Page 56 of Shadows and Flames
No, I was not afraid of her, never that. Butforher?
A raucous cough alerted me once again to Fenix sprawled before me. His body shook, and I returned my hands to him. This time, it was just to soothe. To provide a gentle touch as he searched the ceiling. When he finally found me, he was still trembling, and I let him grab my wrists for anchor.
His grip was strong for his condition yet weak considering how formidable Vyrkos normally were when healthy. I felt the fast beating of his heart, so different than the typical slow cadence for his kind.
“You are okay. You are alive. Breathe slowly for me,” I murmured softly.
Dark circles marred the skin under his eyes. There was still an angry, red mark slashed across his neck, a cruel mockery of the silver necklace they’d choked him with. But he breathed. Lips shaking as I demonstrated the action, silently offering him to follow.
And he did. All arrogance was gone, leaving a scared male, clinging to me for comfort, for life. But that was something I was used to as well, the vulnerable nature of those in my care.
I smiled down at him, but it immediately fell when his breaths stuttered. I took extra time getting him back into the rhythm while sweeping my regular senses over him. The scent of panic was abating. The sound of his lungs was strong, and the barest color started returning to his naturally pale cheeks.
“Good. You’re doing great, Fenix,” I grinned. He really was. There was still the concern of needing to feed, as I’d sensed how hungry he was, but I would personally give him my ration. Find him someone to drink from before we parted ways.
The Vyrkos continued to stare at me, but I was unbothered, relaxing onto my haunches and keeping my hands in his grasp. There was no need for them now, aside from comfort, but that was part of good healing, too.
“Right,” Tomás drew the word out. “So, what do we do with them?”
Chapter Twenty-One
ELIÁN
Rhaea’s power tickled.
It was not the time, nor the place to divulge this to my queen, so I suppressed a shudder as it searched my spine, gliding against my nape and spilling across my shoulders.
My own Goddess power swam under my skin, but I kept it away, focusing all on bringing peace to my queen.
I’d heard what she said. She claimed so easily that she was evil when she was nothing of the sort.
“Tana is safe,” I reminder her once again. “I am safe, Tom is safe,youare safe.” She was accepting my words, my touch, but I hesitated to go further. To drop a kiss to her brow. Would she push me away if I dared?
“Right. So, what do we do with them?” my brother asked, and a growl slipped out of me. I did not save these humans for their sakes. Should we have been on dry land, I might have stood back and watched as she dealt them the hand they sought.
But, I risked a press of lips on her brow and was rewarded a quiet sigh, should my queen have killed them all, it would be because they deserved it. Not because of any lack ofgoodnesswithin her.
“Well, we can’t leave them to attack us again,” Meline surmised, voice no longer reverberating. The last time I had seen her this way, she was terrified, uncontrolled.
Now, as we looked upon the humans while they stared back at us, I felt the ease with which she commanded her gift. The same as when I drew flames.
I grunted and kissed her again, pulling her closer. And as stubborn as she could be, Meline leaned further into my arms, my chest. Low, just for me, she mumbled, “Thank you.”
Another brush of Death prickled the backs of my arms, now lighter, quicker. As if it was playing, coaxing. I hummed low in my throat.
“I’ll go get the good captain,” Tom volunteered, giving a wide berth between himself and my queen and me. He was a blur as he went up the steps, but shortly thereafter, the quick patters of soft feet tumbled down. Chased by heavier ones.
“Viktor!” A woman gasped,thewoman. A human man tried to pull her back up the steps, but she shoved him away.
Her eyes went wide as she halted, still a few more steps to go. A bandage rested on her neck, but she otherwise appeared well. Unharmed.
Unlike her brother, who had taken up shouting around the fabric stuffed in his mouth, she stopped a moment, observing the scene.
And when she looked to the Vyrkos, still lying before Tana, her face crumpled. Tears shimmered and spilled down her cheeks, and after a few breaths, pointed and long, she threw back her shoulders.
She came down the last few steps and raised her chin. “This has g-gone t-too far, Vik.”
He only shouted louder, demanding attention while we all gave it to the little human. She wore a pair of trousers and easily crouched beside the Vyrkos. He flicked between waryand relieved, suspicion and awe. This woman was the one the humans said they were avenging, and Tana was the one who just saved his immortal life.
