Page 18 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)

Chapter Seventeen

Iris

Find Alaric

I blink rapidly from my position behind Ciaran, my fingers twisted in his jacket as I try to catch up with what’s happening. Everything happens far too quickly for me in the fae lands, and I can hardly keep up. One moment, I’m discussing the curse with Queen Sola, then she’s accusing Nyx of spying, and now, an unknown fae is approaching, all within the span of ten or so minutes.

At least, I assume the stranger is a fae. Humans wouldn’t be able to get this close to the fae without being heard sooner. The question is, who would be so bold as to sneak up on the Queen of the Unseelie?

I need to be alert and focused. If they are worried, then I certainly should be, but honestly, I’m still reeling from the revelation that Nyx and Queen Sola used to be lovers. It’s bringing up primal, possessive emotions that I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. They are intense, extreme, and difficult to put into words, but the jealousy it produces within me is a violent compulsion to warn her away from Nyx. He is mine , and that’s not about to change. The rational part of my mind can acknowledge that their dalliance happened before I was even born, and that someone as old as Nyx was bound to have relations before me, but the rational me has been pushed aside, my bond taking front and centre.

Our bond is solid and perfect within me, a silent promise of the life I’ll have with my mates. Nothing is certain in life except for the bond, and there isn’t a single part of me that doubts Nyx or my other mates. It’s her that’s causing this jealousy. I didn’t miss the look of disappointment in her eyes when she realised that Nyx and I were fully bonded.

I can’t believe this is what I’m obsessing over when Queen Sola, Nyx, and Ciaran are all focused on a mystery foe. Nyx and Ciaran both seem to think the stranger is here for me. My heart speeds up as my body finally begins to react to the threat.

“Show yourself, coward,” Nyx shouts from his crouched position at the mouth of the aisle. The three of them stand in a triangular formation with the god of death at the forefront. I’ve never seen him like this before, his power rippling from him like a dark tide. Queen Sola and Ciaran are two of the most powerful fae I’ve ever met, and their magic is like parlour tricks compared to Nyx’s.

“I come peacefully!” The male voice floats towards us on a phantom breeze, amplified with magic.

My heart skips a beat, all fear replaced with hope. While I still can’t see the owner, I know that voice—Blaise, Alaric’s closest companion and my reluctant friend. The depth of my emotion over him being here takes me by surprise. We have a complicated relationship, yet at the same time, it’s an easy one. He’s snarky and didn’t think much of me to begin with, but then I somehow saved his life. That created a bond between us different to that of the mate bond, as there are zero romantic feelings towards him, but we have a connection that brought us together.

“Blaise!” My feet move before I even realise what I’m doing, only to be pulled back half a second later. Ciaran’s arms wrap around me, pulling me against him as he murmurs something into my ear, but I can’t concentrate on what he’s saying.

He slowly steps into the ruined hall with his hands raised, his eyes locking on me immediately. His gaze travels over me, and I’m not quite sure what he’s searching for, but a look of immense relief crosses his face despite the three angry fae who staring him down. “Hey, Iris.”

He looks awful, and I want to run to him, but my heart is in a vice as I look behind him, searching for my final missing piece. Where is Alaric? Blaise doesn’t go anywhere without his prince, so why is he here alone?

An awful thought strikes me. What if Alaric isn’t here because he can’t be. I’ve suspected for some time that something is keeping him from me, and Blaise being here without his closest friend is all the confirmation I need. I feel like I can barely breathe, the potential reasons spinning wildly in my mind.

“You are trespassing on Unseelie land,” Queen Sola accuses, her voice sharp. “The penalty is death, especially for one such as you.” Lip curling as she speaks, she looks him over with disgust. “Why are you here?” Everything that had been soft about her has hardened, her eyes narrow and words sharp. Her body language is hostile, with her stance powerful, ready to pounce. Gone is the more relaxed Queen Sola, and in her place is a warrior queen. This is exactly how I expected the ruler of the Unseelie Court to behave, but I’m left wondering if a lot of this is a mask.

To Blaise’s credit, he doesn’t shy away or even flinch at the queen’s accusations. It actually seems to have the opposite effect, bolstering him as he puffs out his chest and adjusts his stance. “I’ve come for Iris—”

A low, rumbling growl vibrates through my back as Ciaran holds me tightly to him. “If you think we’re just going to hand her over, then you’ve lost your fucking mind.”

Nyx seems to be in agreement, barely in control of his powers. Blaise watches him warily, but it doesn’t stop him. His expression turns pleading as he meets my gaze. “Iris, Alaric is dying.”

“Alaric…” His name comes out as a strangled gasp, tears pricking at my eyes. I knew there was something wrong. Why didn’t I go to him sooner? Guilt and fear war within me, threatening to tear me apart, but I can’t fall apart now, not when my mate needs me.

“His father has him locked below the castle,” Blaise continues, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “He’s restrained with iron cuffs, and they are sucking the life out of him. Without you, he’s losing his mind.”

A roaring sound fills my ears, blocking all other noises. My stomach drops like a lead weight, and every breath becomes difficult as I try to envision a world without Alaric in it. Suddenly, my head is filled with what feels like static, my brain not computing that scenario. No, a world without Alaric would be like trying to live my life without sunlight. Everything would be dull, and although I would survive, the life would eventually be sucked from me. I have experienced what it feels like to be separated from my mates and the madness that threatens to take over, and the only thing that brought me back to myself were my other mates. Alaric doesn’t have that.

Turning in Ciaran’s arms, I brace myself for the reaction I know is coming. “I need to go with Blaise,” I say, keeping my eyes locked on his as I speak. There is a hierarchy with the fae, and if I lower my gaze or sound unsure, then there is no way they will allow me to go. I don’t need their approval, I will go either way, but it means a lot for them to trust me. Untangling myself from Ciaran’s arms, I step back, not giving him a chance to stop me.

Ciaran isn’t the only overbearing male I have to deal with though.

My back bumps up against a firm body, halting my progress. Nyx’s hand lands on my shoulder, and I can feel how hard he’s trying to hold himself back and stay in control. “That’s not happening.”

His voice sends shivers through me, but I won’t allow that to stop me. “He’s my mate, Nyx.” This is all the explanation I need. As one of my mates, Nyx knows I could never leave one of them to suffer, and if I were in trouble, he wouldn’t be having this conversation.

He spins me around so he can stare into my eyes. People are scared of Nyx, but they never get to see this side of him. His expression is open and raw, showing me exactly how afraid he is of letting me go to Seelie territory.

“I can’t go there with you,” he explains, his voice tight. “It’s different here, they know me. If I step into Seelie land then lines will be drawn.”

That’s what this is all about. He’s expecting the worst, and knowing he couldn’t come to my rescue terrifies him. He walks a very thin line, and the Fates are already watching him. If his presence alone could cause a full-blown war between the fae, then it could cause the Fates to act out against him. I don’t want him to protect me, not if it comes to the detriment of Alaric. What I want is his support, but I’ll still be going with or without it.

“I don’t need you to protect me.” Pressing my hand against his chest, I keep my voice gentle but firm. “I’m going either way.”

The longer we stand here and discuss it, the more uncomfortable I become. I can’t describe the feeling, but the growing need to get to Alaric is overwhelming. Every part of my body is vibrating with energy, and I’m struggling to keep still, shifting from foot to foot.

“I’ll go with her,” Ciaran offers, stepping up to my side.

Nyx glances at him incredulously then looks back to me. “You are out of your mind,” he barks, shadows dancing around him with his frustration. “Are you just going to ride up to the castle and ask the king to hand over his son? You’re going to get yourself killed.”

I haven’t thought that far ahead yet, and honestly, it’s difficult to think of anything but getting to Alaric. The breakout plan can come next. He can’t wait any longer, he’s already suffered so much.

The pressure that has been slowly building within me swells, filling my head and twisting my vision, making me stumble under Nyx’s touch. All of this is too much. Another wave of pressure rises inside me, and I fall to the ground, my legs giving way. I don’t faint like I did before, but the pressure on my mind is awful. Pain stabs at my mind like daggers being thrust into my skull. On my knees in the dirt, I press my hands against my head, trying to relieve the pressure in any way I can. I’ve felt flutters of this feeling before, but it’s always been fleeting. Ever since I was brought back from death, the sensation has been stronger, like an impulse to do something . I’m never quite sure what it’s leading to, the answer just out of my reach. I have never felt it this strongly though, and it only gets worse as I try to hold it together.

“Iris!” Ciaran calls out, his voice sounding distant even though I can feel his touch against my skin.

“What’s happening?” Sola demands, her voice sounding far away, as though she’s outside of the ruins. “What’s wrong with her?”

I thrash on the ground, lost to the pain. The feeling inside me is so intense, it rips a ragged scream from me. “Too much. It’s too much!”

“What do we do?” Ciaran asks, although I’m not sure whom he’s talking to. Voices fill my mind, and I struggle to distinguish between these phantom voices and those of my mates.

“Let me through.” Blaise’s voice is much closer now, even if it still echoes strangely.

“You’re not touching her!” Nyx growls, the sounds of a scuffle reaching me as I try to breathe through the agony.

“Look at her! She’s about to go into the fade,” a voice shouts, one I’m pretty sure belongs to Blaise, but it’s difficult to tell when my body feels like it’s about to combust. I have no idea what they are talking about, my mind full of pain and strange voices I’ve never heard before.

“She can’t be, she’s not fae,” a male voice comments, one I’m sure I know, but I just can’t put a name to it. He sounds frantic, panic lacing his tone. I wish I could see him, could reach out and offer comfort, but that’s just not possible right now.

“I’ve seen her use magic before. She healed me. It’s how I was able to find her, and it created a bond. The stress of being separated from Alaric must have triggered it.” Blaise, that must be Blaise speaking if he’s talking of Alaric. Mate, my mate, where is he? My back arches with a wave of pain, a long, mournful cry leaving my throat, sounding more animal than human.

“How do we help her out of it?” the voice I think belongs to Ciaran asks, his arms around me. There’s something about his touch that’s helping, but it’s as though there’s a block keeping him from me.

“Call off the big guy, and I’ll help.”

The already tense atmosphere only seems to increase, the air electric as though a thunderstorm is going to hit us at any moment. My sight has been robbed from me, and I feel like I’m being burnt alive from the inside.

I’m vaguely aware of movement on my other side and some low grumbling conversations, but the convulsions have started again.

“If you so much as harm a single hair on her head…” Nyx threatens half-heartedly. I can feel him moving around me, coming to my side and staring down at me.

“You’ll maim me, yeah, I got it. We don’t have time for this.” Blaise’s voice is suddenly very loud, his heat radiating against me, burning me up.

“Hold her shoulders,” he commands, and a pair of hands press my body into the ground. That’s Ciaran’s touch, I can sense it. The same happens with my legs, but this time I cry out and thrash against the hold, touch from anyone other than my mates agonising.

Blaise grunts and repositions his hands on my legs. “I assume you’re another one of her mates?” he asks Ciaran, their conversation taking place over my body. Ciaran must confirm that he is my mate as I hear Blaise sigh. “She really knows how to pick them.”

Other conversations happen around me, their voices drowned out by the sounds in my mind, whispering secrets and encouraging me to let go. It’s tempting, I just need this feeling to stop, but I’m terrified of listening to those voices. I have no idea what would happen if I did.

I can’t feel the hands on me any longer, unable to distinguish anything from the pain that ripples through me. The bond in my chest pulses, as though trying to calm the flood of agony.

“Iris, you need to release your power,” Blaise instructs, his voice close to me now. “It’s building up in you, and you need to let it go, otherwise it’s going to consume you.”

I can’t. Is this a trick? Am I actually hearing a voice inside my head and not Blaise? Whatever is building inside me is dangerous, and releasing it seems like something I shouldn’t do.

“If you don’t, you will die, and that will kill Alaric as well. Is that what you want?”

I release a ragged scream. Of course that’s not what I want. How am I supposed to release something that I never knew I had? Humans don’t have magic, we can’t control elements, so this is impossible to me, especially given the pain that’s tearing me in two.

Thankfully Blaise seems to know what I’m thinking and what I need.

“Push it into the ground,” he orders, his voice sharp. “Release it into the dirt beneath you. Redirect that magic.”

His barked instructions help, giving me no room for argument, and when the next pulse comes, I do as he says. The cresting wave of power threatens to wash me away with it, but just as it’s about to hit me, I push it down into the earth. It’s a strange sensation, trying to shove something with no physical mass into the ground, but I can feel the earth eagerly sucking it up.

The world shakes, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop, not now that I’ve started.

“Well done. Again, but a little more gently this time,” Blaise instructs, sounding slightly out of breath.

Over and over, I release the power within me, one pulse at a time. Waves of pure, unfiltered energy pour from me into the ground, which is full of life on its own. It’s grateful for my gift, and I can feel its life force growing around me. It fills me with warmth, knowing that my power can at least be used for something useful.

The final ripple of my power sinks into the ground.

The pressure in my body is gone, and although I still pine for Alaric, I’m in full control once more. I open my eyes and stare up at the canopy of leaves above. My body aches, but my mind is clear. Now that I’m not carrying that pressure, I feel like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

The hands that were holding me down are no longer touching me. I’m not sure when they removed them, but I can feel them close by. Despite my exhaustion, I need to get up and get on the road. I’m not sure how far it is to the Seelie city from here, but I don’t want to waste any more time, not now that I know Alaric is suffering.

I roll onto my side in an effort to sit up. Rocking forward onto my knees, I brace my hand against one of the crumbling stone walls and try to stand. Blaise and Ciaran are there in an instant, helping me stand as I wobble, my knees still a little shaky. Blowing out a breath, I turn to smile up at them in thanks.

The sight that greets me almost knocks me down.

Butterflies sit on every surface in the ruined hall. My mouth drops open in surprise. This is magical, absolutely enchanting, and they think I made this happen. My connection to plants and animals has always been special, but this is something on a whole new level. The butterflies also appeared when I healed Blaise, and once again, they’ve come in force. The cracked stone floor has also been transformed, with lush green plants with large, brightly coloured flowers, having broken their way through. Is this how my magic manifested when I pushed it into the ground? I could feel the earth taking my power and putting it to use, but never in my wildest dreams did I suspect this could happen. How are the butterflies connected to all of this?

I still can’t get my head around it, but it’s becoming impossible for me to deny that I have special abilities when things like this keep happening. Feeling the heavy stares of the others, I glance around and find them all watching me with dumbstruck expressions.

Queen Sola stares at me with wide eyes. As soon as my gaze falls on her, she drops to the ground, kneeling and bowing her head in reverence.

“Goddess, you have returned to us.”