Page 6 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)

Chapter Five

Iris

T all, purple flowered plants surround me, their long leaves pointed towards the sky as I walk amongst them. There is nothing like this back in my realm, the blooms a combination of a foxglove with its tall flowers and the shape of an Iris. The delicate blooms shouldn’t work, being in such close proximity on a single plant, yet somehow, they thrive. The delicate scent clings to my clothes, a natural perfume that will follow me throughout the day. A light breeze blows through the meadow, ruffling my curls and making me smile slightly. I tilt my head up to the sun, enjoying the feel of its rays on my skin.

The land of the dead is nothing like how I imagined it. Plants flourish here, fish swim in the lake, and birds fly high above. There is life in every direction I look. What does that say about the dark, brooding god who calls this place home?

I glance over my shoulder and find him leaning against a large tree, his usual black ensemble blending him into the shadows. He’s different in this realm though, more relaxed. No, that’s not right. It’s as though he’s able to be his true self here, not needing to hide who he is. Power seems to radiate from him, his skin almost glowing with good health.

As usual, he is watching me closely, his expression thoughtful. At first glance, he appears closed off, but I know that’s part of his personality. When I look deeper, I notice the slight upturn of his lips, and although his arms are crossed over his chest, his posture is relaxed. It’s the softness in his eyes that captures me though. Who would have thought that obsidian eyes could be so expressive?

Wandering over to the lake, I sit on a grassy knoll beside it and watch the wildlife around us. It is so beautiful here.

I’m not sure how long I’ve been here now, since time passes strangely in the land of the dead. However, I get the impression that the time I’ve spent here is actually much longer in my world. As usual, this only makes me think of everyone I’ve left behind.

My family will wonder what happened to me. I’m sure the rumours are running wild. I did leave in a hurry with two fae, so I can only imagine what they are saying about me. My mother and sister are used to fending for themselves, and my father is away often, travelling for work, so I know they will manage without me.

Alaric consumes most of my thoughts when I’m not with Nyx, and longing squeezes me like a vice. He’s my mate, two parts of the same soul. Without him, I am not complete. Before we completed the bond, I was able to feel it but didn’t realise what it was. When I lived in Brine, I didn’t even know I was missing a part of my soul. I was different, I always was, and now I know it’s because I was destined for something else. Seeing him for the first time in the mayor’s house sparked the connection for the first time, and now there is no going back.

The pain of being separated is constant, the ache of an open wound that never closes. Something about Nyx stops me from going crazy, but I’m always aware of it. Sometimes, when I’m on my own, I can feel the madness of separation clawing at the edges of my mind, waiting for the perfect time to crawl in and wreak havoc. I keep it at bay in whatever way I can, such as being surrounded by flowers.

Alaric doesn’t have a Nyx to keep him grounded. Bursts of feeling that are not my own occasionally fill my mind, taking my breath away with the intensity. Rage, anguish, pain, and suffering are the strongest ones and stay with me for hours after. He is suffering because of me, and I can do nothing about it.

Something intense and raw is happening to my mate, his bond reaching out for mine, but there is a block that stops him from reaching me fully. It’s the strangest sensation, almost as though our connection has been dampened. Is that because I’m in the realm of the dead?

Does Alaric think I’m dead? Intense distress grips me at the very notion that he could be suffering this way. Even if he knows I am still alive, there’s no way for him to get to me here. There is only one person who can help me get back, and I’m looking at him.

My stomach tightens with anxiety, and I glance away, focusing on the butterflies that fly around me. It’s taken me longer than expected to recover, my strength slowly returning to me. Nyx is also paranoid I’m going to get hurt. He would prefer that I remain in my room, but he could see how being cooped up inside the manor was negatively affecting me.

I know he isn’t going to want me to leave while I’m still weak, so because of this, I have been working hard to get stronger, taking longer walks each day, but from what I feel down my bond with Alaric, I know I don’t have much more time before something bad happens.

From the corner of my eye, I notice a flash and then feel Nyx’s heavy presence beside me. This little trick no longer surprises me, and I glance up at him with a tight smile. He reaches out with a frown and gently pulls me to a stop. Reaching up, he brushes my cheek with his hand, instantly easing some of my tension. As with every time he touches me, I struggle to pull away, leaning into his touch like an eager cat.

His eyes scan my face, the intensity of his scrutiny making me feel as though he can see right through to the person beneath. “You seem quiet today,” he murmurs, brushing some of my hair from my face. “The flowers usually brighten your mood.”

This is my opportunity. I cannot be a coward and hide behind Nyx’s overprotective personality, not when someone else is suffering because of it. I have rehearsed what I’m going to say a hundred times in my mind, but now all thoughts flee my head.

I clear my throat. “I have this incessant tugging in my chest. I know I don’t belong here, and it’s making me...” I trail off, pressing my hand to my chest, unable to describe the feelings plaguing me. Frustrated with myself, I growl and try again. “There is something I have to do back in the realm of the living.”

His hand drops, leaving me craving his touch as his expression hardens. “No.”

I’m taken aback, so much so that I’m momentarily stunned and don’t know how to respond. Frowning, I take a small step away to put some distance between us, needing to think clearly—something I always struggle to do when he’s so close to me. Nyx is protective, so I knew he would be reluctant, but I didn’t think he would shut me down completely. He didn’t even give me a chance to properly explain myself before making a decision. Perhaps this is because he’s a god and is used to having the final say, but I’m not asking for his permission.

Frustration courses through me, but I force myself not to snap at him. After all, I need his help. “Nyx—”

“You died, Iris.” Shadows seem to flare out behind him, blurring the outline of his body so I am unsure where his body starts and the darkness ends. It pulses in time with the frantic beating of my heart. His large body seems to grow, his power wrapping around him and reminding me just how powerful he is.

He closes the gap I just created until our bodies nearly touch. His scent is intoxicating, and it takes everything in me not to reach out and press against him. His dark gaze is hooded as he stares down at me, and for a moment, I feel his pain inside my chest.

“You have no idea how much I sacrificed to bring you back. That is something I willingly gave, but Iris…” He pauses, his voice tightening. “I don’t think I would survive seeing you die a second time.”

An echo of life-shattering pain flashes through my body, my heart constricting as all-consuming devastation grips me, making it difficult for me to breathe.

A part of me dies with her, an aching chasm in my soul that will never be able to function again. I can hardly breathe, my life seeming utterly pointless if she’s not in it. I want to rage and tear the world apart for the unfairness of it all. Why should they continue to live out their happy lives when I am suffering?

With a gasp, I fight my way out of the memory, my hands gripping Nyx’s shirt desperately. I must have reached out subconsciously, needing to feel him. Those thoughts weren’t my own, but that of the male standing before me. He’s watching me with a sad, knowing expression. The strength of what he felt was phenomenal, and that was only a fraction of what he experienced. What are the chances that I could have two mates, one of them being a god? The whole idea makes me want to laugh, yet the bond between us is undeniable. It feels so different to what I feel with Alaric, which only makes me all the more confused.

No, I can’t think about this now. I need to focus on the issue at hand. His reaction is understandable. He’s afraid of losing me and wants to make sure it never happens again, but I cannot be held captive by his overprotective tendencies.

Forcing my fingers to unfurl from his shirt, I flatten my palms against his chest. Both of us need the physical contact right now, our emotions high. “Nyx, you have given me life, and now I need to live it,” I tell him gently but firmly. He needs to know I won’t back down on this. “There must be a reason why all of this happened, and I need to finish what was started.”

Whether that is preventing the curse from coming true, breaking the curse, or something related to my relationship with Alaric, I don’t know. I’m being led back to the realm of the living. Who or what is guiding me? It’s difficult to convince someone to help me when I’m not sure what I should be doing.

What I don’t mention is the fact that I am also in desperate need of my mate. Without Alaric, I shall continue to pine and wither away. The life Nyx gave me is sustained by his presence, but I don’t belong here, and Alaric literally carries part of my soul. Nyx won’t take kindly to me returning to be with another male though. I still don’t know what our relationship is—that’s a conversation we have avoided—but it is deep and filled with a bubbling intensity that is close to boiling over.

I keep Alaric’s name off my lips, but somehow, Nyx knows whom I’m thinking of.

“Iris, you are mine .” His eyes narrow, anger clouding his features despite it not being aimed at me. “I will not share you with another.”

I should be fighting back, since I am no one’s property and I belong to myself, yet there’s a primal part of me that wants to belong to him, and those claiming words set off a response I don’t understand but want to submit to.

“He’s my mate, Nyx,” I counter, needing him to understand. “I cannot stay away from him any more than the sun can stop shining.”

“What if you were my mate? Would you stay then?” he asks, a flash of something that resembles panic crossing his face.

Mate . The word sends another thrill through me. I had just been wondering this myself, our connection so intense it has to have deeper meaning. He has been a constant part of my life for so long. First as a protector, which developed into a friendship, and then something more. It’s hard for me to define what this feeling between us is. Since he brought me back to life, I cannot deny that my attraction and longing is more intense. Initially, I assumed it had to do with his powers binding me to him, but now I am not so sure.

“Am I your mate?” My question is whispered, anticipation clutching me tightly in its grip.

Nyx reaches out and cups the side of my face in his hand, his thumb stroking my cheek in soothing circles. “Yes. I knew for sure when I saw you die.”

With his acknowledgement, our connection shifts and grows, making me aware of its presence. It has always been there, waiting for the right moment to wake up. It would be so easy for me to fall into the bliss of his touch and explore our bond, but there is someone else out there who needs me.

Taking a deep breath, I attempt to clear my mind. “Then you know how it feels to be separated from your mate.” Examining his expression, I try to gauge what he’s thinking. “Alaric is experiencing that, but ten times worse as we’ve accepted our mate bond. I am experiencing that in part too, and it drains my soul, Nyx.”

He snarls, an expression I’ve not seen on his face before, and the next thing I know, I’m in his arms, my back pressed against the tree he was previously leaning against. My legs wrap around Nyx’s hard waist as he plants his hands against the tree trunk on either side of my head, trapping me. My body feels electrified, all of my senses alert.

“I am a god, Iris,” he grumbles, his frown possessive. “I will not share you.”

“If what you say is true, then the cosmos decided to make us mates, but they also decided Alaric is my mate as well,” I point out, attempting to keep my voice even considering my current flustered state. “There has to be a reason behind all of this. Will you really go against them and keep me to yourself?”

He pauses, the atmosphere tense between us, but I won’t back down. Seeing this in my expression, he growls, his careful control falling away.

“Iris…” He’s fighting against himself, I can see the war in his eyes. The shadows surrounding us pulse, becoming more erratic. My mouth drops open a little as I go to say something, but I hold myself back, allowing him to work this out for himself.

His eyes track the movement, and with a groan, he surges forward and presses his lips to mine, his tongue hungrily seeking entrance into my mouth. I gasp at the shock of his kiss, and he takes advantage, flicking his tongue against mine.

All thoughts and doubts flee my mind as my entire world becomes focused on him. I kiss him back with everything I have, wrapping my arms around his neck and tightening my legs around his waist. His taste is addictive, and I will never get enough. Everything seems to click into place, and our mate bond becomes clear in my mind. We still need to accept it, but now there’s no ignoring it. Nyx is my mate.

Everything feels right in his arms. I will never be whole until I have all of my mates with me, but Nyx being one of them explains how I’m able to survive the separation.

Our kiss deepens, sending bolts of desire to my core. I want him. I need him. I bite down on his lower lip to the point of pain before releasing him, his moan of pleasure sending a thrill through me. I don’t know where this type of behaviour comes from, but I love it.

Nyx throws his head back, panting, his eyes glazed over with desire. I watch him hungrily, biting down on my lip as the throbbing need in my core becomes greater. I shift my hips, trying to ease my arousal.

Nyx chuckles breathlessly and lifts his head to look at me, his lips curved into a smug smile. “I—” He cuts off, his complexion paling.

Something is happening, something bad from the look of dread crossing his face. Groaning low, he lowers me to the ground and stumbles back into the flowers before bending forward at the waist, clearly suffering.

“Nyx! What’s wrong?” Hurrying forward, I clutch his shoulder, searching his body for signs of whatever is causing his pain.

Hissing through clenched teeth, he straightens enough to meet my fearful gaze. “I’m being summoned by the Fates.”

I don’t really understand the significance of this, yet seeing how this is affecting him makes me take the situation seriously. Nyx appears to fight this mysterious summons, yet ultimately, as magic surrounds us, I realise this is inevitable.

My body starts to tingle, and a feeling of absolute fear hits me out of nowhere, along with a tug in my chest so fierce that it makes me stumble forward. Nyx meets my frightened gaze, his eyes wide, and I realise what’s happening.

Nyx is not the only one being summoned. I’m about to meet the Fates.