AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pressed my forearm to his and clasped his hand, relief and rightness washing through me. “I accept your vow to protect my mate with your life.” I held his gaze, finding only the loyalty of my dearest friend.
“With my life,” he agreed.
I exhaled a breath with sharp relief as I clasped his shoulder with my free hand. “I’ve missed you, Torvyn.”
“I am sorry I’ve been so”—he huffed out a breath—“removed.” He glanced down and dropped my arm. “Now, as much as I enjoy standing here while you’re naked, you should probably return to your wife.”
I laughed and stepped away, taking my blade from the banister.
“When can I expect you back home?” he asked, opening his wings, readying for flight.
“Soon. We have an errand first that will take a few days. But don’t come calling for a week. Or two. Perhaps three.”
He laughed again, a warm sound that reminded me of our carefree days of youth. There was little cause for joy or laughter these days in Gadlizel. It was good to hear the lightness in his voice.
“I’ll give you a full cycle of the moon, then be ready for my visit.” He flapped his wings once and landed atop the railing. “What are you going to do about your mother? She may be in the way for all the recreation you have planned with your new bride.”
“My mother will be overjoyed and will stay well out of the way because she’s wanted grandchildren for ages.”
That suddenly struck me. The idea of children with Murgha. My heart clenched with warmth.
“Quite right,” said my friend, the Prince of Gadlizel. “See you in a month.”
Then he lifted off and sped high into the sky. I noticed a larger shadow streaking through the clouds high above us. The king’s dragon. On patrol, most likely. But with a shimmer of light, Torvyn vanished, camouflaged with the sky. The dragon might smell him on the wind, but he’d never see him.
I returned to the bedchamber to find Murgha still peacefully asleep. Her lovely face upturned toward the morning light, the covers tucked under her slender arm across her breasts, completely unaware of what had transpired. There was so much I had to tell her about Gadlizel. But not now.
I’d tell her later. Instead, I sank back under the covers behind her and pulled her warm body against mine, relishing this bliss before we had to return to the world.
Chapter
Eighteen
MURGHA
Istood beneath the solitary tree on the plain, its branches shielding me from the afternoon sun while we waited outside of Vanglosa, the main encampment of the largest clan of beast fae in Northgall.
“What if it isn’t her?” I asked nervously.
Vallon stood directly behind me, comforting hands on my shoulders. “Do you honestly believe there is more than one wood fae named Tessa mated to a beast fae?”
“You’re right.” I laughed at my own silliness. “It’s her.”
The beast fae scout who stopped us from moving farther into their encampment readily admitted there was someone matching my sister’s description and name living with her mate in Vanglosa. After scowling at Vallon and telling us to stay put, he mounted his Meer-wolf, a terrifying giant gray beast, and galloped back toward their camp.
They didn’t live in permanent stone or wood structures. Their village was made up of deer-hide tents. But the village was much larger than I’d anticipated.
Two Meer-wolves with riders emerged from Vanglosa, moving at a steady, but not hurried, clip. Neither was the scout who told us to stay where we were.
As they drew closer, I stiffened at the sight of the two beast fae males on the backs of two Meer-wolves—one a dark gray, the other was black and bigger.
I’d heard of the giant wolves who lived in Northgall. Everyone had. They were often companions of the beast fae, the only fae who could tame the mammoth wild creatures.
But it was the two beast fae riding the wolves who caught my attention. Vallon rumbled a growl and pulled me tighter against him.
“Who is that?”
“The Lord of the Beast Fae and his chief warrior.”
