Page 14 of Velvet Folds (Velvet)

Chapter 14

In which our hero finds his mate in a cage

Lucia is here.

Somewhere.

I inhale the scent of her deeply, filling my lungs with her. But she is not in my vault where she should be.

Stalking the hallways, I search for her with the roses first. She is not there.

Her scent mingles with Tybald’s and together, they go to a corridor I am unfamiliar with.

It is not long, and at its end, a wall of bars. Beyond those bars…

She has curled herself up into a ball, sleeping on the narrow stone bench at the back of the cell.

“Lucia?”

She flinches awake, but manages to catch herself on the ledge before she tumbles to the ground.

“Adrik,” she says my name with relief. “Thank goodness you’re awake.”

She stretches out what I assume are stiff muscles and as she stands.

I would tear the cell door from its hinges, but I can smell the cursed metal. If I touch it, I will regret it for weeks.

Turning back down the hall, I go to its end and shout Tybald’s name.

The sound of it echoes through the halls, answered by the clatter of footsteps.

He comes running—lantern swinging—and I take hold of him, dragging him to her.

“Let her out, now.” I don’t remember the last time I gave him an actual command.

“No.” I don’t remember the last time he refused me.

“She was going to kill you,” he says.

“I wasn’t.” Lucia sighs and rubs at her eyes.

“She is Liarian. Look at her hair.”

“What does that matter?”

But Tybald is Liarian. He would know one of his own kind… And Liarians loathe monsters.

He produces an ugly stake.

White ash, covered in symbols I know neither of them can see.

It is a weapon that could very easily kill me.

“She brought this with her today.” Tybald says.

“I bring it with me every day.”

The admission makes Tybald flinch.

“It was easier to leave it in the basket than argue with the person who asked me to carry it.”

“Someone asked you to kill me?”

“Yes.” She swallows, gaze dropping to the ground. “I told them I wouldn’t.”

“And still you carry the stake?” Tybald bares his teeth at her, but she doesn’t balk.

“If I have it,” she says with the smallest shrug, “they don’t.”

She looks at me, eyes strangely dark in this dim light. “You know me Adrik. I won’t ever hurt you. And I know you. I have no reason to ever consider hurting you.”

Tybald looks back and forth between us. “This woman is your mate?”

Hearing him say it warms me in a way I hadn’t expected. “She is. Let her out.”

Tybald looks back and forth between us and again, he does not do as I ask.

“No.” His gaze is fixed on her. “Not until she tells us who wants your life.”

“I can’t tell you that.” She looks up at me. “Not unless you promise that you won’t retaliate against him.”

Tybald’s mouth twists to a tight scowl.

I might be able to make that promise, for her , but Tybald can’t. Not even for me.

“Let her out, Tybald. Or I will hurt myself removing the door.”

He hesitates, but he believes me.

Freed of her cage, she lunges for me and Tybald draws his blade, but even a fool could see that she is not about to attack me.

Holding her close, I look at Tybald, still on alert. Still ready to harm her.

“Go home, Lucia.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t want to.”

“We will talk tomorrow night. I have something I have to deal with here.”

She releases me and, sparing a concerned glance for Tybald, she pauses, but she doesn’t argue.

She doesn’t look back until she reaches the end of the corridor.

She looks at me and the sadness in her eyes makes my heart want to break. But I don’t call her back. I don’t follow her. And I don’t let Tybald go after her, either.

“Why didn’t you tell me she was here?” I ask Tybald when she’s gone.

“We take care of anyone we need to. It is not a burden you have to bear.”

“How many have there been?”

“Enough,” he says.

“From now on, I want to know.”

He inhales deeply before agreeing. “As you wish.”

“And you will not try to find the person who gave her that stake.”

“You cannot ask that of me.”

“She says he’s harmless. I believe her.”

“Her opinion may not be fact. And we both know that loving can easily cloud our judgment.”

“If you kill him,” I say, changing tack. “I will turn you out.”

Tybald’s jaw shifts, jutting to the side. “Fine. I can agree to that.”

It’s not an agreement that he won’t kill the man, but it’s better than nothing.

He leaves, and I go with him until I am certain he’s not going to go chasing after her. Only then do I start my nightly task.

The night feels a little darker knowing I won’t end it with her.