Page 12 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)

Chapter Eleven

Iris

“ C ome back, my sweet,” a voice that clearly doesn’t belong to a human calls out. I freeze as pure terror consumes me. This must be the creature Ciaran warned me about, the watery sound of its voice sending a chill through me. Deep in my bones, I know I need to keep running, but as I start to pull at my clothes again, trying to free myself, I can’t help but look over my shoulder.

My heartbeat thrashes in my ears as I try to back away, my breaths becoming laboured as my efforts only result in me getting more tangled in the thorns. Cuts litter my skin from the sharp brambles, but I hardly notice, not when faced with certain death.

The creature is humanoid in shape but appears to be made of mud, weeds, and water, its form shifting as it moves. Dark eyes stare at me, the look it’s giving me radiating danger. I need to get away now before it gets any closer.

“Come sit with me while you wait for your lord.” Its scratchy voice bubbles in its chest as though the creature’s lungs are full of water.

I don’t reply, sure that if I open my mouth I’m just going to scream. The being before me is something out of a horror novel, every instinct telling me to run. There is no way I’m going to wait here with the creature, no matter how reasonable their responses may be.

Suddenly, the creature shifts its weight, and its shape starts to change. My breath catches in my chest, and I struggle to breathe as I watch, unable to process what I’m seeing. It shifts forms, appearing as a pale, beautiful naked woman, her long, seaweed-like hair draped across her perfect body, covering her breasts.

She is stunning, with smooth and perfect skin. Her face has a pixie-like appearance, and her long ears indicate she is fae. The more I watch her, the more I’m convinced I am that this isn’t her true appearance. She’s trying to make herself more appealing to get me to trust her. After seeing the mess that crawled out of the pond, there is no way I will ever be able to forget what she really looks like.

Her head tilts to one side, and she clasps her hands in front of her as she waits for a response.

Shit. Swallowing the lump in the back of my throat, I continue to untangle myself from the thorns. “Thank you, but I am needed elsewhere.”

I’m terrified, and that shows in my croaky voice and jerky movements. Of course, the creature notices all of this, its nostrils flaring as it scents my fear. “Oh, a polite one. How rare,” she coos, smiling widely and exposing rows of needle-like teeth. “My friends and I only want to talk.”

Friends. This thing isn’t alone. I try to slow my rapid breathing as I look around. Everything suddenly seems like a threat, paranoia gripping me tightly. Ripples across the pond catch my attention, and I see the tops of several heads, their large, beady black eyes staring at me with a hunger I didn’t think was possible. They have scraggly black hair, and although I can’t see the rest of their bodies, I know they are going to be terrifying.

“You see,” the creature continues, taking a slow step towards me. It seems to take a lot of effort for her, each step away from the pond becoming harder. “We don’t get many visitors, and we’ve heard all about you. You’re going to save us. Look, you’ve already brought life to our land.” She gestures towards the blue iris flowers that surround the area where I was kneeling.

I was right about the flowers then. I somehow did cause them. That’s something I have to file away for later, as it feels important, but surviving is my priority. She’s trying her best to convince me that she’s no threat to me, her voice warming to mimic a female, but she’s unable to conceal the raspy, wet sound in her throat. Even if I were oblivious to all this and hadn’t seen her original form, malice radiates from her.

“You are very kind, but Lord Ciaran told me to be wary of you.” I smile sheepishly and shrug my shoulders as though I am apologetic for what I’m saying. In reality, I will say whatever I think might save me. “I have to return to him.” The entire time I speak, I continue to attempt to free myself, half of my body now free from the thorns. For each bramble I escape, though, she manages to take another laboured step towards me. Terror rises within me as she gets closer, the spike of adrenaline causing my fingers to fumble.

“Your lord is smart,” she remarks, the sound making me wince. “However, you are very important, so I can restrain my hunger this once.”

Is she saying that she’s not going to eat me? Then why is she determined for me to stay here with her and her friends? Whatever the reason, I don’t think her intentions are altruistic, and Ciaran was pretty clear that I needed to get away from the creature in the pond.

Sharp pain lances through me, and I scream as a burning sensation sears through me, my veins feeling as though they are on fire. My breaths come in short, sharp bursts, pinpricks of black flashing in my eyes. Glancing down at my leg, I see a small, dripping creature attached to me, its mouth of sharp teeth wrapped around my calf. I cry out again, this time in disgust and fear, and kick the creature, thankfully sending it flying across the forest and back into the pond with a loud splash. Blood rolls down my leg from the many small lacerations where I flung the creature.

It hurts, especially when I look at it. Thankfully adrenaline is pumping through me and making it easier for me to cope with the pain, blocking it out while I try to escape.

“I apologise for that.” The wraith makes a strange noise, almost like the croak of a frog, and her body seems to shift between forms as her gaze stays locked on my injured leg. “My friends and I are very hungry, and you smell so good.”

The creature inhales deeply, her eyes flashing as she scents my blood in the air. Is she losing control? As soon as she scented my blood, her whole demeanour seemed to change, not to mention she is having difficulty holding this form. Only moments ago, she said she was going to hold back her hunger because of who I am, yet now everything has changed.

Moist, webbed hands appear from nowhere as more of those small creatures from the pond grab me and pull me forward.

“No,” I bark, fighting against them, panic making my throat tight. They are far stronger than they look, and as soon as I fight off one, two more appear. I already know what’s happening, but I can’t stop myself from looking up and seeing what awaits me.

They are dragging me towards the pond.

The female wraith stands tall, watching me with dead eyes and a wide smile that I find terrifying. She’s not just going to eat me, she’s going to devour me. There will be nothing left of me for anyone to find, and my mates will never know what happened to me. Digging my feet into the bracken, I try to stop my movement, but they simply slide through the uneven ground.

Images of my mates flash in my mind, making my chest tight as I think of them and how they will cope without me. Will Nyx feel my terror and come for me? He told me that he would always keep me safe, but I know he’s worried about the Fates. Will Alaric have to suffer through my pain as I’m ripped apart and drowned? I can feel his distress at being separated from me, but how will he cope when I’m dead?

Their long, sharp fingernails scratch my skin as they drag me forward, edging me ever closer to the dank water. All my muscles tense, trying to make it more difficult for them to move me. I can think of nothing other than how much it’s going to hurt when they rip me apart. My foot slips in the mud right at the edge of the pond, ripping a scream from me as my boot plunges into the water. It’s freezing, and I can already feel it sapping my energy.

“Stop!” The word is bellowed across the forest, magically amplified.

Everything freezes, even the breeze around me seems to stop. Several of the hands clutching me slowly let go, and I hear quiet splashes as some of the creatures disappear into the water.

Turning, I look at Ciaran behind me. I don’t see the male I’ve been getting to know, but a lord of the Unseelie Court. He stands proudly, a light seeming to surround him, giving him an otherworldly glow that takes my breath away. Even the trees seem to bow in his presence.

“Release the girl.” There’s no room for argument in his tone. It’s an order that he expects to be followed. This presence that he’s portraying now is what I expected him to be like all the time, the stories I was told by the Seelie and other humans painting him as an evil villain with no morals. This is obviously not true, seeing as he’s here to save me. I guess it might not be seen like that from another perspective though.

“You have no jurisdiction over me,” the wraith hisses with derision, clearly not respecting his authority over her. Despite what she says, though, she remains frozen in place.

Raising his hand, he spreads his fingers wide, and a blast of magic explodes out of him, knocking everything back. All the creatures surrounding us are blown backwards as though hit with a physical object. Even the wraith beside me stumbles back into the pond, causing her to lose control of her shape.

His power leaves me standing and unharmed, only tingling against my skin as though in recognition.

“Iris, come to me.” He calls me to him using that same tone of authority, and he doesn’t have to tell me twice. Yanking my foot from the pond, I skid on the mud as I hurry over to him as swiftly as I can, not caring if I appear scared.

The wraith lurches out of the water, fury flashing in its wide eyes, yet it doesn’t step onto land.

“She came to my pond. She is mine to do with as I wish.” The hissing and bubbling in her voice make it difficult for me to understand what she’s saying. “You cannot take her—”

Ciaran holds up his hand to cut her off, and it works as she flinches. “When you’re powerful enough to challenge me, I shall listen to your demands,” he barks, stepping forward and sheltering me with his body. “Iris is my mate and the one from the prophecy. She is more important than your hunger.” He’s furious, his voice cold and features stark. I never want that expression levelled at me.

A tingle shoots down my spine as his statement echoes in my mind—mate. Before, when we were talking through the water, it was difficult to feel the full extent of the connection he spoke of, especially when I was still in the realm of the dead. Standing this close to him now, I feel his warmth and otherworldly presence radiating from him, affirming his declaration. As my adrenaline settles, it only reinforces this feeling as our bond starts to glow within me. I can feel it. He’s my mate.

My tremors begin to fade, an instinctive part of me knowing I am safe now that Ciaran is here. My body is running on survival mode, relying on my instincts, and because of that, my mind is focused fully on the present and getting out of this situation. There will be time to analyse all of this later, but for now, we need to get to safety.

“The queen will hear of this,” the wraith hisses, her words becoming less understandable as her form falls apart. It almost looks like she’s melting, mud and rancid water rolling down her form. All traces of a humanoid figure are gone, leaving only those dark eyes glowing with wrath.

Laughing darkly, Ciaran shakes his head. “You will find no support from her on this matter.”

The wraith garbles something back, but I can’t understand. Whether Ciaran does or not, I don’t know, but he dismisses her with a wave of his hand. Turning, he places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes gently. “Come, Iris, let me take you somewhere safe.”

It goes against everything I’ve ever learned to turn my back on a creature that just tried to kill me, but Ciaran will protect me. I meet his gaze, looking for any signs of the male I thought I was beginning to know. He seems to understand what I need, and his eyes soften ever so slightly as they flick across my face.

He has to wear this mask in front of the wraith. It maintains his authority. Anything else would be seen as weakness. Deciding to put my trust in him, I let him guide me away, the gargled shouts from the wraith following us.

We trudge through the thick trees, the journey taking longer than I expected. I must have travelled farther from the main path than I thought, although there is something about these woods that is disorienting. I swear I can still hear those bubbling, wheezing cries following us, even though it shouldn’t be possible, and I suspect I shall be visited by the wraith in my nightmares for a long time to come.

The silence is becoming too much for me, every sound startling me. With nothing to occupy my mind, I see threats everywhere. I’m also starting to feel the pain in my leg from the torn bite. Thankfully it’s not stopping me from walking, my adrenaline keeping me active, but I know it’s only a matter of time before I’ll need to do something about it. My pulse is rapid, but I try to take slow, even breaths… No, this isn’t working. I need a distraction.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find Ciaran just a step behind, his sharp gaze focused on the forest ahead of us.

“How did you get here so quickly?”

As far as I know, the fae don’t have the ability to teleport from one place to another, so how he got to me so fast is something that has been playing in the back of my mind.

His lip twitches slightly, and he gestures with a nod of his head. “I had a little help.”

A small gasp escapes me as I whip my head around, a part of me already knowing who it’s going to be. My eyes take a second to adjust, and I squint at the figure standing right at the edge of the treeline. They are acting as though the path is a physical boundary they are unable to pass, pacing the length of it. I might not be able to see his face thanks to the light behind him, but I would know that male anywhere.

“Nyx,” I whisper, my voice wobbling as a desperate need to be with him drives me forward. Stumbling towards him, I push through the undergrowth and hop over fallen branches, not bothered by my bleeding leg or torn skin.

“He knew he couldn’t intervene without causing more issues,” Ciaran explains, keeping close, “so he appeared in front of me and brought me here.”

He clearly wants to help me, his hands extended as I try to navigate the uneven ground. I’m grateful that he doesn’t, needing to do this myself, but I am also glad for his presence.

“It is a good thing I did,” Nyx grumbles, pulling me into his arms the moment I step onto the path.

I sink against his chest, his arms holding me tightly. His scent surrounds me, grounding me after that horrific experience. I thought I was going to die. Burying my face against his chest, I acknowledge just how fucking terrified I was. A choked sob escapes me. I wish I could say I was strong and handle it like water off a duck’s back, but I’m not. I’m a human in a world of impossibly strong fae, and I almost died. It’s okay to have this moment of weakness now that I’m safe and in the arms of someone who loves me. Nyx grumbles with dissatisfaction at my tears. Somehow, this seems to help, and my overwhelming emotions start to settle, drying my tears. It’s easier for me to think now, and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to fall apart.

“I leave you alone for half an hour and you almost get eaten by a water wraith.” Nyx must sense the change in my mood, his teasing comment light. I pull back and look up at him and see fear in his eyes. He thought he was going to lose me. Of course he would never let that happen, but he has to be so careful now that the Fates are watching us. They could easily decide to take my life back, and I doubt there’s anything Nyx could do about it if they did.

Ciaran coughs somewhere behind me, reminding us of his presence. Flushing with embarrassment, I untangle myself from Nyx and hurriedly wipe at my eyes. Nyx puts his hand on the small of my back, seeming to need physical contact with me. I don’t complain, because his touch helps keep me level.

“Thank you, you have my gratitude,” he says, addressing Ciaran formally while dipping his head slightly in a show of respect. His hand moves up my back, and he turns so his body is at an angle to mine, his gaze sliding over my body and taking in my wounds. “You found him. Can we go now?”

He wants to go back to his realm. In all honesty, that sounds like a great idea, even if I know we can’t. The realm of death is safe and familiar, which is exactly why he wants to go back. Biting down on my lip, I try to come up with a response for why we need to stay.

“I’m afraid that’s not an option,” Ciaran replies, his voice smooth and controlled. I shift my attention to him, and although he looks calm, I can feel his discomfort. “I have to take you to the Unseelie Court. It would cause disastrous consequences if we don’t.”

Nyx is about to say no, I can feel it, but I place my hand on his chest, stopping him from lashing out. Going to the Unseelie Court is not on my list of things I want to do, but I also know that we have to do this. If the god of death were to show up on Unseelie land, as well as the female from their prophecy, and leave without even acknowledging their queen, it would break any chances of diplomacy between us.

“We need more answers, Nyx.”

His expression clouds over. I can feel his internal battle, a tight knot forming in my chest. He wants to help me, but he is fighting with his protective instincts. Blowing out a long breath, he meets my gaze. “I cannot go to court. I have to stay separate from the politics of the fae courts, otherwise it appears like I have a bias.”

“I’ll look after her,” Ciaran promises, taking a step closer, his attention locked on me. My chest hums at having the two of them so close. In fact, it’s pretty intoxicating, and I become lightheaded.

They are both watching me, waiting for my answer. Nyx is wearing a dark expression, already knowing what I’m going to say.

“Then it’s settled. We’ll go to the Unseelie Court.” I turn to Ciaran and put as much fake confidence into my smile as possible. “Lead the way.”