Page 22 of Rhaz’s Redemption (Shifters of Valo Prime #6)

Rhaz

I shivered in the cold for hours as I knelt on the frozen ground with my hands tied behind my back. I watched as my sire brought Drelic into the small wooden cabin the females were being held in and I fought against my bonds. I didn’t want either one of them near my Beatrice.

I didn’t know Drelic well. He’d been a quiet child who was a few seasons younger than me.

But by the way he followed Dameron’s every command, I knew he couldn’t be trusted.

Favalor on the other hand… he was a smart male who was playing a dangerous game.

He was pretending to be loyal to Dameron while undoing the Savrix’s work. If caught, it would be the end of him.

The young hunter brought me water when no one was looking and assured me the females were safe for now.

“Keep an eye on the forest,” I instructed him. “My brother shifters won’t let their females stay here long without a rescue.”

“I will,” Favalor nodded and left before anyone could accuse him of committing a kind act for the enemy, for me.

That was many hours ago, and the sun had fully set. I had nearly fallen asleep from hunger and exhaustion when I felt someone tugging on my ropes.

“The Savrix believes you have been on display for long enough,” the gentle voice of Trivix, Brexl’s grandfather soothed me as he continued to untie my bindings.

“I don’t believe I’ll ever receive enough punishment in his eyes,” I laughed and then coughed from the dryness in my throat. “The well of punishment he reserves for me runs deep and Dameron is always willing to dig deeper, go farther than any sane male is willing to go.”

“Dameron is not worthy of you,” Trivix whispered in a somber tone. “Come on, I have a hot meal waiting for you in female’s cabin.”

The older male helped me up, and looped my arm around his shoulders to give me the support I needed to walk on my stiff legs.

We approached the door and turned the handle, but the door itself would not move.

Trivix smiled to himself and confessed, “they’ve been blocking the door with their bodies. The humans might be small and physically less strong than a Sirret, but they are a fiercely protective people.”

He knocked on the door and announced, “It is I, Trivix. I have Rhaz with me.”

The door slowly opened and my heart leapt in my chest as I took in the sight of Beatrice. There was a smug of dirt on her face and dark circles under her eyes, but the sight of her had never been so beautiful. She was alive and she was right here in front of me.

“May we enter?” Trivix asked.

“Oh, of course, come on in,” Beatrice moved away from the doorway and the rest of the females made a path that led to the far end of the cabin, where the elder male set me down next to a leaf plate filled with warm meat.

I took a bite and silently gave thanks for the nourishment I was about to receive. It was sorely needed. My body had the ability to heal rapidly, but I still needed to eat and drink to retain my strength, and I would be ready for whatever plan Tarak had to rescue the females from this place.

After I finished my meal I looked around the room at the members of my dekes who surrounded me. Talia and Sarah sat close together, as did Anusha and Fatima. Beatrice sat next to them and eyed me curiously.

I longed to have her next to me, and to pour out every emotion, every desire, every word of admiration I had for her right here and now, but there was a look in her eyes that I knew all to well.

She was hurt, and I’d been the one to hurt her. I told her I’d never be her mate, that there was a curse in my blood that I couldn’t out run. At the time I thought that had been true, but now…now I know I am my own male. I would never make the same decisions my sire made.

But the hurt that lingered in Beatrice’s gaze shot right through my heart. It was a wound I had inflicted upon her and one that I would heal. But for now she was here and she was safe. That was what mattered most.

“What happened, Rhaz?” Gab-bae asked as she next to me against the wall. “You came here to plead with your sire and the next time I see you, you’re bound, beaten, and being used as bait to draw us out.”

A low growl rose up through my throat at the thought of what Dameron was able to do because of me. He’d told me I’d help him in his plans, and it turns out I had, against my will.

“Dameron has gone mad,” I began. “He’d been waiting for me to come to the valley to set his plans in motion.”

“So there really isn’t any hope,” Gab-bae sighed.

“I’m afraid not.”

Not only were we unlikely to keep our offering, we were now in jeopardy of never leaving this place.

Despite my doubts, I assured Gab-bae that all would be well. “Tarak will be here soon. He won’t let you and Tabby remain in danger any longer than he needs to.”

“I know,” she nodded her head. “I just hope whatever they’re planning is enough to get us out of here.”

I shifted my gaze back to Beatrice. I too didn’t want her here any longer than she needed to be.

This was a dangerous place filled with dangerous males.

I would not sit back and watch as the Savrix gave away the female who held my heart to another.

She was not a prize to be won, but a person to be cherished.

No one knew that better than me, and I would make sure she felt cherished every day from here on out.

Shortly after dinner, everyone found a spot to bed down for the night.

My pack was taken from me two weeks ago, but I’d been smart enough to put the leaf star Beatrice had given me in my pocket before entering the valley.

I gently pulled it out now and traced the word she had written.

I couldn’t read the human language but she’d told me it said protection .

It had been such a beautiful and thoughtful gift, and it hurt my very soul how I’d treated her directly after receiving it.

I’d told her we’d never be mates, and she told me I’d regret that decision, and she was right.

Even still, I had to try to make things right again.

I put the star back in pocket and got up.

Space was limited in the small cabin, but there was an open spot next to Beatrice and I longed to speak to her. I needed to know if she was alright. If she was afraid or in need of reassurance, I’d give her all I had.

I walked past the other women and laid down with my back against the wall, facing Beatrice.

She was so lovely with her warm brown skin, black curly hair that perfectly shaped her round face, and of course her big brown eyes.

She laid there with her head on her hands looking uncomfortable but trying to make the best of it.

I’d offer her my body as her pillow, but I wasn’t sure if she would accept such an offer just yet.

“Are you well?” I asked her in a whisper so as to not disturb the others.

However, instead of responding, she furrowed her brows and gave me a confused look.

“It was a long journey to the valley,” I began again. “Were you injured along the way? Are you hungry? Cold?”

Her confused expression didn’t leave her face, but she did respond to me this time.

“No,” she shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Beatrice continued to eye me with curiosity and after a long moment she stated, “Dameron must have hit you on the head pretty hard. You’re acting…differently than you normally do.”

“Not Dameron,” I corrected. “Gil. He’s another shifter than Dameron has been keeping hidden.”

“Wait. What?” This must not have been the answer she was looking for because she looked more confused now than she did before.

“He’s very big,” I explained. He cracked my skull, but I’m fine now.”

“He what?!” She was sitting up now with her mouth agape.

“I…It’s not a big deal.” I assured her. “I heal quickly.”

“You can’t just heal from a cracked skull, Rhaz. Not within a matter of weeks without proper care or nutrition,” she whispered.

“Maybe humans don’t, but I do,” I shrugged.

She ran a hand down her face, and I regretted telling her about my encounter with Gil. I wanted her to feel better, not stress her out even more.

“So you’re telling me Dameron has a whole ass shifter hiding out there in the woods somewhere?”

“Yes,” I nodded. I hesitated to say more, but it felt wrong to withhold the truth from Beatrice so I continued. “His name is Gil and he believes the shifters from our dekes killed his parents.”

Beatrice closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as she drew in a few deep breaths.

“This is bad. Very, very, bad.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “I’ll try to warn Tarak about him as soon as I can.”

Beatrice laid back down and stared up at the ceiling for a long time. Her shoulders had grown tense and the frown on her face made my heart ache. I wanted to fix it. I wanted to fix everything.

“Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?” I asked.

She blinked a few times and then turned to face me. She did not look happy to see me beside her. The expression she wore was one of confused exhaustion.

“I…” she began then let out a long sigh. “I can’t do this with you right now.”

And with that she turned on her side so her back was to me signaling the end of the conversation.

Do what with me? What could she not do, I wondered.

I had only asked about her comfort and yet she seemed so put off by my presence.

I realized then that I had a long journey ahead of me in winning my mate back.

I was not afraid of a challenge, however.

I would earn her trust no matter how long it took, and eventually I might even earn her heart back too.