Page 50 of Blood Lord

28

Selene

Ididn't realize how insignificant time is until I spent a week with immortals.

Since Raziel and I mated, everything has passed by blissfully. I can barely keep up with time down here, outside of when I grow tired, but Raziel is used to it. He keeps me oriented so we're never late.

Being underground for this long has made me miss the sunshine and wind, though there is a magic breeze that flits through the tunnels. I couldn't imagine being down here as long as the vrakken have.

I think that just the idea of fresh air is pushing us all to work even hard on the plans for the aboveground base, and we have gathered a group and ironed out all the details in record time. We're supposed to be leaving in the morning and the entire coven is buzzing with excitement in preparation for us to leave.

The Council was very specific on who they picked to come with us. It's mostly vrakken Elders, though there are some younger generations. Raziel said that they couldn't send the Council themselves in case it fails.

He's been working hard with the Council, especially Brinda—and I've been working hard not to be jealous. I know that Raziel and I are mated and that it is a sacred bond that no one would dare thwart. Even if they did, Raziel would never reciprocate.

For that reason, I've bit my tongue as he's gone to his own meetings to vet any potential members of our group. It's been an incredibly in depth process that I haven't understood, but as of yesterday, the final decisions were made.

But it's clear that anyone not chosen is jealous. Multiple scouts have been sent out since Raziel first went to the surface, and after meeting me, the vrakken are growing restless. It's one thing to know that the surface is there. It's another to hear of others going and not being able to join.

I don't blame them, though. I'm relieved to be going back aboveground, permanently. I don't think I would be able to handle it if I was told to stay down here.

But as excited as I am to go to the surface again, I'm nervous about my new role. I feel there are high expectations waiting for me, and that is tough on its own under Brinda's scrutiny. But with this being a new project that is risky at best, we have a great chance of failure.

And by failure, I mean I'll die, and they'll all be reduced to husks of themselves and probably captured. A fate worse than death really.

It terrifies me, but I know that this is what is in the best interest for the vrakken. Honestly, I believe it's in the best interests of humans, too, to escape the oppression that the dark elves have brought upon us. I have hope for a better future for Protheka, but I won't get ahead of myself.

This mission will require the utmost tact and secrecy, which is one of the reasons that only older vrakken have been chosen. The younger generations struggle to control themselves around humans. Several have avoided me at all costs because the temptation is too much.

Raziel picked those with the best self-control because nothing would sabotage this mission like the vrakken attacking the very people that agree to work with them. And we have to stay alert and focused if we are going to start taking out the dark elves without being noticed.

It's all enough to make me sick, and I consider again that maybe I'd be better off down here. I know Raziel brags on me for being brave, but deep down, I'm petrified. It only gets worse the more I think about it.

The only thing that's kept me sane is staying busy. Between the plans, meetings, and my time with Raziel, I've barely had time to remember that I'm down here. And when it does start to weigh on me, my loving mate brings me back out of it.

One of the things we've been doing together is cooking. Obviously, there is no kitchen down here, but we've managed to construct a fire pit and fashioned a few tools to cook food for me.

Finding meat isn't that difficult with Raziel's quick reflexes and the throbbing spring in the middle of the room. Unfortunately, that really only leaves me with fish, but he's also found a few plants and other growths around some parts of the cave, growing off of magic instead of sunlight.

I've been trying to show Raziel how to cook. He's determined to be a good husband, but when our only options here are to filet a fish by hand and rip up some plants to roast with no spices, it's hard to make even a decent meal.

It's another thing I'm looking forward to about the surface. I miss seasonings, and I almost want to laugh. What a weird thing to miss.

A loud bang brings me back to attention, and I have to fight a laugh as I watch Raziel fumbling about, trying to chop and cook what looks like a strange plant he found and chunks of boneless fish.

If I was to be honest, I'd have to admit he's hopeless. It's been so long since Raziel has eaten or cooked anything that he forgot the words. When I said 'seasonings' or 'skillet,' he just stared at me blankly like I was speaking another language.

Right now, he's muttering under his breath in his native language, and though it is soft sounding, I can tell he is flustered. He only slips into another tongue when his brain is elsewhere.

He really is so sweet, and it makes my heart swell as I watch him struggle, determined to do this for me. He's been concerned that I'm pushing myself too hard and insists that I relax when I'm at home with him.

I don't have the heart to tell him that I'm a better cook, and that's why I want to do it.

"Nafasam," he coos as he comes over to me, and I grin at him.

He looks so proud as he lays the plate he fashioned out in front of me, and I am thankful that I've spent so many years learning how to school my features into the correct mask for performances. Otherwise, I might have just broken his heart.

"Thank you, my love," I tell him, squeezing his hand, and he hovers next to me, waiting to see me take a bite.

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