may not even be possible, with the snow in the high country.”

“We need to get her back. I think she’d tolerate a few months in Orofine if she knew she was going home. I’m worried about her, this morning in particular. It feels like something is very, very wrong.”

Savine stroked Avery’s hair. “We’ll get her back, Little Flower. I’ll do anything to help you.”

Avery wrapped her leg between Savine’s, pressing cold toes to his bare skin. He let out a hiss, but didn’t fight her as she pressed her lips to his.

Savine pulled back, looking down at her. “Would you return if you could do it safely? If you could go back and forth freely? It doesn’t seem like it is impossible now.”

Avery’s answer came quickly. “If I could freely go back and forth between the two realms I’d do it. I want my parents to know I’m okay, and I would want them to meet you. If this was a reality, I’d want to bring you home for our holidays. We could celebrate Thanksgiving with the Hollis Family, and take you skiing on Christmas Day.”

“I don’t know what these things are, but I think I’d like that,” Savine said. “I want to learn your world as much as you’re learning mine. Starting with your language. I want you to teach it to me.”

Avery smiled at him and responded in English, “I love you.”

A knock interrupted their conversation. Avery knew Rue was on guard so she shouted for her to come in. At this point, she was becoming used to folk walking in on her naked under a fur blanket.

Rue came in, carrying a piece of paper. “Avery, I was taking my morning break and went to my room for a moment and found this on my bed. I think you need to see it right away.”

She handed the paper to Avery who sat up in bed, keeping the furs close to her chest. For a moment she hoped it was from Morgan, but it wasn’t. She scanned the letter.

“Do you know who this is from?” Avery asked as she handed the letter to Savine. Hope sprung to life in her. If this letter was real…

Rue shook her head. “It could be a trap.”

Savine looked at the letter; his face hardened. “The handwriting is familiar. We intercepted correspondence with a similar style during the war. It’s most certainly a trap. Nobody is going around telling us the location of the relics. And why would it be in a home in Orofine?”

“But maybe this person knows about its location. We can’t just ignore this.”

Savine shook his head. “Avery, it’s an obvious trap. Whoever this is wants to lure you away from me and most likely harm you. It’s not worth the risk.”

“Look, I get you’re on high alert when it comes to my safety, but we have to find those relics. If we don’t, who knows how long Garnel can handle not having a connection to his bear side of himself. What if his essence becomes faded like the Hunters?”

Rue shook her head. “I don’t know how he’s withstood the weeks without his bear already. It’s unimaginable.”

Savine pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

“I know that look,” Avery teased. “You’re getting annoyed with us. You’re free to join us, but I’m not going to let this opportunity pass us by.” She stepped out of bed, bringing a fur along with her as she padded into the bathroom.

“Rue, could you go get Kyla? We shouldn’t wait,” Avery said.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes!” Rue called. Avery watched her grab the paper from the bed and take quick strides out of the room.

“Ave!” Savine called as she closed the bathroom door. “We shouldn’t do this.”

—

An hour later, Avery was snugly situated between Jari’s antlers and Savine’s hard, warm thighs. Kyla, Rue, and Garnel joined them on their own elk, as well as a few other guards. Now that this was an official outing, Savine had called for more guards than Avery thought were necessary. She was wrapped in a thick wolf pelt, cutting out the chill of the bitter snow that drove against the furs. She also wore a truly ridiculous rabbit skin hat and thick fur mittens.

If she had the ability to safely and comfortably hop between realms, Avery wouldn’t hesitate to bring back loads of stuff from her old home. High-performance winter gear would be at the top of the list. Plus her skis. And her bike. And leggings. She was missing American clothes at this point. Oh, and tampons. She really needed tampons. And coffee. If she was honest with herself, she’d return to her realm just to get a bag of coffee beans.

The idea that this could be a possibility made her feel excited. She wanted to share her world with Savine. She wanted him to experience a good burger and a beer. She even wanted to see the look of shock on his face when she drove him on the interstate. It would be a delicious torture. But then they’d return home to Latiah after a day of exploring and make love slowly under the furs.

She leaned against him, soaking in his strength. His lips met her ear and he kissed the rounded shell. It was cute, how much he loved her little human ears. She’d never thought there was such a thing as an ear guy, but Savine seemed to be one.

The city streets were quiet as they rode through Orofine. The first significant snowfall brought a hush throughout the valley as folk chose to spend the day at home.

“I still don’t like this, Avery,” he murmured.

“I know. But we have a plan. It’s not me going in there. It’s you, and I’m worried about you too.”

He tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her as close as she could go against him, her ass brushing against his cock.

“Don’t ever worry about me, Ave.”

She couldn’t help but wriggle against his hardening length.

“Ave,” Savine growled, pushing her forward to give them some distance.

“Sorry! I can’t stop myself! You’re just so hot when you get all worked up.” She wiggled against him again, the axe at her side bumping against their legs.

Savine let out a gravely laugh. She would never get tired of that laugh. A laugh from Savine was like a little reward. After so many years closing himself off to everyone, only working to better his folk, she could see the layers peeling back each day. He called her his Little Flower, but he was the bud. Every day, opening up a little more, revealing another petal that only she got to enjoy.

“I’m going to have to start riding Dandelion, aren’t I?”

“Never!” Savine growled. “I like you right here. Just don’t do that right now.”

Jari let out an indignant huff of agreement and they both laughed.

They reached the outskirts of Orofine, just outside the city gates. The homes were small, simple cottages. Most were neat, tidy homes, sparkling with a fresh layer of snow. But the one they stopped in front of was farther back, hidden by a thick copse of trees. The roof was caved in, and a side of the home seemed to be falling into the structure.

The elk all seemed nervous, snorting and panting. A guard’s elk even let out a long bugle and began running back toward the King's Residence when he dismounted. The guard ran after him, but the elk was gone into the winter white streets of Orofine.

Savine hopped off Jari in one beautiful, fluid motion before he helped Avery down.

“Stay by Rue,” he said, drawing his sword at his side. Avery instinctively touched the axe at her side. He didn’t cross the snow up to the house, instead he paused near the trees, having a conversation in mycillious.

Savine frowned, looking back at Avery before he turned to walk over to Garnel and a group of guards.

The twitchy itchies were back, and worse than before. This wasn’t right. Something about this place was very, very wrong.

“I don’t like this, Rue.”

Rue looked at her, frowning. “I know. It’s too quiet. No birds chirping or squirrels rustling. I should be the one to go in. The letter was addressed to me.”

Before Avery could object, Rue shifted into her fox form. She didn’t do it often in front of Avery, but when she did, it always took her by surprise. Rue scampered toward the cottage.

Just then, a fae male stepped out of the cottage. One of the Hunters. It had to be, because they would be the only ones capable of acquiring a stick of dynamite. It was like something from a movie, the man held a match and lit the fuse on the explosive before he dropped it on the ramshackle porch and fled into the woods.

A screeching roar of panic built up in Avery. “Rue! Don’t! SAVINE!”

Avery began running toward Rue, but it was too late. An explosion erupted through the house, blasting wood and debris toward the group. Avery tugged on her magic, saying the words she’d memorized, forming a protective bubble around the folk she loved. She pushed and stretched it, but she couldn’t get Rue into the circle.

To her horror, she watched the small fox’s body blast backward, hitting a tree. Dust and debris fell to the ground. Avery’s ears rang, her head was spinning, but she seemed okay. Savine was moving so quickly, she didn’t know how it was possible for someone to fly without wings like that.

“AVERY!” he bellowed as he reached her, tugging her close. Tears streaked down her cheeks and she buried her face against his chest.

She pulled her face away, and saw Kyla beside Rue, her body still in its fox form. Kyla looked unharmed, but Garnel still pulled her close, cupping her lower abdomen. Avery could see Kyla was reassuring Garnel before she pushed herself from his grasp.

Garnel let go of her, ordering the guards into the woods to apprehend the Hunter.

“Avery, she’s still alive, but she’s injured in her shifted form!”

Her friend was bleeding and looked injured beyond anything Avery could repair. She sobbed out, “I don’t know how to fix her.”

Kyla didn’t hesitate to make her way to her elk with Rue’s limp body in her hands. “Don’t worry, I’ll ride with her to Hyacinth!”

All Avery could do was nod as the tears continued to stream down her face, her choked sobs finally spilling out of her. Savine crushed her against him.

“He brought dynamite to Aeritis!” Avery cried, wrapping her arms tight around Savine’s waist. “Dynamite!”

“Is that—that explosion. Is it something humans use often?”

Avery shook her head, trying to control her tone. “Not really. I use it for avalanche mitigation on ski patrol, but normally people don’t have dynamite.” Avery’s voice shook as she spoke. “I was so stupid, so reckless to suggest we go here!”

“My love, you saved us. We’re alright. It’s my fault for not coming to you. The trees knew, but the description didn’t make sense. They had no words for what that fae had. I should have known it was a human instrument. There will be more of the Hunters returning. We need to be on our guard. But, the relic is here too.”

“Really? Where?”

Savine nodded and took her hand. He brought her to an ancient cedar along the back of the building. Savine slid the mittens from his hands, then did the same to hers. He pressed their palms into the tree, and Avery could hear the whispery speech rolling off his tongue, like branches swaying in the breeze.

The cedar opened to him, revealing a carved wooden bowl. Avery reached into the cavity and took the bowl in her hands. It buzzed to her touch and she let out a startled gasp. Magic rippled under her skin, filling her with vibrant energy. She felt the ends of her hair lift up and her vision sharpened. She was this power and it was her. There was no end nor beginning to what she could be capable of with this deep magic welling inside her.

Avery felt herself slipping away, letting the deep magic fill her, course through her.

Her voice didn’t seem her own as she said, “This is it.”

The painfully handsome man beside her tried to touch her, but it was too intense. Too much. She pulled away.

“Ave, what do you need?” His voice was distant, like she was hearing him through a tunnel.

She looked at him and struggled to remember who he was. He was so familiar, so handsome, and when she looked at him she felt love so strongly it made her heart ache.

Savine

Her soulmate.

“My Savine,” she replied, then she remembered the attack on them. The Hunter who tried to take her mate from her. She would make him suffer for all he did today. She turned from Savine and began running into the woods.

She could feel her enemy, sense it as the magic pumped into her. For the first time, she heard the whispers of the trees guiding her forward, pushing her toward the Hunter.

She’d destroy him. The magic that flowed through her demanded it. Demanded justice for Rue’s broken body and for the fear that nearly overtook her when she thought of losing Savine.

Avery ran faster than her feet should have been able to go, but she kept pushing forward, smelling that she was closing in on the enemy. She briefly looked behind her and saw a trail of tiny white flowers were sprouting behind her footsteps where snow once covered the ground. Far behind her, Savine ran after her, trying to keep up with the deep magic that pushed her to incredible heights.

A twig snapped, and she turned, making eye contact with the Hunter. Bitter rage tore through Avery. Never would she allow someone to threaten Savine’s life like that again.

The iron axe attached to her belt slid smoothly through the leather holster. She took the axe in both hands. The weight of it felt so right. Months now of practicing using it as a weapon had made her stronger, more competent in her burgeoning skills.

Avery lifted the axe above her head. The man was frozen in place, blood dripping into the snow from where splinters of shrapnel had embedded into his flesh.

“Mercy!” the man shouted. A killer and a coward.

Avery didn’t hesitate as she let the axe fly through the air, striking the Hunter true in the skull.

The man let out a stilted groan as he crumpled into the blanket of snow. Black, tainted blood oozed and bubbled from his wound.

The guard sent to capture the man came running up to Avery, circling her in a protective stance until they saw the deceased fae lying in the snow.

The magic that had coursed through her veins drained as her adrenaline rush descended. She dropped to her knees in front of the man that she’d just slain. Her breath came in fast, desperate gasps. The man’s dark eyes glazed open at her and she knew she was going to be sick. She’d mercilessly butchered a man without hesitation.

She tried to clean herself up as best as she could in the snow. Savine knelt beside her, pulling her against his chest and she let out a long, mournful wail.

“I just killed him! The magic consumed me and I wanted him dead. I didn’t even hesitate. He nearly killed you and I couldn’t let him live doing that to you.”

Garnel rode up the flower-strewn path holding Jari’s reins. The elk threw his head up at being so close to another powerful bull elk, but Garnel’s grip was strong.

Savine took Jari’s reins and tugged Avery up before climbing behind her. He whispered soft soothing words in her ear as they began their ride back to the King’s Residence.

Eventually, he spoke. “What you did is natural, to strike back against someone who threatens your soulmate. It’s not something you need to be ashamed of—that Hunter wanted all of us dead. I’ll have the known portals watched night and day. There will be no more getting through. If they do, their life is forfeit. They are an enemy of the queen, and will not be allowed to live.”

“I don’t think I should touch the relic again. Not until we understand what the Goddess wants with it. Also, I thought the relic was supposed to be a bone, not a bowl.”

Avery felt Savine press his hand against the shape of a bowl in his coat pocket. “Perhaps there is more than one in Latiah.”