Chapter 24

 

 

Waking up, I find myself all tangled up with him. Shit, slowly I try to pry his arm off me.

“I’m awake all you have to do is ask me to get up.” He says chuckling.

Mumbling I push myself away from him, and go to the bathroom, I do what I need, and when I am looking around, I find a pile of folded clothes. Making it quick, I change and pull my hair into a ponytail. Taking one last look in the mirror, I notice that where Reggie fed on me, I still have marks. The wounds scabbed over, but you can still see them.

Walking out the door, Reggie is dressed and has two packs in his hands. Noxx and Jax are also in the room.

“Listen we got to move fast. Stay close and no talking. Do you understand?” Reggie says walking over to me.

“Yeah, I get it,” I say as I turn away from him. “Jax, are you going with us? I ask, taking a step back. I don’t think Reggie knows what personal space is.

“Yes, my Queen, I think it is going to be the smart thing to do. Someone needs to keep sucky lips here in line.” He says, standing taller. Reggie snorts shaking his head.

“What are you going to do fairy?”

Before all hell breaks loose, I rush between them.

“Now both of you stop. I need to get out of here.”

Reggie doesn’t say anything else, we walk out the door, and we are met with his two bodyguards, it seems to take forever. I know some of the halls because it’s the same way as the dining hall. Or should I say the little shop of horrors? Hearing laughter up ahead, we stop. I push myself up against the wall, hoping that they can’t see me.

“The master won’t be back for three days. We can take care of her at that time.” One hiss.

“I bet she will be a tasty little morsel.” The other replies.

Beside me, Reggie growls softly. Taking my hand, I grab his arm. He looks down at me, and I shake my head. “We need to fight another day,” I whisper. Nodding we wait a little while longer until they leave.

We are in another part of this place, a place I’ve never been. It’s dark and wet. You can hear the water dripping from up ahead somewhere. The air is colder, moist. Reaching out my hand, I find Reggie in front of me. He laces our fingers together. I can’t see anything in front of me. Jax moves up closer behind me, gently putting his hand on my hip. We stay that way for a while in the dark hearing someone scream in pain occasionally. We make a sharp left I can finally see the end of the tunnel. There’s a reddish/orange glow coming from it.

“We’re almost there,” Reggie says turning around facing me. “We are going to have to make a run for the tree line. Don’t stop just head there.” He opens his mouth but closes it quickly. It looked like he wanted to say something else but stopped himself. “Noxx, stay with her no matter what. If we get separated to meet at the den of sorrows.” Noxx bowed his head in understanding. I push the pack up more on my shoulders.

As soon as we make it out of the tunnel, my eyes start to water; everything is blurry.

“Here put these on, it will help.” Reggie murmurs handing me a pair of shades. Doing as he says, my eyes don’t hurt as bad. He pushes me hard. “Run!” Looking to my right then left, I bolt forward. Noxx keeps up with me with ease. The sun if that’s what you want to call it beats down on us making me sweat. After running for what seems to be forever, we finally make it to the tree line. Running in a few hundred feet. I just can’t go anymore. Stopping, I look around. It’s gorgeous here. How can this be Hell?

Noxx trots up next to me. I pet his head. “Can we stop for a bit? Is it safe?”

“We can stop to rest my Queen; then we need to move on to the meeting place.” Sitting on the first tree stump, I pull the backpack from my shoulders. Unzipping it, I pull out some water. Unscrewing the cap, I drink. Whipping my mouth, I put back everything in the pack.

“Why aren’t they with us? Where did they go?”

“They had to lead the others away that were coming after us, my Queen. You are safe with me. I…”

Shaking my head. “Stop, I know without a doubt, you would die for me. I didn’t mean it that way.”

We sit for a while in comfortable silence. What’s weird you don’t hear the typical animal sounds. The birds are flying and chirping. The smaller animals are running around. There isn’t even a breeze. “Noxx it’s too damn quiet. I think we need to start moving. I want to get home.” I say standing up. Noxx doesn’t say anything other than giving a low whine.

We take off through the woods. There’s no trail I hope he knows where he’s going. I’m feeling weak, but I don’t say anything. I pass a creek; it’s cracked and dry. If everything is like this, how can anything live like this? Noxx is setting a fast pace, I usually would be able to keep up no problem, but this time I’m winded and getting dizzy.

“Noxx, you have to slow down.” I gasp. He stops dead in his tracks, turning. He looks at me for a few minutes making me uncomfortable.

“You need to feed, my Queen on your guardians. It’s been too long.”

“But I fed on Reggie last night. I should be fine Noxx.” I said aloud.

“He didn’t let you take much, did he?”

“No, I wanted more, but he stopped me.”

“That’s because of the bond my Queen. He’s a King if you would have taken more it would have started the bonding.”

“Oh.”

“I will go slower, but we still need to hurry, it will get dark soon and very cold. I would like to be there before it does. With you weak, it will be bad.”

Snorting, Hell getting cold? That’s funny the old saying comes to mind ‘when hell freezes over’. Noxx looks at me one more time before we start again. Turning, he shakes his head. Damn, I forgot he could read my mind. I wonder if I can do that with him.

“All you need to do is be open to it my Queen.” I hear in my head, and it’s laced with sarcasm. Great a cocky hellhound, just what I need. Laughing to myself, I follow Noxx until my feet can’t carry me anymore.

“Eat the Fae, my Queen.”

Tripping over a log, I can’t believe what I just heard.

“What did you say, Noxx?”

“You heard me, my Queen. His blood will get you by, better than anyone. You need to do it.”

“We are here, my Queen. Sit before you fall. You are not immortal until you transform. Then you will be unstoppable.”

Before I can ask him anything, he trots off. Sitting down by the cold fire pit, I wait for the others. I grab my water, thankful to Jax for packing me six bottled waters. And some power bars. I’ll have to ask him where he got these. Leaning back against a fallen log, I let my eyes close. Hearing a noise, I sit straight up.

“It’s just us my Queen,” Jax says, sitting down across from me. Looking around Reggie, Toplen and Zane come into the clearing. Reggie says something to the other two that I can’t make out. They head back into the woods. Reggie does something with his hands, and a small fire starts, casting a soft glow around the clearing. Being able to see better is nice. He walks over to me, sitting down next to me.

“Spring, it’s going to get very cold here in a few hours. We will be staying the night here.”

“Why can’t we just keep going?” I ask.

“The things that come out at night here, I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemies, well yeah I would but that’s besides, the point, don’t ya think?”

“Fine we can stay here tonight but first thing…”

“We will leave at first light.”

Looking out into the woods, what could be so bad out there. I didn’t hear or see anything all the way here. Noxx comes padding up and lays next to me. He’s very warm, so I find myself leaning closer.

“We really wouldn’t be safe traveling at night, my Queen.” He looks over to me. “You need to feed my Queen.” I give him a dirty look, turning my head, I stare into the fire. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I know he’s still looking at me.

Letting out a big breath, I look over to Jax.

“Hey, Jax. Noxx here thinks I need to eat you.” I say with a smirk. I feel Noxx shake. I’ll be damned the hound is laughing.

“Nice my Queen, very nice.”

Jax stops what he’s doing and looks over. There’s a blush on his face. He gets up and comes to sit next to me.

“All you had to do was ask my Queen.” He takes out a bronze dagger.

“Whoa, whoa, what the hell are you doing, Jax?” I ask, grabbing his arm.

“That’s what I would like to know,” Reggie growls. Noxx stands up almost growing double in size growling at Reggie.

“You know she needs too. Look at her. She’s weak, and will never make it tomorrow.” Jax snaps.

“She can feed on me.” Reggie snarls trying to step closer. “You not even royalty, you dick.”

“Your blood cannot help her, and you know it,” Jax says, never moving. I can feel the power coming off him in waves. There’s something he’s hiding from everyone. I’m pretty sure a regular Fae doesn’t have the power like I’m feeling off him.

“Fine, but if you do anything else, I will kill you,” Reggie yells at Jax.

“Spring is fully capable of watching herself. I will do nothing she doesn’t want to do.” Jax says, with a smirk.

“Hey guys I’m a big girl, Reggie you don’t own me, you can go pound salt.” I turn to Jax, “My Queen let’s go over to the lean-to. So, we can have some privacy. Standing up I try not to look anywhere but where we are headed. Once there, there are furs piled on the ground. Sitting, I make myself comfortable.

“My Queen, I’m honored that you would, want to feed from me.” He says sitting down gently next to me.

“I’m sorry that it has come to this Jax.”

“Nonsense, my Queen.”

I watch as he takes the dagger back out, sliding it across the side of his neck. My heart starts pounding fast in my chest. His hand intertwines with mine. He gently wraps his other hand around my head, pulling me closer to him. The smell hits me first, making my mouth water.

“Go ahead, take what you need.” He whispers.

“Spring please,” I say, licking my lips. Leaning in close, I let my tongue gently run over the cut. His blood explodes on my tongue. Moaning I wrap my arms around him. Bringing him even closer. I feel my fangs come out a little. Not enough to do anything but they are still there. Gently I lap at the cut, teasing the blood to flow. Feeling it slide down my throat I suck even harder. Jax moans moving his hands up and down my body. But not being inappropriate. I feel him shiver.

“Spring I’m trying to behave, but you make this feel good, there is no pain.” He says breathlessly. I drink from him for a little bit longer. Licking the wound, I watch as it heals. My hands are inside his shirt, and I’m straddling him. Blushing, I slide off him.

“Don’t be that way, Spring. It’s an intimate thing feeding.” He murmurs, laying back, pulling me with him. I put my head on his chest and close my eyes. It’s getting cold out. But I’m nice and warm.

“I’m sorry, I don’t get this feeding thing. I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable.” I say with a yawn.

Chuckling. “You feed so gently; I was far from uncomfortable, sleep now Spring.” He says softly. He gently runs his hand up and down my back.