Page 11 of Ink Sworn (Greatdrakes #3 | The Fae Universe #24)

Y elena sipped her water and told Taranis about her vision weeks ago in the camp. She spoke of what she had seen Midir do if he ever got hold of Valentine.

Taranis let her talk, refilling her water glass as she emptied it. She told him about Cathal's ambush, how he knew exactly where to find them.

Finally, she spoke about Cathal's interrogation and how he had revealed that Midir had been seeing visions of Valentine.

"I had to protect him, Taran. I couldn't let them hurt and twist him. You know Midir's power to take the minds of other creatures. I couldn't lose him," Yelena finished, her tears back and flowing freely.

Taranis was pale. "My poor girl. I'm so sorry you had to suffer through all of this. I know you are loyal to me and Mag Argatnél, but I never wanted you to have to prove it this way."

"There was no other way!" Yelena insisted. "I saw this place destroyed. I saw Valentine as Midir's weapon. It would have killed him to cause that kind of suffering on his kin... "

Taranis squeezed her hand. "Hush, darling. It's okay. I understand. You protected all of us, especially Valentine. We can't let him fall into Midir's hands. The power he has is not something any of us can understand."

"I can," Yelena said softly. "I think he could be my mate."

Taranis's breath wooshed out of him. "Dagda's balls. I mean... I suppose it would make some kind of sense. But I didn't think wild dragons had mates."

"I didn't either, but my dragon seems to think Valentine belongs to her.

Me. His magic is like mine. I'm just more experienced in hiding it.

He can't control it properly yet, but I can help him.

I know I can," Yelena insisted. She let out a bitter laugh.

"If he will trust me enough to let me help, that is.

I don't suppose he's going to come back now that I am awake. "

Taranis rubbed at his forehead. "He seems taken up with a project when he hasn't been here with you.

He's been driving the smiths in the city a little crazy, but I've made sure they give him whatever he needs.

It's better if he's kept busy and channeling some of that power of his.

I didn't know he could smith as well, but that's Valentine for you. "

Yelena smiled because she understood that kind of obsessive energy, too. "He's going to be upset with me for the Caelan thing for a while."

Taranis patted her hand. "Probably not as long as you think. If you are mates, well, these things have a way of working themselves out. He was extremely worried when he knew that you had been taken. Apparently, as a dragon, he was even scarier."

Yelena chewed her lip, thinking of the binding sigil on Valentine's chest.

Taranis sensed her hesitation. He knew her too well. "What is it? What now? "

Yelena chose her words very carefully. "I don't think that was his full shift. Just part of it."

"Fucking hell, I'm too old for this. Just thinking about this gives me heartburn," Taranis said, rubbing at his chest. "You'll warn me if you sense him starting to lose control?"

Yelena nodded."I will. I told you. I am going to help him. He needs it, and I think we are all going to need him by the end of this."

"Can I help you in any way?" he asked.

"Give me a hand up? I want to go and see Avallach."

The beaten knight was in the room next to her with Emyr and Reeve keeping him company. He was bandaged and bruised, but he was smiling. Yelena hobbled in, her body still stiff and sore.

"I'm… I'm so sorry," she said, and would have tipped over if Taranis hadn't been holding onto her arm.

Avallach moved over and patted the bed. "Come here, little sister. You look far worse than I do."

They helped her into the bed beside him, and she flung an arm around him and sobbed.

Taranis patted her on the back. "I'll let you all catch up. I have to see to some things."

"He's stressed," Reeve said once he was gone.

"It's a king's job," Emyr replied.

Yelena hugged Avallach until he groaned. "Easy there, little sister. I don't need my ribs any more bruised than what they are."

"It was the only way to save us. I'm so sorry," she said into his chest.

"Stop saying sorry. I'm a bit knocked around, but you said we would survive, and we did. That's what matters," Avallach said, holding her close. "I'm a little miffed I didn't get to be the one to kill Cathal, but Valentine did a satisfactory job."

Yelena wiped her cheeks. "He did? "

"Yeah, he ate the bastard. You should have seen it. Cathal was changing to all these different forms, trying to escape, and Valentine ate him whole," Emyr said, and wrinkled her nose. "And he also ate your hand. Cathal was wearing it as a trophy, and Valentine took offense at that."

"Fucking gross," Reeve said with a laugh. "Val has never been one to do things by halves, though."

"I wish I could have seen that," Yelena added. She knew she probably shouldn't, but she didn't mind that he had eaten her hand. Dragons weren't squeamish about such things. "Cathal had it coming many times over."

Reeve grinned. "I'm glad you are both okay. Especially you, Avallach. I would have hated to tell Moira you were defeated."

"Charlotte passed on her letter," Avallach snorted.

"She wrote to you? That's cute. I didn't get a letter," Yelena said with a pout. She liked the fiery little Ironwood.

Avallach gestured to Emyr, who passed him the small piece of paper from the nightstand. He gave it to Yelena.

She read out loud, "'I'm glad you aren't dead and that you remain undefeated.' Aww, that's cute."

"Turn it over," Avallach said.

Yelena did and choked on her laughter. "'So I can still be the one to defeat you.' Oh gods, she's so murderous, and I love her."

"I'm staying in Faerie from now on," Avallach said with a snort. "Little monster will get me in my sleep, I swear it."

Reeve laughed harder. "Pretty certain it's how Ironwoods show their affection. Threats are like their love language. I'm sure she secretly thinks you're the coolest and will train extra hard to defeat you."

"That's no bad thing. Extra training will keep her safe," Emyr said and nodded in approval .

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one she's sworn a blood vendetta against," Avallach complained.

Yelena laughed with the rest of them and clung to the feeling of normality. She tried not to wish Valentine were there with them. She kept looking at the door, hoping he would come through it.

"He's down in a workshop," Reeve said, giving her a smile so like his brother's. "Don't worry about him. A project is generally how he processes big, traumatic emotions and events."

"Any idea what he's making?" Yelena asked curiously.

"He's being cagey about it." Reeve squeezed her hand. "But you should ask him yourself. You're probably the only one who will understand what he's saying when he explains it."

Yelena grinned. "I just might."