Page 27 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)

Chapter Twenty-Six

I look down at Alaric. His head rests in my lap, his broken body curled around me as we sit by the river’s edge.

We have been travelling for some time now and are close to the border, but we had to stop to allow the horses to drink and rest. At least, that is what we told Alaric. He’s not doing well, and my concern grows with each passing moment. I’ve been counting his slow, steady breaths to make sure he’s still alive and gently brushing my hand through his hair. Time is of the essence. Blaise’s pacing and low muttering is testament to that, a constant reminder of the threat we face. Ciaran is tending to the horses, but I feel his gaze on me the entire time.

Once we stole Alaric and left the castle, we found our horses saddled and ready for us in the courtyard. The guards from the study must have managed to communicate with those guarding the main gates, as their expressions were sombre, turning grim as they spotted Blaise carrying their prince. None of them made any move to stop us, and several of them actually helped get Alaric onto the back of Blaise’s horse. Just before we left, I turned and thanked them, and every one of them gave me a shallow nod. They helped us because their prince needed us, their sense of duty pulling them in two directions. I desperately hope none of them are punished for helping us.

There hadn’t been time to lament over this, though, as we fled through the city and into the forest beyond. Our original route would have been too treacherous for Alaric, not to mention too open to attack, so we took the main road. Unfortunately, we attracted a lot of attention in the process, many fae coming out to watch our swift exit. The king is going to think we’re trying to make a statement by showing everyone what happened to their prince. That couldn’t be further from the truth, we were just so focused on getting away safely that we took the route that would put the most distance between us and the king as possible. Eventually, those guards are going to start following orders, and when they do, we want to be off Seelie land.

“Well, that went well,” Nyx drawls, appearing from a patch of trees shrouded in darkness on the other side of the river, startling me. How did I miss his arrival? Sure, his magic allows him to blend in with the forest, and while I knew he was close, I was so focused on Alaric that I hardly noticed the change.

“You have got to stop fucking doing that,” Ciaran curses at the sudden appearance of the god, paling as he realises whom he’s speaking to. “Respectfully, of course.”

Nyx just snorts and makes his way over the bridge to reach us, searching me for signs of injury.

My heart soars in my chest. My three bonds are finally together in one place, and despite the fear that courses through me at Alaric’s current state, I feel complete for the first time in my life.

Watching him closely as he strolls towards me, I wonder if he can feel how much I need him and if he is as drawn to me as much as I am to him. Kneeling at my free side, he presses his lips against my forehead.

“You saw what happened?” I ask, finally processing what he said. “Were you there?”

I know why Nyx can’t openly appear by our side in Seelie territory, but I’m surprised he didn’t step in if he was there the whole time. He seems to have a habit of turning up after a threat has occurred. Does he just spy on me, following me around in his shadow form where I can’t see him? No, his relationship with the Fates is tumultuous, and he’s walking on thin ice. He doesn’t have time to watch me from afar. I’m instantly flooded with guilt for even doubting him.

He shakes his head, a frown pulling at his brow. “No, but I caught the fallout after you left. The Seelie king is not happy.” I swear his black eyes get impossibly darker. I can only imagine the colourful curses and threats the Seelie king is making, especially if Nyx is responding to the threat this way.

Alaric makes a noise, instinctively reacting to the threat. Nyx follows my gaze to the fae in my lap, and his eyes widen. He sits back on his heels, threading his hands together like he’s trying to keep them to himself.

“The Seelie wasn’t lying when he said your prince was dying.”

Pain zips through my neck as I lift my head at lightning fast speed and stare at Nyx. He can’t have—no, I must have heard him wrong.

“What do you mean?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own, but I don’t give a damn. I’m in a state of pure terror, my apprehension making it worse as I wait for him to answer me. He doesn’t answer me, though, his frown deepening as he watches my fear play out across my face. “Nyx, what do you mean?” I ask as the others close in, sensing my distress.

Wincing, he sighs and rubs his hands across his face roughly. “I’m death, Iris,” he starts, trying to break it to me easily. “I can see when someone is about to die.”

My ears begin to ring quietly at first, but it grows until it blocks out all other sound. I can’t breathe. A tight band of fear wraps around my chest, and my breaths become gasps.

No. No, no, no. That can’t mean what I think it does. Alaric is so close to death… We were too late. I’ve had him in my life for such a short amount of time, I hardly know anything about him. Our souls know each other, but there is still so much for me to learn about him—his likes and dislikes, his memories and desires for the future—and we are supposed to have time together to learn all of that. It’s not supposed to be this way.

What is the point in us being fated if we are just going to be torn apart so soon after finding each other? I’m supposed to be the one from the prophecy who brings us all together, but I need him at my side to do that. I need all of them, and I don’t think I’ll survive the pain of losing Alaric.

My feelings are so intense that I think I’m about to pass out, my vision flickering, and I realise I’m holding my breath.

Alaric needs me. He’s still alive right now, and I need to do everything I can to help him. Passing out is only going to delay that, I have to stay focused. He needs me. I take deep breaths until my head stops spinning, and I can focus on what’s happening around me. Blaise and Nyx are arguing, although it takes a moment for my hearing to come back.

“What do you mean dying now ?” Blaise asks, his fear turning to anger as he snarls at Nyx. “Can’t you do anything? You’re supposed to be an all-powerful god!”

Nyx, unused to being spoken to like this, frowns at Blaise, his fingers clenching and unclenching. It might look like he’s trying to stop himself from hurting the fae, but I know him better than that. He’s trying to hold back his powers.

“I can’t touch him. He is so close to passing that if I touch him, his soul will leave his body to be guided to my realm.” Shadows flicker behind him, licking at the air and drifting towards where I sit with Alaric in my lap. Nyx’s face tightens, and the shadows disappear. “He needs to be healed and spend time in close contact with Iris.”

Ciaran clears his throat, grabbing our attention. “We have some of the best healers in the land back at the Unseelie Court.”

I’m so grateful for his input. The two courts have been at war for so long, and these two are the heirs to those courts. He didn’t have to mention this, but he can feel how much Alaric means to me, so he’s trying to help in whatever way he can.

The smallest glimmer of hope flashes in my mind. Never mind how we’re going to get him to the Unseelie, or how we’ll convince them to help the prince of their enemy. Considering how weak he is now, there is one question I need an answer for.

“Will he survive the journey?” My voice cracks with emotion, the words burning like acid on my tongue, but I don’t stop. The look Nyx gives me makes me want to throw up. We are too far away. There has to be a way. I don’t know how I’m going to survive if he dies. Is this how they all felt when I died?

“The Fates are going to give me shit for this,” Nyx mutters to himself, cutting through my grief. Glancing at him, I see him looking up at the sky as though he’s pleading for strength. His gaze snaps to mine, and he offers me his hand. “Come here, I’ll take you to the edge of the court.”

I attempt to move out from under Alaric, but his body is dead weight. He’s so pale and his breathing is so shallow, I have to stare at his chest to check that he’s still actually breathing. Panic flashes through me. He’s deteriorating despite my presence. We must have been too late. No, I won’t accept that. Gripping his shoulders, I give him a shake. “Alaric, you can’t die on me. I need you to stay alive.”

Ciaran places his hand on my shoulder, pausing my desperate shaking. “He needs skin-to-skin contact.”

Without hesitation, I reach for the buttons on my dress, ripping them open and pulling my arms from my sleeves. My ruined dress hangs around my waist, and I’m just in my chest bindings, but I don’t care. I would dance naked if he needed me to. Now I just have to remove his clothing, but my fingers keep slipping on the buttons of his shirt. Cursing my fumbling fingers, I look around for Blaise. He’s watching with a hopeless, stricken expression, as though he’s already grieving his friend.

“We are not giving up on him, Blaise!” I snap. “Help me take his shirt off.”

My anger seems to sink through his shock, and he blinks, shaking his head to rid it of the fog that froze him in place. He jerks into action and kneels, helping me shift Alaric and remove his shirt. With his and Ciaran’s help, we manage to move Alaric up so he’s resting against my chest now, and we have as much skin touching as possible.

From the corner of my eye, I see Nyx moving closer, only to stop, not wanting to get too close in case he accidently touches him and causes my mate’s soul to leave his body.

“Iris, I’m not sure he’ll make the journey. Transporting puts pressure on the body,” he starts, his voice gentle.

I don’t want to hear, so I snap my head around to look at him and narrow my eyes. He raises his hands to fend off my aggression.

“Look, I can place him in a stasis while we transport. His body will be frozen,” Nyx explains. “It doesn’t last long, a couple of minutes at the most, but it will give him a little more time and protection.”

I will agree to anything that’s going to help him. “Okay, do it.”

Nyx crouches, meeting my gaze. “Anyone who’s touching him will also be put under stasis.”

Oh. He means me. I would do almost anything for Alaric. “Do what you have to.” I rest my cheek against the top of his head, closing my eyes as I hold him close.

The others mutter quietly around us as they prepare. Nyx’s hand lands on my arm, and a cold sensation sweeps through my body, dragging me into the realm of unconsciousness.

“Make sure all of you are touching me, otherwise you’ll be left behind, and I’m not making a second trip.”

Nyx’s voice is the last thing I hear before my body becomes stiff and the world goes dark.

The world starts to come back to me in flashes of colour and noises that don’t make sense. I’m bone-achingly cold, but it seems to be lifting, like a blanket of ice is removed. Sensations slowly begin to return to my body, the warmth of another person pressed against me triggering a twinge in the back of my mind. Whatever is happening is important, but I cannot remember or figure out what’s going on.

“Lord Ciaran!” a shocked female voice screeches so loudly that if I could, I’d press my hands to my ears. That’s not a sound a human is capable of making.

“We need a healer immediately,” a voice snaps in reply, and my mind whispers to me that this is Lord Ciaran and he’s important to me.

“Ciaran?” I ask groggily, forcing my eyes open to try and make sense of where we are. As soon as my gaze lands on him, I know I was right. He’s my mate.

He cups my cheek, giving me a gentle smile that I’ve never seen him give anyone else. “Nyx said you’d feel weak for a while, so just rest.” Removing his hand, he straightens, and his expression becomes firm and distant as he faces someone out of my line of sight. “She is fine, just affected by the magic. It’s him, he’s dying.”

“You know what he is? Who he is?” the screeching voice asks with a scratchy whisper.

My eyelids flutter shut, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling the swell of magic that surrounds Ciaran. Snippets of memory start to come back to me, and I realise we must be at the Unseelie Court.

“Do not question me,” he rumbles, magic surrounding us in a show of might. “Remember your place.”

A heavy pause follows, one of disbelief or anger perhaps, but it’s difficult to tell without being able to see their face. The click of their tongue tells me they are not happy.

“As you command, Lord Ciaran,” the scratchy voice replies. The sound of scurrying alerts me to the fact that more fae have joined us. They sound smaller, their excited chatter like that of children. The fae Ciaran was talking to seems to turn away, if the change in her voice is anything to go by, as she gives orders to the creatures. Most of them pass straight over my head, but one in particular sticks out to me. “Make sure to remove the human too.”

“No, she’s his mate. She is the only thing keeping him alive,” Ciaran interrupts, resting his hand on my shoulder again. “Keep them together.”

I fall back under the call of the magic, vaguely aware of being passed around and eventually placed on something soft. Hands land on my arm, shaking me and jerking me back into awareness.

“Iris, wake up.”

I recognise that voice—Blaise. I’m vaguely aware of someone else making disgruntled noises and comments about being too rough, but I’m focused on the urgency I hear in Blaise’s voice.

“Do you remember when you healed me when I was dying? You need to do that again. You need to save him.”

The panic in his voice is enough to snap me from my magically induced sleep, and I force my eyes open as memories flood back. Alaric is dying. Glancing down at the body wrapped around me, I gasp as I see just how pale and still my mate is. I’m not sure even fae magic could pull him back right now.

I’m not fae though. Whatever magic flows through my veins is different, and if there’s something I can do to help, then I will.

How did I do it though? When Blaise was dying, I didn’t even know I was doing anything. I simply cradled him and sang to him while we waited for Alaric to return. Butterflies surrounded me, and when my mate returned, he was healed. There wasn’t a spell or gestures, just a warmth inside me which flowed from me as I looked after him. He needed comfort, and no one should die alone. Maybe caring and channelling my power into that person is all it takes?

Panic flutters inside me like a butterfly trying to escape, but I clamp down on it, forcing my shaking hands to clutch Alaric tighter to me. My eyes meet Ciaran’s, and he moves to my side without me having to say a word.

“I’m here, Iris,” he murmurs, settling on the bed behind me and pressing a kiss to the top of my head. Having two of my mates so close helps settle me, and although I wish Nyx was also here, I can’t wait on the chance that he might appear.

Closing my eyes, I visualise the place where my bonds sit. Gold surrounds the ones I share with Ciaran and Nyx, but Alaric’s connection looks weak and frail. Pouring my love for him down the bond, I wait to see if anything happens. It glows weakly for a moment as the bond seems to react, but otherwise, it doesn’t change. No, I need more than just my love alone.

Taking a deep breath, I delve deeper within myself and reach for the power that awakened the moment I was reborn. Trepidation makes my chest tight, but I continue onward despite this. A softly glowing ball of light seems to hover before me. It’s not threatening or scary like I imagined untamed magic to be, yet I have no idea how to make it do what I need it to. I should have practiced with it, making it stronger, but I’ve let it lie low within me, only coming forward when I’ve been in great need. Honestly, that’s because I’m scared of it. I’m terrified of what having this sort of power makes me. Humans don’t have magic, and I’m not one of the fae, so what am I?

Realisation hits me as I stare at the glowing ball. This power could be what saves Alaric, and if that makes me some sort of monster, then so be it. Reaching out to the magic, I call it to me with everything I have. I don’t know how I do it, but I feel it flood my body, making me stronger.

Whether it be due to gods or the Fates that weave our lives into their tapestry, I pray that someone hears me and decides to be benevolent. I can’t survive what’s to come without him. We were fated for a reason, all four of us. If Alaric dies, then that purpose becomes shattered.

My ears are ringing, and I can’t open my eyes to see what I’m doing, but I can still feel Alaric beneath my palms. Everywhere we touch tingles, our bare skin reacting to the power I’ve pulled forward. I don’t know what I’m doing, so I direct the power towards Alaric and pray I’ve done the right thing.

Alaric’s chest begins to move as his breathing deepens, our bond growing stronger by the second. Whatever I’m doing is working! The ringing in my ears is starting to fade, and I can hear voices exclaiming around us, I just can’t quite make out what they are saying. A wave of fatigue sweeps over me, my power still channelling into Alaric. A little part of my mind is whispering that I need to cut off the magic before I’m completely drained, but I’m so tired that everything is becoming foggy again. It’s my turn to rest against Alaric, noting that his skin is warm and his heart beats strongly under my ear. That’s the last thing I hear as I fall asleep against my mate.