With that, the oldest realm-person alive vanished, with all three powerful vampires.
Stone let Harris know that the ruling mastyrs were headed back to their respective realms. A moment later, the first team of Guardsmen arrived as well as Harris.
Knowing that the situation was well in hand, Stone levitated to the falls, slid from behind the powerful curtain of water then took to the air. He desired nothing more than to sleep away the day in his private lake home.
While he flew, he pathed with Ian, the ruling mastyr of Camberlaune Realm. He filled him in on all that had happened, though even from him, a man he considered to be his closest friend, he withheld any information about the elf-lord power.
Ian served as his second-in-command of the Combined Realm Forces. And all three are safe now? So it was a scheme of the Ancient Fae’s to reel you in?
Exactly. But I couldn’t have freed them without Aralynn. He then shared about the wolf being a blood rose.
Ian congratulated him but offered a warning. Remember, she’ll be a beacon to all mastyrs. Best keep her close.
I’ve asked her to bond with me, but she’s hesitant. I like this wolf a lot. I admire her and she has a boatload of power. I see no reason not to get on with things.
He heard Ian laugh telepathically. That is so like you. Always ready to jump in with both feet.
But would Aralynn ever consent to the bond?
Chapter Six
Rosamunde hadn’t gone to Aralynn’s place. Instead, she’d headed straight to the castle. She wanted the security of the thick stone walls. Not that it would help one bit if Margetta ever got past the veil of mist, but she still felt safer than if she’d been in the small cottage.
She’d also transformed back into her fae form. She needed time to think and Aralynn’s fiery wolf nature tended to keep her thoughts fixed on things she shouldn’t be thinking about, like Stone’s lips and his broad shoulders and what it had felt like to make love with him.
She sighed and went into the bathroom to fetch her brush. Her hair needed attending.
Shortly after she’d flown away from the cave with her violet wind whipping her high into the air, Margetta had revved up her battle energy. Sensing Margetta’s intention to fire on her, Rosamunde had been forced to access the elf-lord power while in flight. Even though it hurt like hell without Stone nearby to channel the power away, the boost had made her fly like a rocket. She’d outstripped the Ancient Fae fairly quickly, not once getting hit or even singed.
Though she could have easily teleported, she feared her aunt would be able to follow her. In many respects, she simply didn’t know the extent or limitations of Margetta’s powers. Except, of course, that Margetta lacked Rosamunde’s speed.
She’d also needed to keep Margetta focused on her. She didn’t want the Ancient Fae going back to Dracut Falls and the longer she kept Margetta in pursuit, the safer Stone was.
It was still inconceivable to Rosamunde that her own aunt wanted her dead, but so she did.
By the time she’d passed through the veil of mist surrounding Ferrenden Peace, most of the cramping in her legs had begun to dissipate. Safely inside her kingdom, she’d teleported to her castle bedroom.
She was about to sit down in a chair near her ornate dresser, when a feminine voice called to her. “Don’t be alarmed. It’s just me.”
Rosamunde whirled to find Vojalie standing near the long narrow windows that overlooked the east castle gardens. “Vojalie, what are you doing here?”
“We need to talk. I know it’s been a long night so I’ll keep this simple: It’s imperative that you bond with Stone.”
Rosamunde shook her head and set her brush on the dresser. She then pulled the Guardsman-style clip from her hair. It felt good to set her frizzy red mass free. “I can’t and you know why.”
“You need to tell him you’re Aralynn.”
She picked up her brush and started working it through her long tresses. “What happened to going with the flow?”
Vojalie clamped her hands together tightly. “I had a vision.”
At that, a chill went through Rosamunde and she set the brush back on the dresser. This could not be good. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to hear the details.
“Does Davido know about the situation at Dracut Falls?”
“He does. He pathed to tell me about it, but that’s when I had the vision.”
Slowly, Rosamunde crossed the room to stand near Vojalie. “What did you see?” Rosamunde had never seen Vojalie this upset. Usually she bore such a peaceful spirit that her mere presence was comforting.