“Quite the contrary, love.” His hand skimmed up my neck to palm my cheek. “You are exquisitely brave.”
Our gazes locked, four eyes caught in a sudden cloud of darkness. I sucked in a gasp and glanced around. The mists seeped from Kalen’s skin, and it fogged around us, transforming the red-and-orange Great Hall into a thickening gray. The mists reached for me. They caressed my cheek and trailed down the side of my face like tender fingers. My lungs no longer seemed to work, though my heart had yet to fail. It beat doubly hard, like a roll of thunder had been trapped inside my chest.
All the while, Kalen’s gaze stayed locked on my face, the intensity in his expression taking my breath and holding it right in my throat. As if a moth to a flame, I leaned toward him. His mists parted and swirled until another tongue of that delicious power curled around my body, licking at my neck.
Pain shot through me, and I winced.
Suddenly, the mists vanished, blinking away like they’d never even been there at all.
“What’s wrong?” Kalen asked, his voice laced with anguished concern. “Did I hurt you?”
“You’re not the one who hurt me.” Hissing between clenched teeth, I touched my neck. Another blast of pain thundered through me. “It’s from where that storm fae tried to strangle me. And my back is hurting again, too. Stupid mortal body.”
“There is nothing stupid about your body.” He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger before turning my head to the side. His eyes swept across my neck and then his expression darkened. “You’re bruised. You may need to rest before we travel.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. We’d been trapped here for days. Val and Mother were still out there. Kalen’s kingdom needed him home. I couldn’t be the thing that held us back.
“Hmm.” He released his grip on my chin and looked as though he intended to argue, but his back snapped straight. “I’ve just felt Boudica arrive. I need to go see what she’s brought me.”
“Word from Dubnos?”
He nodded. “Let’s hope so.”
Kalen pushed up from the blanket and vanished out the door. As soon as he was gone, I pressed a hand to my racing heart. What hadthatbeen? And why did it feel as if I were teetering on the edge of a very tall cliff? I was flirting with danger, tempted by sapphire eyes, strong arms, and a gentle touch.
Yes, Kalen was not who I’d thought he was. I’d been so wrong about everything, but…was I getting too carried away? Could I truly trust him? I hoped I could.
A moment later, he returned with two letters, his raven, and a smile I’d rarely seen. It was a smile of hope. “I’ve had news from Dubnos.”
I stood. “Is everyone all right?”
“The city was attacked, but they were able to push the storm fae back. For now. The enemy army has gathered in the fields beyond the wall, and it looks as though they plan to renew their attacks soon. But the city and castle have survived.” He took a slow step toward me. “There’s more, Tessa. A second letter from Niamh. I don’t quite understand it, but your mother and friend are in Dubnos. They arrived a few days ago. They’re alive, love. And they’re safe.”
Thirty-Seven
Tessa
After checking that Midnight had fully recovered, we rode hard for the mountains. Hope swelled in my chest with every mile that passed. We only stopped to rest a couple of times, partly to outrun the pookas on our trail and partly because I was eager see my mother again. And Val.Oh, Val.She’d done the impossible. I would never be able to repay her for what she had done for my mother.
I couldn’t wait to see their faces. I couldn’t wait to hear them speak. I wanted to know everything. How they’d survived in the mists. How they’d made it to Dubnos and how they’d known they could trust the shadow fae.
But mostly, I wanted to wrap my arms around them and never let them go.
When we reached the trail into the mountains, we swung off Midnight’s back and gave him a pat on the rump to say goodbye. But his black eyes caught mine as I turned away. Instead of rushing off into the mists to return to the merchant, he pawed at the ground, watching me.
“You can go now,” I said to him, smiling. “Thank you for everything you did for me.”
As if a horse could understand my words…
I was pretty certain he did at this point.
Kalen and I began our hike up the skinny path that cut through the mountains. Midnight followed right behind. I cast a glance over my shoulder at where he hovered just behind me.
“Kalen, he doesn’t seem to be going back home. Is he all right?”
“He’s fine,” Kalen said with a quiet laugh. “I think he likes you.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Well, I like him, too.”