AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ronan laid his mate on the ground. He grasped the tree branch and pulled it free, the sickly sound of flesh being torn as the rough bark scraped and pulled made his stomach roll.
He tossed it aside, then lifted her hand and presented his, unsure of what would happen.
The king began chanting, loud and fast in a language he didn’t recognize. Then he slashed a knife through Ronan’s palm, and then through Alanah’s. He placed the knife on the ground and pressed the bleeding wounds together. Whatever he was speaking grew faster and louder, and heat poured over them. Ronan felt like his whole body was on fire, but he couldn’t even speak. He was immobile, his gaze locked on Alanah.
As abruptly as the chanting had started, it stopped, and the king dropped their hands.
Ronan’s vision faded for a moment, but he fought not to pass out.
Alanah sat up so fast she nearly took a header to the ground. She gasped loudly, her arms flailing, and then she clutched at Ronan.
“What happened?” she asked, dazed.
He smoothed the hair back from her face, his eyes stinging with tears.
“The king saved your life.”
“Yes, I did, now get out of my commune as you agreed to. After you release Cenrik.”
“If you hadn’t come after our people with explosives and used her family to get her to marry an unmateable male, we wouldn’t be here.”
“I did no such thing,” the king said. “Our people don’t trade in weapons of war like explosives, that seems more like something a beast would do. If someone wants you dead, it’s not my people. Unless you return to the commune, then all bets are off.”
Ronan glared at the king. “Why is that male worth so much trouble? Why force and bribe your people to get him mated?”
The king made a face, but then sighed. “He’s family. Distantly related. I vowed to take care of him and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that. However, I swear on my people that no fairy tried to harm anyone at the supernatural hotel, it’s not our way.”
Ronan nodded. He didn’t think much of the king, but he was grateful for Alanah’s healing. He lifted Alanah into his arms and said, “Let’s go home.”
Alanah hugged her arms around his neck, sniffling. “I thought I died, but I was floating. It was so strange.”
“It was close,” he said as he walked with his family and new friends away from the fairies.
Serena wiped tears from her eyes, “Pretty damn close.”
“I can’t believe your parents almost killed your sister,” Alaric said.
“What?” Alanah demanded.
Ronan chuckled. “I’ll tell you everything, after we get back to the hotel and someone with medical experience checks you out.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I feel okay. Energized. I could walk too, if you want.”
“I’d rather carry you,” he said. “I almost lost you.”
That was a hell he didn’t want to contemplate.
* * *
Once they were back at the hotel and Serena had done a healing spell of her own for Alanah, to ensure she was well and truly healed, and also to remove the tracking spells placed on both of them, a local medic who specialized in supernatural people came and checked her out.
When she’d been given a clean bill of health, and not a moment before, Ronan felt like he could relax. He couldn’t believe how close he’d come to nearly losing everything.
They met up in the penthouse where they were introduced to the vampire master, Caleb, who was sitting with his mate Lia.
The entire group of sabers and their mates sat in the huge apartment while a vampire male named Nash hurried around getting drinks and food for everyone.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Alanah,” Lia said. “And I’m doubly glad you’re here safe with your truemate. Alaric, why aren’t we the only sabers? Our parents always told us we were.”
