Page 23 of Stone Heart
Her eyes widened even more at the announcement.
“She will not be going anywhere,” he said. “I will keep the necromancers from her.”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head fiercely. “That can’t be!”
“Why not?” He scowled at her answer. He wasn’t used to people denying him anything. Why couldn’t Rina be his mate? Why would the witch deny what fate had in mind?
“Because you’re the protector of this realm. She is Elf and will need to return to Faery soon. She will lead the Fae realm. There’s nothing against you personally, gargoyle, but Faery’s future depends on her.”
His eyes burned as he thought of Rina being taken from him. The witch carefully watched him take a step back from the bed.
“We will see about that. Fate made the decision to bring us together, and no one, and I mean no one, will get in my way of claiming my mate.”
“We’ll see what King Khantar has to say about that, gargoyle.” Solana turned her back to him to straighten the already perfect covers.
He glared at her back.
She had dismissed him.
No one turned their back on Rhodack Gahnoth.
“She’s my mate. End of story,” he said, moving to her side.
Her body stiffened, and she hovered near Rina. She wouldn’t keep him from Rina. He’d break through whatever barriers Rina tried to put up against him for him to make her see she belonged to him. Finding out she was a powerful Elf made it all the more obvious why fate had brought them together.
They watched Rina slumber. A tear slipped from her closed eyelid. His heart pounded as the single droplet disappeared into her thick blonde locks.
“When will she awaken?” he asked, not liking that she may be in pain of some kind.
“I’m going to bring her out of her slumber now. I put her under when her powers exploded.”
“Will she have any memory of Faery? Will she be the same person she was before she passed out?”
“The spell I had over her is now gone. She’ll remember everything and she’ll know who she truly is. I’m sure while she’s sleeping, her brain is reminding her of everything before we left Faery. It was her mind that figured out I was suppressing her memories. She grew too powerful for me.” Solana glanced at him. She sniffed as she gazed at the beautiful woman she’d raised from a child.
“Wake her.”
Rina’s eyes slowly opened.She blinked a few times to clear her vision. Her skin literally crawled with the power that was harnessed in her body. It had been a long time since it had flowed freely throughout her.
She breathed a deep sigh as she tried to get a grip on everything her mind had shown her. She focused on breathing to slow down her heart and the racing memories that flooded her mind.
She bit back a sob because she remembered everything.
Even that fateful night when her mother had begged her to go with the dark-haired witch to safety.
“Please go, Larina. Mommy and Daddy love you so much,” the queen cried, tears pouring down her face. She stepped back from Larina, putting her hand in front of her mouth.
They were behind the castle in the middle of the night. The dark sky crackled with the energy that was flooding Faery. Lightning lit up the sky with bursts of energy.
Evil was coming.
“But, Mommy, I’m strong. I can help fight,” little Larina cried, struggling against the witch’s arms. She was desperate to run to her mother. “I don’t want to go. Mommy! I want to stay here with you! I promise I’ll be a good girl.”
Her mother’s tear-filled eyes flew to the witch’s as she nodded.
“Please, Solana. Keep my baby safe. I cannot thank you enough.”
“It is an honor, my queen. I promise Larina will be safe. I shall raise her as my own child,” the witch said, pulling Larina closer to her body.
