Page 19 of Dweller of the Mists

The cazka’s muscles bunched and it raced from the cliff, its claws scouring deep grooves as it ran. The air shrieked suddenly in a way that sent a cold trail down Gwum’s spine and he braced himself, curling his body around his mate as much as possible to protect her with his dying breath as it sprung, its claws stretching like the hand of death for him.

The air shrieked suddenly, and an unholy scream filled the air with a sharpthunk. It was followed by a loud crash that could only be made by the impact of something heavy falling as a cloud of dust rose, mingling with the fog. Gwum blinked in surprise, the tension slowly draining from him when he didn’t feel the touch of the cazka’s deadly claws. Coughing a little, he looked over his shoulder toward the beast and his eyes widened. Its body was stretched across the ground, blood pouring from a wound made by a large Gwyr-made metal bolt lodged deeply into its neck.

His eyes snapped up to the surrounding slopes nervously, waiting for the Gwyr to show themselves.

“It’s dead,” Noelle whispered in a voice dull and distant with shock. “How?—”

“A Gwyr bolt,” he hissed. “They are somewhere.”

“Then let’s get to the cargo container and hide before they see us,” she quietly replied.

He nodded. It would not matter. The Gwyr possessed sharp eyesight, and if they had seen the Cazka well enough to fire from such a distance, there was no doubt at all that they had seen them as well. Still, he allowed his mate to haul him to the container where she released him only to inspect it.

“The opening mechanism should be around here somewhere and I—” A startled gasp left her. “Kastle was here!” she exclaimed, and she laughed in disbelief as she swiped a hand over her face. Her fingers trailed over what appeared to be crude shapes carved into the metal. “She left us all a note.” Her brow furrowed quizzically. “She left supplies for me and said to use the transporter inside to bring them up to base camp, but she was going up the mountain. Something about catching a lift with a friend on a rescue mission. What in the world?”

“That would be me,” a deep voice interrupted, and Gwum whirled around with a vicious hiss. The Gwyr male lifted an eyebrow at him but made no move to attack. “Fine reception considering that I saved your worthless hide. But what can one expect from a Bia? You are just fortunate that I happened to be passing by. Regardless, it was not you I am interested in.” His gaze shifted to Noelle and he smiled, revealing his sharp fangs. “You, on the other hand, I am delighted to see. Amanda will be relieved.”

“You know where Kastle is?” Noelle asked doubtfully.

He inclined his head. “This cliffside is on the edge of my property and I happened upon her while hunting much in thesame way I came across you—minus the cazka, though that makes a fortunate feast,” he added, licking his lips. He sighed and shook his head before gazing upon Noelle with a look of admiration. “It seems that she was right about you after all. She said if anyone could come out of the swamps alive, it would be Noelle Xander. I can take you to her, or you can carry on with her instructions if you like. No one will bother you here as it is within the bounds of my territory. So long as I keep up appearances, no other Gwyr will venture to cross into it.”

Gwum frowned. Although the offer of protection would give Noelle the safety that she needed against the Gwyr, he distinctly dislike giving her over to the smug male. He glanced over at her curiously. Would she go with him to be reunited with her companion? He disliked that option even more, but he also knew that he had no power over her decision. That was, after all, her stated purpose.

Her expression shifted to one of uncertainty as she glanced over at him. “What if…” She faltered but drew in a sharp breath, then made a valiant attempt to smile. “What if I didn’t go to the plateau?”

He froze, uncertain whether or not he misheard. “Not go?” he echoed, refusing to allow a false hope to take root.

Noelle’s smile disappeared and she ducked her head, her gaze fixing on the metal shell in front of her. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s probably a stupid idea. I’m basically a dead woman walking in the swamp and?—”

“And I will love every minute of having you under my protection. For the rest of our lives,” he added in a rush as he gently cupped her face and tipped it so that her eyes met his. “I never wish to let you go. You dwell within my hearts, Noelle. You are my mate—the only mate I have ever wanted and will ever want. Please stay with me.”

“Forever?”

“Forever,” he confirmed as he drew her into his arms, hugging her tightly against his heart. He had never wanted a mate. But he did not just have a mate. He had everything.

The Gwyr chuckled with delight. “What a perfect ending… or rather, a new beginning. I cannot wait to tell Amanda.”

The male’s wings flapped as he took to the sky, but Gwum ignored him. Brushing his knuckle beneath her chin, he tipped her head back and claimed her lips with the first of many kisses that they would have for the rest of their lives.

Chapter

Fifteen

The return to their pond seemed to take far longer than Gwum remembered it taking to leave for the supply cargo. Although he had already technically mated with Noelle, he wanted to make it official with his mate as a fully aware participant. But to do it properly, it meant waiting until they were home where he could comfortably take her up in their tree in the safety of their territory where they would be undisturbed. It was for this reason that excitement filled him as he spotted the first sign of the pond.

He felt a little guilty for how quickly he abandoned the Gwyr who had rescued him but at least he had the forethought to extend an invitation for the male and his mate to visit before departing. He would just have to inform his mother and the entire clan so that panic would not be raised when they visited.

But first, he wished to mate with Noelle correctly—the way she deserved.

Drawing her to their tree, he climbed with her through the garden and helped her into the lower limb. Higher and higher they climbed, her hand trustingly in his as she allowed him to guide her up until the pond seemed to open up below them. Athis side, Noelle turned so that she faced away from the tree and her breath caught as she stared out at the view.

“This is amazing,” she whispered in awe.

He hugged her against his side and dropped a kiss onto the top of her head. “I wanted to give you this—I needed to,” he corrected himself wryly.

She turned her head, angling it back as she glanced up at him curiously. “What do you mean?” A smile tipped her lips, and she turned into him, her arms wrapping around his torso. “I have everything that I need, right here.”

His heart melted and he gathered her close to his chest, holding her tightly against him. “I hope that always remains true.”

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