Nazrin paced outside, in front of the infirmary, and rubbed his temples to ease the painful pressure building. Would this War of theirs come soon? It wasn’t safe to train Essa faster. She was like a newborn in her powers. A babe who sucked the moisture from an entire village with one unrestrained action. She was bloody dangerous. He had a mind to steal her away from Halcyon, to some unpopulated place.
Yes, his raptor too eagerly encouraged. Take her away, where she’ll be ours alone.
He lowered his head in defeat. Nay, he’d never resist her if they were alone. Halcyon was the best place for her.
He’d offered her the image of her mother, but he hadn’t spoken the entire truth. The memory he’d shown her wasn’t his. It belonged to her mother—a spirit he’d met in the Underworld. He grimaced. After he’d made this blasted bargain with Hades, Helene had drawn him aside and entrusted him with the memory. A gift, she’d murmured, for when my daughter will need my guidance the most.
Essa stirred within, and he detected Aedre rushing to her side.
“He thinks you should sleep because of the pain,” Aedre scoffed. Saucy wench. She may have disapproved of his intention to sedate Essa, but he required Aedre on his side. Convincing his mate of his worth. “You’ll heal much faster if you morphos. Of course, his lordship won’t allow it because he can’t watch over you under the water. You should know, Kai has been begging me to let him see you. Nazrin forbade him. The two of them nearly ripped each other’s throats out the other day.” She gave a derisive snort. “I shooed them both away. My infirmary is a place for the injured, not the about-to-be-injured.”
Nazrin winced at the reminder. His human half had no issue with the myrman. His raptor perched, awaiting the command to attack.
“Are you well enough for the morphos?” Aedre prattled on. “Kai should arrive in a moment. I’ve sent Nazrin off to collect some hellebore. Should take him a while as none grows here.”
He glowered at the infirmary’s wall. Scheming Aedre, as always. What she didn’t know was that he’d never left. He couldn’t.
Not for one second while Essa remained ill.
The crunch of dirt sounded to his right, followed by Kai’s scent. The male cast him a dark glare before knocking on the infirmary door.
Before entering the room where his mate lay injured. Before thieving her and healing her in ways Nazrin never could.
The injustice sliced through him and his raptor squawked in fury.
Someday, he vowed, he and he alone would be enough for her.
***
“Essa.” Kai rushed to her bed and embraced her a bit too tight.
She squeaked and he released her, concern flashing across his face. “Pray pardon. I apologize for not coming sooner. I was unable—”
“Don’t fret.” She didn’t care to hear about the fight or his opinions regarding Nazrin. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, darling.”
He clasped her hand. “Are you well? I can’t believe he let you do that.” Tossing his head, he added, “The danger he placed you in—”
“He didn’t do anything.” She squeezed his hand. “It was my fault.” Only she was to blame for what happened. No one else. She certainly wouldn’t confirm their reason for fighting. “Aedre tells me you’re going to escort me for a swim?” She offered him a weak smile then glanced at Aedre. “I’m not sure if I can. My whole body hurts.”
“Would you like something for the pain?” Aedre shuffled to the far wall. “I can make you a tea.”
“No, thank you.” Fog clung to her brain. More medicine would make it worse.
Aedre ducked behind the counter and produced a thick woolen blanket instead. “Well, you’ll need this.” She wrapped the blanket around Essa’s shoulders.
After several days of bed rest, with no food and barely any water, her legs refused to carry her weight. Kai scooped her into his arms and carted her to the male morphos area, to avoid anywhere Nazrin might find them. He deposited her on a rock, the blanket wrapped around her.
They should’ve gone to greater lengths to mislead Nazrin. He dropped to the ground from a tree above them. The tips of his feathers threatened to turn black, as though someone dipped them in ink.
“Aedre,” he scowled at her, “we agreed to let her rest for another day.”
“No, Nazrin. You ordered; I chose not to acknowledge it,” Aedre perched her hands on her hips. “I’m the healer. She needs the morphos.”
“Nay, ’tis too much risk.” His gaze passed over Essa, softening. She appreciated his concern, but not his protectiveness. Straightening, she tried to mask the weakness overwhelming her. “She’s in a great deal of pain.”
“Ah, ah.” Aedre held up a hand to silence him. “It will do her no good to remain sedated and in human form. I’ll ensure she transforms safely. We’ll only be gone for a few hours. Besides, you must rest. You can’t help her like this.”
Like this? Indeed, dark wedges under his eyes indicated he likely hadn’t slept the entire time she’d been ill. Oh, Nazrin.
“You can do no more,” Aedre intoned. “Let us help her now.”
Beside her, Kai tensed, leaning to whisper in her ear. “Stay at the underwater palace. For your own safety, I’d like you to be close to me. I can protect you.”
“Not as well as I.” Nazrin marched forward, his open wings enforcing the enormity of his presence.
Kai placed a firm, possessive hand on her shoulder. “As I recall, you’re the one who left her unchecked in the first place. It was on your watch that she almost died.”
“I hadn’t anticipated her trying to save my life.” Nazrin’s dark depths smoldered in smug satisfaction. “It was because she feared for me that she drew upon her powers so recklessly.”
Her blood heated at this display of masculine posturing. Males. Ugh. She’d spoken those words to him in a tender moment. Enough of this. She refused to allow them to fight over her like some docile prize.
“Stop.” Sitting up straighter, Essa huffed, “You two bicker like old women. I don’t require either of you to protect me. I can take care of myself. You,” she shoved off Kai’s hand. “Don’t concern yourself with what he says. I would’ve done the same for you, for anyone. As for you,” she glared at Nazrin, “I believed you above such pettiness.”
Both men gaped at her in stunned silence. Before either of them protested or apologized, she leapt off the rock and dove into the lake.
She surfaced behind a boulder far into the distance and peered at the shore. Kai glowered at Nazrin, then stalked away.
Good. At least they wouldn’t kill each other. For the moment.
***
The next day, Essa awoke with the sun’s rays on her cheek, their warmth carrying a promise of summer. On the table beside her lay a plate with hot eggs, meats, an assortment of fruit, and sweet rolls. She flipped to her other side and spotted Nazrin. Of course. She hadn’t missed the flask of salt water and the vase of blossoms beside the plate. His mother, Kloris, was the goddess of flowers, which explained why his cabin was full of them.
She’d hoped Aedre’s infirmary would prove a refuge from Nazrin, but she’d been wrong.
“I assumed you’d be hungry.” With his white wings tucked behind his back, he perched on Aedre’s countertop, across the room from her.
She lifted the fork and poked at the food. Aedre’s words from yesterday stuck in her mind. Although the swim aided her immensely, pain lingered deep in her bones. “Is this a peace offering, or have you medicated the food?”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “Eat and find out.”
Essa scowled at him, but took a bite. It smelled too good to resist.
“Are you still insisting on guarding me?”
“It’s for your own safety, Sirena. Kai and I are ensuring no one might wish you harm.”
They’d joined forces? She studied his face, but Nazrin let nothing seep through his mask.
“Fine.” She sighed, resigned. “If it’s not safe for me here, there’s someplace else I’d like to go.”
“Where?”
“I must see what I did.” She shuddered. Even admitting that much twisted her stomach. Facing the wreckage she’d wrought would be worse, yet she had to go. She had to view what she was capable of in order to conquer her fear.
“Nay.” The refusal cut sharp from his lips.
“I’m not asking, Nazrin. If you won’t take me, I’ll get someone else.” She set down her fork, her appetite gone. “You want to train me, to teach me what I can do? Well, I need to view it first, to face myself, so I can help make it right.”
“It’s too dangerous,” he countered. “Kai was right. I shouldn’t have placed you in such a position. The blame is mine and mine alone.” He paced to the wall and folded his arms solidly across his muscled chest. As though his word were law. “I’m the leader. If my mission fails, it’s because of me.”
Essa let out an exasperated puff. “You’re impossible.”
His dark eyes penetrated her, making her flush. Suddenly, the distance between them seemed to narrow to mere inches. They were alone, she wore nothing but a thin shift, and the memory of him tasting her burned into the forefront of her mind.
Abruptly, he spun, his back to her, his chest and shoulders heaving. What was this fire between them?
After several long moments, he murmured, “Very well. We shall fly there after you finish your meal.” Nazrin strode out of the infirmary and the door slammed in finality.
***
“Ready?” Nazrin’s scrutiny followed Essa as she emerged from the infirmary. Damn. His raptor craved her, yet he feared she was still too weak. Or too furious.
“If you’re going to insist on using me as your mode of transportation, then, Sirena, you’re going to conquer your fear of flying.” He winked at her and extended his hand.
She tilted her chin at him and accepted his hand. “I’m not afraid.”
He leaned in and purred, “Then prove it.”
A grin tugged at his mouth while she shivered. His Sirena wouldn’t deny the power of their attraction.
“How?”
Shifting closer, he pressed his lips against her neck. “Don’t close your eyes.” He grabbed her hands and spun her around, so her back faced his front. Drawing her arms up and out, he held one hand in each of his, their arms away from their bodies, like wings. Essa tensed, but he clutched her in reassurance and beat his wings. They lifted off the ground, together. As they’d always been meant to.
Floating, Nazrin slid first one hand and then the other along her arms, ensuring she stayed in position, and wrapped his arms around her waist. He flapped a little higher and whispered, “Don’t close your eyes.”
“I won’t.” She nodded. They swooped downward at a gentle angle. Her steady heart beat assured him she wasn’t afraid.
The forest surrendered to fields, and beyond them mountains and oceans. In the full glory of the sun, they glimpsed to the ends of the world, or so he imagined. The wind blew calm, the air currents around them caressing with loving arms. Nazrin’s wings rode on top of the currents, using them to soar gracefully through the sky while the rhythmic beating of his wings drummed in their ears.
Once more? Nazrin posed the question in her mind.
Yes.
He climbed even higher this time, into the clouds.
Amazing. Her mind’s voice rang with awe. She stretched out her hand and brushed a cloud, her fingers gliding right through it. Suddenly, she flipped her palm upward and it flamed blue.