Her stomach lurched, but she quickly swallowed back the bile that climbed her throat and lowered herself to the sofa. She perched her elbows on her knees and dropped her face in her hands, working away the nausea and emptiness that wreaked havoc on her body. God, was this part of the soul mate bond? These overwhelming, visceral reactions?
When he fell.
Her eyes began to burn. Her jaw tightened. Her soul yearned for wholeness.
“I deserve death. ’Tis my fate.”
Her chin quivered. What the hell did he mean by that?
A hand came to rest on her back, between her shoulder blades. Gentle, warm and comforting.
“Rori, allow me to try and put your mind at ease.”
Rori sniffled, turned her head in her hands and caught the luminous lavender eyes that swelled with empathy. The ethereal woman shimmered through the coat of tears that crested Rori’s eyes.
“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she whispered, her voice shaky.
“No one expects a fated match,mo stór.’Tis unexpected when it happens, and oftentimes a joyful surprise.” Rihanna shifted a little closer, folding her hands around Rori’s and lowering them to her lap. Rori sucked in an unsteady breath, turning her eyes to the baby blue sky as she fought the tears. “’Tis not the case with you, I presume?”
“It’s…confusing.He’sconfusing. And yet, it gets harder and harder to be without him.” Rori huffed a laugh and lowered her gaze to Rihanna’s. “He tells me everything to push me away, butdoeseverything to keep me close. His actions contradict his words, like he wants me to hate him, but in truth, he wants me to accept him. He deliberately infuriates me one moment, heals my wounds the next. He saved me from my darkest nightmare and risked his life more than once to protect me, yet is accepting of a death sentence?”
Rori dropped her head as she pulled her hands from Rihanna’s. Her brows creased when she caught the faint scar across the woman’s palm before she turned her hands over and rested them on her legs. Cael’s haunting words swam through her mind.
Blood bond.
Blowing out a breath, and the silly notion of blood bonds and forevers, she tangled a hand in her mussed braid andlaughed to herself. “Foolish human. I’m not cut out for fairytales.”
“The energy you give off says otherwise. Sometimes, we become our own obstacles on a path that was created for us. Alas, Thaddeus’s path had become riddled with obstacles not even he could overcome.”
Rori watched Rihanna begin to help herself to a plate, adding slices of fruit and a few pastries to the stoneware. She tucked a fork on the side and offered it to Rori.
“Here. Eat.”
Rori accepted the plate, but lowered it to her lap. “Thanks, but my stomach?—”
“He survived, Rori. By the will of the Goddess, he survived.”
Rori straightened up, her eyes widening. The storm unleashing fury within her body suddenly melted into something altogether different. Butterfly wings and heat, all peppered with urgency. She went to put her plate aside, but Rihanna caught her with a pointed glance at the food, and cupped the side of Rori’s cheek.
“Trust in the Goddess, Rori. Her will may not always be clear, but She’ll never lead you astray.”
“I-I don’t believe in goddesses.”
Her smile widened. “Mayhap ’tis time to start believing.”
“Have you seen him? How’s he doing?” Rori leaned closer, excitement and anxiety driving tension through her muscles. “Is he still recovering?”
“Ah, Rori. I’ve not seen him. My brother refuses to allow me near him at this time. He and another friend tend to his recovery.”
Her hope faded. “Then how do you…” Her brows furrowed when realization cut through her excitement. Rihanna never said he was fine or healed or well. She simply said he survived. His state remained a mystery. “Your brother. What is his history with Thaddeus?”
“Centuries ago, Shaye and Thaddeus were inseparable friends. Then they grew estranged. ’Twasn’t long ago they crossed paths once again, but their encounter was not one of peace.”
Rihanna gave her so little, yet it opened up a well of questions. “Why did he bring us here if he and your brother aren’t on good terms?” Rori gave the bedroom a hesitant glance. “Where is here?”
“You’re in a realm of Faery. This land belongs to the Talaenian people. We are the creation of pureblooded Fae and mortals.”
Rori stared at the exquisite woman before her. She bore features that could easily put the most beautiful mortal woman to shame. Everything about her was elegant and pure and perfect.
