Page 58 of Love & Monsters
“I am not forlorn. Merely deep in thought,” I replied, straightening my shoulders. “There is much to consider right now.”
“It’s war. The only thing we need to consider is how to swing our swords, and how Rykan’s head will look on a pike.” Knox snarled, tightening his grip on his reins.
“He might have wronged me, but I don’t actually like thinking of my brother’s head severed from his body. We were all children together once.” The memories stung after his betrayal.
“We were, yet he still overthrew you and sent you to the dungeon to wither away.” Knox growled, and his face twisted. “He would have killed mine and Ilya’s child, you know. Just because of the chance that it could have a claim to the throne stronger than his. He’s that bloodthirsty, and you must have a greater thirst to do what must be done.”
“I must kill my brother. I know, Knox.” The tension in my shoulders felt tight with the strain of my obligations. “He never would have had the chance to kill the child if it came to it. Luckily, Ilya is safely back in the fortress.”
“And my child is likely born by now.” Knox hissed. It was a sound laced with aguish and frustration. I felt for my friend and the moments he missed.
My thoughts traveled back to Mina. Surely, she was also safe in the fortress. Ilya wasn’t pleased, but I knew she wouldn’t harm her. The other Nefellim didn’t mind her presence. She was more of a curiosity to them than anything. Her skills impressed many of the fortress inhabitants with the way she effortlessly handled numbers.
Indeed, she was very impressive. It was my luck that she landed in my life. If not for tradition, I might have said more to her before I left. It pained me to think that she would awaken the next morning at a loss for my absence. Mina didn’t know all of our traditions yet.
Was she faring well in my absence? Did my little human miss me at all? She might not have been afraid of me anymore, but our relationship was—
“Are you thinking of the human?” Knox interrupted my thoughts again.
“Yes.” No point in lying to him. Knox knew me longer than Ilya did. We were still young when she was born, but Knox knew me better than anyone.
“Why do you pine after the human? She’s just a little thing.” I felt his pale eyes burning into the side of my face. “Granted, her work was helpful. What use is she in the long term? What are the chances she’ll survive in our world?”
“She will survive. I’ll see to it.” Unconsciously, my fists tightened, and my teeth clenched with sudden force. “I will do all I must to ensure her safety.”
“When I heard the ruckus in the market and took the human, I never would have guessed you’d take an interest in her. I took her to distract Rykan. The little thing got the wrong brother’s attention.” Knox chuckled at himself, finding himself ever humorous.
“It’s not something I expected to happen.” It was time to admit to myself the reason she was so alluring, and why I could never resist her.
“Why keep her around now?” Knox cleared his throat before leaning closer to whisper for my ears alone. “What I really mean is, why keep her in your bed outside of her aid?”
My eyes rolled nearly into the back of my head at the question. “I should have killed you when I found you mounting my sister.”
“I thought we were past that!” Knox sputtered, jerking back out of whispering distance. “You know we couldn’t help ourselves. Ilya is my mate.”
“It’s that simple, then.” My voice went quiet. Knox stayed silent, staring at me as he turned my words over in his head.
“The human is—Is that possible?” He breathed out, almost too stunned to speak. Not stunned enough.
“It would seem so. I can no longer deny what I suspected.” My head tilted back, peering through the breaks in the trees to the two moons in the swirling red sky. “Mina is my mate.”
“Then I shall pray to the old gods and the new you can defeat Rykan. My child and your human rely on our success.” One might have expected a snip or something smart from Knox’s mouth at the revelation. Those who truly knew him would know that he was smarter than that.
“Keep praying then. I’d very much like to live through this war.” However long it would take.
Mina was my mate. I knew it without a doubt. There was no other way to explain this feeling of a pebble in my chest that agonized over her absence. She should be at my side, always. The most foolish parts of me wished she was at my side now, riding toward battle.
More days passed as we rode through the territory, slowly increasing our numbers. The insurgency only distracted Rykan for so long, and when he heard of my escape, his own numbers grew as he threatened citizens into joining his ranks.
Knox and I had letters sent back to the fortress as often as we could. However, messengers in war were slow. It was imperative we were careful with communications. The letters were vague. Ilya and Mina were safe, and they had enough supplies.
As long as Mina lived, I could go on. Another day closer to war, another day closer to returning to her. When the day came that I faced Rykan on the battlefield, I knew what I had to do.
In the end, I needed to be the one to kill my brother. If I showed him mercy, he might escape and try to overthrow me again. He was a vicious menace to my reign and if left alive, there’s no telling what might happen to Mina.
Rykan might destroy her just because it would be fun for him to do so. There’d be nothing left of her if that bastard got his hands on her. Mina was my mate, and I knew that without a doubt. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. Even if it meant that I had to rip my brother to shreds and tear his head from his body.
After another month of marching, camping, and strengthening our forces, word came that Rykan encamped near the Bone Valley. A horrid place, hard to maneuver with white spires of stone that reached for the sky. Regardless, our plan was to meet him there.
