Sapphire Falls (The Lost Realm #2)

49. Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Morgan

T he Tower of the Moon was silent; the dark, unlit halls eerily similar to the cave she’d fled only a week ago. A chill ran down her spine and she tried to keep herself from running. Running from what exactly? There was nothing there to chase her. Nothing threatening her life. Just the hall of the place that had begun to feel like home.

Morgan had left Susan at her own room, saying that she would see her in the morning. She knew she needed to check in with her early, but Susan seemed so weary Morgan hoped she would be alright alone for the night. Morgan was also bone-tired, but there was no way she could sleep without first seeing Rylo and reassuring him that she’d done what he asked.

She’d tried his private rooms, but no answer came. There were no guards nearby either, making her think he must be somewhere else in the Towers. She padded through the dark interior hall on slippered feet, tired of wearing the heavy leather boots and layers of furs to keep warm during her flight on the eagan. Morgan would give up and go to sleep if Rylo wasn’t in his private library.

She found the hidden space that led to Rylo’s hidden sanctuary, but she couldn’t get in on her own. Despite all the time she’d spent in this room, she still depended on Selene or Rylo for entry.

Her heart skittered as she knocked against the empty wall. She could hear shuffling within the room and the entrance dissolved. Morgan stepped into the room. The smell of old books, leather, and dust hit her senses like a familiar friend. But it was the smell of honeyed spice that made Morgan’s breath catch.

Rylo was there, dressed in a remarkably casual grey sweater and loose pants. He looked at her with a half smile and walked close enough to her that she could feel the warmth of his body on her chilled skin.

“You’re back.” Rylo’s wings flared slightly, as they often did when he was close to her.

Morgan filled the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his slender waist. He seemed to hold back for a moment, not sure if he wanted to reciprocate her hug, then he tugged her close to him and she felt the feather soft touch of his lips in her hair.

“I’m back, and I think I got you an army,” she whispered into his chest.

Rylo stepped back, taking her in. “You beautiful, witty woman. Of course you did.”

His mouth was on hers before she could reply. A sweet, welcoming kiss that made her want to melt into the heat of his mouth. Rylo pulled Morgan into his arms, carrying her over to the chair in the small library. As he walked, she kissed along his smooth jawline, twining her fingers into the soft curls of his golden hair.

He sat down, placing her in the seat opposite his.

“Tell me everything,” he said, crossing his legs as he gave her his full attention.

Morgan left nothing out as she told him about her experience in Orofine. What she learned of the Hunters and the discovered relic, that Savine needed time to deliberate, but he would release Selene with his decision. She shared that Selene wasn’t in danger, only being kept away from the others while Savine decided what he would do. The only two details she left out were that Savine hurt her when she first landed and that she shared about Elio’s death. She knew Savine and Rylo hated each other and she didn’t need to make things worse by sharing how Savine had reacted when he thought she’d been involved in her sister’s disappearance.

Rylo rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “I’ve rallied my warriors and the Towers have been preparing for siege. But perhaps if Savine brings his troops to the Wastewater, we can avoid a siege on the Towers. When will he arrive with his warriors?”

“He’ll give us his answer in a week.”

Rylo frowned. Was this going to be too late? “It will be close, getting his warriors to the Wastewater in time. What convinced him that you were telling the truth? Did he force the answers from you?”

Morgan’s stomach tightened with nerves. She was going to have to tell him about Elio. Everyone else already knew and it wouldn’t take long for word to reach Rylo.

“I guess I was very convincing.”

Rylo pursed his lips. “You’re keeping something from me, aren’t you, pet?”

Rylo

Rylo could almost taste Morgan’s lies in the air. She still wasn’t being honest with him about Elio’s death, and now he suspected she could be keeping a great many things from him. Storing and collecting secrets, spinning lies, and waiting to use her two remaining oaths against him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Morgan muttered, looking anywhere but his eyes.

“When we woke up in the Wastewater, you continued to refuse to tell me what happened to my friend. Now I must wonder what else you’re keeping from me. Did Savine actually kill Selene? How can you be so sure they will come to our aid?”

Morgan shook her head, but the look of concern on her face didn’t go away. “No, she's alive and coming back to Nephel. Savine privately told me that he’d allow her to deliver his decision. Apparently she’s really fast?”

Rylo let out a harsh laugh. “Savine has never had the stomach to take action when he had the opportunity to. That’s why he needed a human to defeat his father, and that’s why he’ll never kill Selene or myself, despite how much he hates both of us. It’s also why he needs a week to commit to an alliance.”

“I think the only time he takes action is when Avery is threatened,” Morgan said, touching her throat. Despite the low lights of the library, Rylo could make out the healing scratches along her neck, the slight purple of bruising in thin lines along her delicate throat.

Rylo clenched his hands into fists as he stood. His essence poured out of him like pure sunshine, and Morgan covered her eyes, the light intense and powerful in his rage.

“How dare he use his essence against you? I’ll personally make him pay for every scratch and bruise on your body,” Rylo’s typically smooth voice was harsh with so much unrestrained emotion that it took him aback. He reached out and stroked the scratches on her throat. Unlike Savine, he was willing to take action, and he’d be sure to fulfill his pledge to make Savine pay.

He sat down, taking a steadying breath as Morgan’s shadows danced up and around him, blocking his shining light from her.

“I apologize,” he said, the honey returning to his voice. “I knew there was a risk that he could harm you, and I took that risk anyway for my nation. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

Morgan didn’t look scared, despite his rage slipping out of him. Of course she wouldn’t be intimidated by seeing him when his essence burst forth from him.

“It’s okay. It was all a misunderstanding anyway.”

Rylo nodded. “I am still going to take it out of his flesh when he arrives.”

That made Morgan look nervous. “Please don’t. I don’t want you to end up fighting a two front war.”

No, there was no excuse for how Savine had treated her and he didn’t care if it hurt Savine’s ego when he harmed him. “He needs to learn that he does not have permission to harm what is mine.”

Morgan stiffened. “What in the hell are we doing, Rylo?”

“We are discussing your brilliant international negotiation skills,” Rylo said, and he couldn’t disguise the smile on his face. He had no doubt that she’d won him an alliance with a man who hated him. With Morgan at his side, he’d be unstoppable in this realm.

“I mean between us. You were furious at me when I left, and then you kissed me with so much tenderness I could taste how much you care about me. Now you’re threatening to hurt Savine because he scratched me,” Morgan said, pulling her feet into her seat and turning her body to look directly at him.

Rylo felt called out by this woman whom he wasn’t supposed to care about, and yet, despite his better judgment, he’d let her sink so far into his mealy, tiny excuse for a heart that he didn’t know what to do with whatever emotion he felt when he looked at her. He didn’t know how to stop the way his breath caught when she looked at him with her jade green eyes, or the moments he made her smile unexpectedly.

And yet, she was capable of lying to him. He already assumed she must have done something to Elio. Something so horrible she was unable to admit it to him. He already knew it in his heart that Morgan killed Elio.

But he wanted to hear her say it. He wanted to know that she was sorry for what she did; that she wouldn’t hide things from him if he chose to give her his heart. And that was just what he was willing to do.

He wanted to give her his heart if she would have it.

But not until she could be honest with him.

Morgan looked at him through sleepy eyes, her head reclined on the side of the armchair, her body curled in around itself.

“I’ve often enjoyed the pleasures that come with being king. Women willing to bed me when I desired company. I’d never be as foolish as Savine to choose a vow of celibacy. I’ve slept with women in my court and foreigners. But I’ve never shared my heart with anyone. The connection has rarely gone beyond a physical relationship.”

The scowl on Morgan’s face was adorable, and he fought the urge to lick away the furrows on her brow as she said, “Why are you telling me this? I don’t need to know about your past relationships.”

“Yes you do. Because you see, I never trusted them. I never wanted to trust one of them. But with you, I feel myself putting up my guards and warning myself to not let you into my heart fully. But, don’t you see? I’m always desiring to break down those guards and give you my heart on a platter. To shout that it’s yours to take. To squeeze and devour as you please. Doing that requires trust. Trust that I want to have in you, yet I know you are deliberately keeping something from me. Aren’t you, Morgan?”

Morgan buried her face in her hands, but Rylo caught the guilt in her eye as she hid her face.

He felt a cool wash of shadows caress his mind and he opened it to her, letting her into the bright warmth of a mind.

I can’t even say it out loud, but I think you already know. I killed Elio. It was an accident. I used a spell that drained his essence while going after the relic, and I am forever sorry for taking your friend from you. It’s no excuse, but I didn’t know the spell would do that.

“I suspected you were responsible for his death.”

Rylo felt cold inside, empty and hollow. This brave, intelligent woman was his friend’s murderer.

He needed to give himself space, to be alone in his thoughts. He stood up, opening the door to the hall before walking out into the crisp air of the night without sharing another word with Morgan.

The stars were glittering above, a sea of gleaming beacons all calling to him. Elio’s body would never be presented to the stars, as was the Nepheli tradition. Rylo said a silent prayer to the Goddess that his soul had been accepted into Arcadia, not left to wander in the infinite darkness of the caverns, or castaway to the Abyss.

He didn’t notice how long he stayed in the chill of the night air, but when he returned to his library, Morgan was gone.