Page 17 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)
Chapter Sixteen
Nyx
I narrow my eyes on the leader of the Unseelie, my shadows swirling around me with my frustration and dissatisfaction. She’s forcing me to look away from my mate. The queen is demanding and also the reason that Iris’s bond practically buzzes with her stress.
It had been almost impossible for me to stand back when she fainted in front of the court, yet I knew my appearance would only make things worse, so I waited for the denizens to leave. The two fated mounts had been a surprise, especially when I saw who they were protecting—my Iris. It shouldn’t have shocked me, not when I put everything together. At this point, nothing should surprise me about my mate.
The only reason I’ve not lashed out is because I can sense how much Iris needs my touch. Pushing my love through our bond, I see the instant effect it has on her, her cheeks becoming rosy and eyes bright. She’s stronger when we’re together, but it’s nothing to do with me. She believes in herself more, and watching her grow into the woman she’s supposed to be has been so gratifying. If all I manage in my long life is to convince Iris that she’s a strong, powerful female, then I’ve done my job.
A low grumble of discontent builds in my chest, causing the two horses to shuffle their weight from foot to foot as they sense the building of my dark powers. None of my anger is aimed at them though, nor the lord who claims to be her mate. No, I am staring down the female who has incurred my wrath.
To her credit, the queen doesn’t back down, a feat not many can brag about. Most are terrified of me, or at least the idea of me, so for her to continue to stand tall and scowl at me shows serious guts. For that, I won’t kill her for making me look away from my mate—today at least.
“You used her to distract me and hid in the shadows to get information,” she accuses, although she doesn’t sound as sure as she did when she threatened me with treason.
I lower my hood so she’s able to see my expression and the very fine line she is treading. “Queen Solanum, it’s a delight to see you again.”
Iris stiffens beneath my touch, but I can’t figure out why. The lord, Ciaran, is hovering between his leader and Iris, clearly not sure where to place his allegiance.
Queen Sola huffs with annoyance at the sarcasm in my tone, crossing her arms over her chest. “Death, why are you on my land?”
Honestly, I’m surprised by her gall. It’s been a long time since anyone has spoken to me like this. I’m a god, something she has clearly forgotten.
“You might want to remember who you are talking to, Sola.” My powers flare wildly within me, the shadows suddenly growing and moving with a life of their own. Without thinking about it, I act on impulse, tilting my head to one side and lifting my hand once more, balling it into a loose fist. She gasps, clutching at her throat as though trying to remove an invisible noose. Her eyes widen, panic flashing through them as she realises I am behind this little lesson.
Until now, Iris has been motionless in my arms, enjoying the warmth and protection I offer, but she’s worked out that I am causing Queen Sola to choke, so she turns to look up at me. Slowly, I’m able to look away from the queen and down to my mate. I can’t hear her, only a ringing in my ears, but she places her hand on my chest, right over my heart, and I know what she’s saying. She doesn’t want this. I used to enjoy using my powers to put people into their place, but now it just feels empty, especially as I feel Iris’s distress at what she’s seeing.
Point made, I open my hand and drop it to my side, ignoring Sola’s spluttering and coughing as she gasps for air.
“Iris is my mate,” I call out, my gaze still locked on Iris despite addressing the queen. “I needed to make sure she was safe.”
“She is the key to our salvation. I’m not going to kill her!” Queen Sola scoffs, pressing her hand against her chest as she recovers, as though the idea of harming Iris is absurd. There are many ways to hurt someone without killing them, something Queen Sola knows well.
The urge to roll my eyes at her behaviour is strong, but I manage to hold it back. All of her panting and shaking is over the top, a show for Iris perhaps. It was only a small choke, and she’s used to more than that, something I know personally.
My body tightens, my muscles poised as I try to hold myself back. “She was almost killed by a water wraith on the way here.”
She stands upright, anger flashing in her eyes as she miraculously recovers from her ordeal . “Until Lord Ciaran, one of my people, saved her from the wraith.” She gestures towards the lord whose arms are crossed as he watches us. He looks so uncomfortable and out of place that I almost feel sorry for him.
This time, I don’t bother to stop my eyes from rolling. She’s taking this whole issue out of context and blowing it out of proportion. Why is she doing it? Is it jealousy? Is she truly angry that I’m on her land? The thought that I was here to spy is laughable.
“Come on, you know I’m not here to spy or overthrow you. I have better things to do.” Wrapping my arms over Iris’s shoulders, I hold her against me, showing Sola where my priorities now lie. “If I wanted the Unseelie Court, don’t you think I would have taken it by now?”
We both know that if it came down to a fight, I would win. I’m a god, and not just any god, but I rule over death. With the snap of my fingers, I could take out half of her army. I may be ruthless, but I stick to the rules of the universe. The Fates tell me when someone’s time is up, and I guide them into death. There would be severe consequences if I were to take lives for my own gain—not that Queen Sola knows that.
Anger seems to evaporate from the queen, replaced with a look of disappointment. “It turns out I don’t know you at all, Death.”
Her expression confuses me. Why would she feel disappointed in me when I only assured her that I’m not after her throne? I have never been great at understanding mortals’ emotions, their fragile little hearts feeling far too much all at the same time. When you live for an eternity, emotions dull, as you have so much time to think on it over the centuries. When Iris came into my life, she awoke something inside me, and when it comes to her, my feelings are electric.
Looking at the way Queen Sola is watching me now, I see a flash of something I do recognise—envy.
“Queen Sola—” I begin, but Iris shifts in my arms and steps out of my hold.
Turning, she looks from Sola to me, her adorable brow furrowed. “You two know each other,” Iris accuses, her stance strong as she faces us down.
I’m so proud of her for standing up and demanding an answer rather than shrinking away like she would have done when she was younger. Sola and I are not easy people to stand against, but do wish this wasn’t the topic that brought her out of her shell.
The queen and I are well acquainted. Our relationship, if it could even be called that, was a casual one based on sex alone. Feelings were never involved. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and never in my wildest nightmares did I expect that I would have to explain this to my mate.
Clearing my throat, I allow my expression to go blank. “We had a brief dalliance more than a century ago.”
Sola laughs seductively and takes a slow step towards me. “Oh, I wouldn’t call it brief. I remember many long nights with you.” She saunters up to me and, at the last moment, glances over at Iris. “He’s a very attentive lover, isn’t he?”
Her expression shifts, twisting into a snarl I didn’t know Iris was capable of as she takes a threatening step forward. An almighty yank in my chest almost has me stumbling towards her, a wave of possessive energy claiming me. It feels fucking amazing.
“How dare—”
The rest of her threat is cut off as Sola’s head snaps up, her expression completely serious. I hear it a second later—footsteps. Ciaran is already moving, placing Iris behind him to protect her from whoever is approaching.
“What’s happening?” Iris asks, her voice wobbling despite her trying to keep it steady.
Ciaran glances over his shoulder to look her in the eye. “Someone is coming.”
Spreading out my dark powers, I make a mental map with my shadows. There, just outside of the ruins, is a single male. I don’t know who he is, but I can tell he’s alone.
“Whoever it is, they are not Unseelie,” Sola says, confirming my suspicions.
Whoever is here doesn’t have permission and is illegally on this land. This means they are either human or Seelie. Either is bad news for us.
“They’ve come for Iris.” Ciaran’s voice is a growl, his expression feral as he sinks into a defensive position, Iris still safely behind him.
His energy only increases my own. We’re ready to protect our mate at whatever cost.
“They’ll have to get through me first,” I snarl, dropping into a low crouch and calling my powers to me, ready to kill whoever has snuck up on us.