REYNA
Light filtered through my lashes as my eyes fluttered open. For a while, I just lay there; the bed beneath me felt so soft, comforting.
It took me a couple of seconds for everything to come rushing back to me. Fortunately, although my body felt sore, there was no pain.
My eyes trailed down to the soft, silky robe on my body; it was cool and so soft. My mouth gaped open when I saw the huge, gaping wound on my chest right below my ribs had completely healed.
Shocked and confused, my eyes roamed the room, half expecting to find myself still in the infirmary with that psycho Dr. Elizabeth and her minion Mark. The other half of me believed this to be a dream, even as a vague memory of Casvan saving me flashed in the back of my mind.
That thought was eclipsed by the sight of Casvan lying on his side on the bed beside me. My breath hitched and then escaped in a shuddering gasp.
Love and relief so strong burst inside me, spreading through me, unraveling a tight knot that had been there. Iâd never seen him like this beforeâfree, relaxed, and unguarded.
Cas had no shirt on; he only had leather pants riding low on his waist. His long golden hair was clean and shone brightly, though it was plaited, the tip tied with a strip of leather.
That inner glow illuminated the dark blue, intricate tattoos on his arms, shoulders, and chest. He looked so big and fucking gorgeous; my body raced with want just seeing him like this, free of his chains and shackles.
Heâd obviously bathed. His natural scent was even stronger than before, making me want to lick his skin clean and nibble a bit on his pectorals.
My stomach fluttered with something wild, my heart pounding with that feeling I only got whenever I was with him. But then other sounds began to filter through my sensesâmale voices speaking in foreign languages, the clanging of steel against steel, and the loud sound of water crashing against shore.
All these sounds snapped me out of ogling Casvan. My brow creased in confusion and awe at the gorgeous view I was seeing through the huge windows of the large, lavish bedroom we were in.
A waterfall was directly outside the window, though it was a fair distance away. A couple hundred feet, maybe.
But to me, it sounded closer. I was awestruck by this beautiful sight.
Instantly, I realized I was no longer in Marl; there was nothing like this place in Marlenia. I would know. Iâd snuck out more times than I could remember and roamed the queendom.
Besides, I didnât think if there was such a place in Marlenia that it would be able to stay hidden. But then, considering all the secrets Cassandra and her council were hiding from everyone else, I wouldnât put it past them to try to hide a freaking waterfall from the masses.
I shook my head, not about to dive into that black pit. I decided to wake Casvan and ask him where heâd brought me.
While I was happy to see him alive and healthyâand extremely grateful that he arrived just at the perfect time to save me from that disgusting piece of shit MarkâI needed to know everything that happened.
Some of my last memories were vague. Everything felt like a dream.
I remembered seeing so many people fightingâguardians, Roses, more people like Casvan, and other creatures Iâd never seen beforeâfighting each other. There were flames everywhere.
I poked him when my slap and pat didnât work. I ignored the instant sparks and tingling as more images flashed in my head. Danielle was shouting something.
Cas grabbed my hand, his green eyes sprang open, and instantly warmth flooded my insides through the bond.
âWhere am I?â I asked, watching as his eyes widened with joy, reflecting everything.
âKitten, you are finally awake! How are you? How do you feel? Any pain?â Casvan was excited; he couldnât hide his happiness at seeing me, just as I couldnât hide my joy.
The sleepiness in his eyes was instantly gone. He touched my neck, my forehead, checking my temperature.
He sighed, probably relieved I didnât have a fever. Kiss me, run his hands all over my body, touch my neck again, kiss me.
âYouâre sure youâre okay?â he asked.
I giggled. âIâm okay. I feelâ¦fine, just a little weak.â I tried to sit up.
Casvan quickly helped me up, propping soft pillows behind me so I could lean on them comfortably.
âWhere am I?â I asked again, my voice hoarse. My throat felt scratchy, and I was suddenly so thirsty.
âHere, you need to drink some water, you have been unconscious for three days. You must be parched,â Cas said, as though he could read my mind.
He probably couldâwho knew. He carried a jug from the bedside table, poured water into a cup, then handed it to me.
He refused to let go of the cup, so I drank from his hand. âDrink slowly, Kitten,â he warned when I drank greedily.
I tried to control the urge to finish the water in a gulp. It was so refreshing, soothing my dried throat.
When I finished, Cas placed the cup back on the table. I repeated my earlier question. âWhere am I, Casvan?â The bond pulled and twisted with some weird emotion I couldnât translate.
He was wiping the water that had spilled on my clothes and body when I grabbed his hand and stared at him. Casvan tucked strands of my light brown hair behind my ear. Dread churned inside me as he hesitated.
âMy kingdom.â
âYour what? What do you mean? And whereâs your kingdom?â
âDakhur.â
âWhat happened? I remember the alarms, fire, and peopleâ¦fighting? Our guardians fighting with beastsâ¦â Suddenly my eyes widened, my brain replaying the images Iâd seen in slow motion.
Some of the males my people had been fighting with were like himâCasvan. My eyes narrowed with accusation. Emotions bombarded mine, his, and a growl sounded in my head.
I tried to brace myself, telling myself that the suspicious part of me was wrong. âWhat happened?â
âMarlenia was attacked?â My brows furrowed.
âWhat have you done, Casvan? Tell me Cassandra was wrong. Tell me you didnât attack my people,â my voice was low, still hoping that he would tell me my suspicions were just that.
âI had to save my race as the king. Together we can do thatâsave and protect our people.â
âYouâre the fucking king and you lie to me. Did you attack my queendom? Did you hurt my people? How could you?â I asked, even as his eyes and the bond told me everything I needed to know.
I could feel how remorseful and sad he was, but I didnât understand why. Why did he attack my queendom if he hadnât wanted to?
âYou lied to me. You attacked my people. You didnât just want me. You wanted everyone,â I said, getting out of the bed. My body swayed, and I almost stumbled down.
Cas quickly held me up, stopping my descent. I smacked his hands away and glared at him.
âI did everything for my people. I did what I had to do to save my race. Tell me you wouldnât do the same?â
Rage exploded in my chest. My hand flew, smacking his face hard and leaving a trail of blood from my fingers.
No, not fingersâclaws. I caught a flash of gray glowing light blue before they went back to their normal gray. What the hell.
âStop calling me that, and youâre right, I would have done the same. But you know what I wouldnât have done? I wouldnât have lied to you about who I am,â I yelled, staring at the blood on his face. My heart twinged with what Iâd done, hitting him.
Because I really could feel that what he told me was the truth and he hadnât meant to hurt me, but he had, and my anger was very much there.
My emotions were all over the place, so I lashed out and struck the one person I never wanted to hurt.
Casvan didnât even bat an eye, though his cheek bloomed with color from my slap. I hadnât held back.
If I wasnât high on emotions, I would have questioned the glint of pride in his eyes.
His tongue darted out and he tasted his blood that slid down to the corner of his mouth.
âI know youâre angry and you feel betrayed that I didnât tell you everything, though Iâd had many opportunities to come clean and I hadnât. I disappointed you and that was on me, Kitten,â he said.
He covered the space between us and tried to touch me.
I sent him a dark glare that translated to ~Touch me and lose the hand~. Casvan wisely dropped the hand.
He rubbed his tired face.
âYou have to know, Kitten, that I never intended to hurt you. Iâm sorry I couldnât be honest with you about my plans. I did tell you we needed the women when you first came to me. I promise you the women and children are all safe hereâsome of them are even happy to be here.â
âThat would be for me to judge,â I spat, rummaging through his wardrobe to find something better to wear than what I had on.
âWhat are you looking for? I can help you find it,â Casvan said when I kept throwing clothes out of the closet onto the ground.
I was so fucking upset, and I felt so sick.
I completely ignored Casvanâs offer of help. But something suddenly occurred to me just then.
I threw the clothes in my hands aside.
âWhere is my nana? And my mother? Did you kill her? I know Cassandra would never let you take away her people if she was alive. Fucking answer me, Casvan!â I screamed, my body shaking so badly.
Something choked me, and instantly, coughing wracked my chest.
I spat out dark blood.
I reached out my trembling hand and touched the blood on the blue nightdress. My eyes were wide with panic.
Then my face scrunched in pain.
âKitten? Reyna, whatâs wrong, talk to me. God, no! What the fuck have they done to you?â he was there in an instant, swooping me into his arms and taking me back to the bed.
Casvan shouted something in his ancient tongue.
Two hulking giant beasts barged in.
âGet Alaric now!â he barked. He hugged me, as though he could take away my pain.
I could feel the rage and concern he had for me, his eyes glowing red.
âI regret not making Dr. Elizabeth suffer, torturing her until she begged for death. If only I had the power to bring the dead to life,â he muttered in rage.
âCas, what is wrong with me?â I whispered in pain, though it wasnât as intense as before.
Sweat dotted my forehead.
Casvan wiped away the sweat and tucked my hair behind my ears, whispering words of comfort.
My eyes fluttered closed.
Something warm and metallic dripped out of my nose.
My eyelids suddenly felt so heavy as I began to convulse.
âAlaric!â Casvan bellowed, right before I lost consciousness.