Page 22 of Dark Fae's Desires
His blue-eyed gaze bores into me just daring me to say yes.
“Of course not,” I exclaim. “You are being ridiculous. Jerrick, tell him he’s being ridiculous.”
I look at Jerrick, but he gazes silently back at me. “I can’t do that, Princess,” he says softly. “It’s the best idea we’ve got. You are losing too much blood. You are regenerating it at a rapid rate, but soon it will take its toll on you.”
Glaring at him, I shove two tissues up my nose to try and stop the flow. I’m not sure how Theo didn’t jump on me and start lapping at my face earlier. He must be feeding regularly from someone. Question is who?
A maudlin silence drops over the room, and then I nearly jump out of my skin when the bathroom door opens,and Rath’Na strides out, looking cleaner and quite a lot better. I’d totally forgotten he was in there; he took that long.
“Enjoy your shower?” I ask with a small smile, taking in his remarkably good-looking face. Cheekbones you could cut yourself on, a straight nose and full lips.
“Oh, indeed,” he says. “What a creation. Like standing under a warm waterfall.”
My cheeks go hot at the mention of waterfalls, and I catch Rook’s eye. He grins at me, and the tension drops. It appears I have to look at this from a strictly objective point of view. Certainly, I can’t go on losing this much blood for much longer, and I can’t keep ignoring the pain in my heart and my veins that is screaming at me to go to Anders and be with him. Obviously, that isn’t an option, so this seems to be my only way out.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I ask tentatively as Jerrick gets up to guide Rath’Na towards the door, with words to go and find Tabitha to feed him.
“I will be fine,” Jerrick reassures me with a soft smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. I was so scared…”
I shrug. “It was my own stupid fault. I was reckless, but I’m here now. Rath’Na helped me see that I wasn’t helpless and that I could help myself.”
He looks over his shoulder at the door. Rath’Na has wandered off all alone, a Dragon in a Fae Palace. I frown, knowing that is a really bad idea.
“Do you trust him?” Rook asks carefully. “I meanreallytrust him.”
“Yes, completely. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be locked up.”
“So would he,” he points out lightly.
I glare at him and fold my arms across my chest. “He didn’t want to come. He wanted me to leave him behind. He did not engineer all of this to escape.”
“Okay,” he says quickly. “I’m sorry. I just want to make sure that he’s not going to try to hurt you.”
“He won’t,” I insist, glaring at Jerrick as well.
He comes to me and sits by my side, taking my hands. “Your safety is the only thing that matters, Savvie. We are being cautious with the most precious thing to us.”
How can I stay mad at them after that? “I understand, but Rath’Na is fine. Can we try this now? I want it over with so that I know you’re okay.” I stroke Rook’s face.
He nods and sits cross legged on the bed with me and takes my hands. “Close your eyes.”
I do as he says and let his voice wash over me as he murmurs relaxing things to me, like picturing swimming in the beautiful lake in the unicorn glen, a picnic under a thundering sky, and the ravens pecking at the bread in my hand.
Feeling the tension drain away, I smile. My hands are getting warm, and I know he is directing his power into me, but he can only do so much. I have to do the rest. I have to draw it out of him and into me, but I hesitate, and he rumbles at me.
Jerrick places his hand on the back of my neck. “Come on, love,” he murmurs. “You need to do this.”
I nod slightly, and then, hating myself only slightly, I pull on Rook’s magick, drawing his strength into me.
Gasping as it rushes into me, it whips up a wind that swirls around us.
He groans, but Jerrick tightens his hold on my neck, almost warning me not to stop.
“I’m sorry!” I cry out as I pull as fast as I can, letting themagick settle over me, the power of our two magicks mingling, combining to form a much more forceful might within me.
My heart races, but I feel the blood oath calm down. The fire in my veins diminishes as Rook’s hands go slack in mine, and I open my eyes to see him fall back onto the bed, dead because of me.
“No!” I weep and crawl over to him, straightening his body out so that he lays comfortably while he resurrects. “Please come back to me.” I kiss his face, stroking his lips with my fingertips, tangling my fingers into his curly dark hair.
