Of Blood and Sacrifice (Royal Fae Guardians Book 2)

by Heather Renee

  "Brooke wasn't so bad, was she?" Stryx asked, reading my thoughts and reminding me I hadn't put my wall back up.

  Before answering him, I fixed that problem and realized he was right. But where there was good, there was usually bad. Nothing was perfect, and I wasn't naïve enough to believe we wouldn't find trouble with the creatures we needed to help us.

  However, I wouldn't let that stop me from completing the challenge given. We would gather all of the pieces and forge the dagger.

  Then, I would hunt Alaryk to the ends of all the worlds if I had to. One way or another, he would die by my hand, and, for the first time in days, the thoughts of his death brought me peace instead of the growing darkness I'd been clinging to.

  Chapter Five

  Randomly just telling someone you were ready to be bonded for all eternity wasn’t as easy as I first thought. Of course, we had already discussed it, but this was awkward territory, and Ryland had been much too nice.

  My heart still hadn’t completely let him off the hook for pushing me away in the beginning, but my more sensible side was trying to be reasonable. He came from a completely different world than I did. He had old school values and principals. His commitment was overwhelmingly intact.

  When I really broke it down, I didn’t blame him for being angry at the thought of being forced to disgrace his first love. Fabricated or not, it had been real for him, and he’d made a lifelong promise to her that he’d intended to keep, even after death. Well, until he learned she’d deceived him.

  Knowing he was willing to give me that same vow once he knew the truth was equally overwhelming. The conversation and emotional outpour with Stryx had definitely pushed back the growing darkness and rage I had within me, but it didn’t make what came next any easier.

  After finding Jordan, she let me know Ryland and Oliver were back at the training center and helping some of the newer guardians. It was a task they used to take on often before dealing with the drama I’d brought into their lives.

  I showed up at the facility and watched from the door. My Meraki was kind, caring, and strong. He truly enjoyed helping others, but even seeing and telling myself all of that, didn’t help me with what I had to do next.

  Accepting the bond was daunting but necessary according to Stryx, who I trusted with my life. The connection between Ryland and me wasn’t going anywhere, and making it official didn’t change anything. Well, except it would put Stryx at ease and help me control the abilities within me well enough to kill Alaryk. When I really broke it down, I’d be a fool to deny it any longer, but I wouldn’t stop myself from wanting some distance until we truly knew each other.

  Ryland noticed me as he turned to adjust the form on one of the guardians. He grinned as he took a step forward, then paused, likely trying to decide if he’d be welcome. Instead of making him suffer, I waved him over.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked when he got closer.

  “Uh, nothing. Why?”

  His body was suddenly tense as he stared intently at me. “Your eyes. They’re brighter than normal and red around the edges as if you’ve been crying. Did someone say something to you?”

  I grinned, pretty sure if I told him someone had hurt my feelings that he was prepared to hunt them down and torture them slowly. That was the commitment I was drawn to, even if it was a lot to take in. I knew it was his way of showing he cared.

  “I was talking with Stryx—” I started, but he cut me off.

  “I told him to leave you alone. I’m going to rip his feathers out one by one,” Ryland snarled, and I reached to grab his arms before he could port away.

  “It was good and exactly what I needed. Stryx didn’t do anything wrong. He actually helped me a lot.”

  Ryland softened and stepped closer. “How so?”

  “Well, the growing darkness from the grief is more manageable than it was an hour ago,” I answered, avoiding the reason I’d come to find him.

  He placed a hand over mine that was still holding on to him. “That’s good. He probably could have killed me, but I still would have tried to make him stop forcing things on you that you’re not ready for.”

  Warmth filled me, and there was a pull within me that yearned to step closer to Ryland, but I ignored it as I said my next words. “He also helped me to understand why I was so afraid of bonding with you now when I had been so ready before. I still want to take things slowly, but I’d like to try again if you would.”

  The gap between us became smaller as he cradled my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. “No. We won’t do this because you feel there is no other option.” The words felt harsh, but there was also a different kind of care within them I’d never experienced before.

  “I’m not being pushed into this. The bond is there regardless of whether or not we let the council do their official…sealing…whatever it is. There are too many benefits to ignore, and I just want to get it done.”

  He flinched at my words, and I realized how cruel they sounded. Cheese and rice, I was a jerk. Now, it sounded as if I was using him. I was no better than Alaryk at this point.

  “I’m sorry. That came out wrong,” I mumbled.

  “No, it didn’t, but I understand. You didn’t grow up here. You don’t understand how special and uncommon this type of bond is. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to go, and I’m sorry you don’t get to experience the process as it was created to be, but I will do this for you if it’s what you really want.”

  Sigh. I was screwing this all up, and I wanted nothing more than to port home and find my mom in the kitchen cooking something amazing and ready to tell me everything would work itself out.

  Ryland’s thumbs brushed away the stray tears I’d let fall. “It’s going to be okay, Kali.”

  My chest tightened as he said the words I so badly wanted to hear. Even though it wasn’t the same as hearing them from my mother, I did believe that Ryland thought they were true. He had an absolute faith in me that continued to surprise me with every interaction.

  When I didn’t respond, he pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around me. I fought to keep my emotions in check, especially since we were still in public. I’d cried enough that day, and it hadn’t been my intention to continue doing so when I found Ryland.

  Still holding me close, he spoke softly near my ear. “How about I set up the bonding ceremony, but not for a couple of days? You wanted to get to know me, and I’d like to learn about the you that didn’t grow up in Arvayta. We can have a date or two and ease into the transition.”

  I nodded. “That sounds perfect to me.” It really did. It would give me some more time to wrap my mind around everything. I should have been getting used to all the changes in my life. Something life-altering seemed to pop up around every corner for me lately, and I hoped that would soon end.

  “I’ll go set everything up and pick you up in two hours for our first date if you’re good with that.” I nodded, and he kissed my forehead. “Good. I’ll see you then.”

  Stryx flew in and landed on my shoulder just as Ryland was getting ready to disappear. “Not so fast. I already took care of the council. The ceremony will take place at an outside location instead of town hall and will be at dawn in two days’ time. That gives you this evening and all day tomorrow to do whatever you’d like.”

  “What about this afternoon?” Ryland asked.

  “The bonded animals are recovered, and I’d like for you to meet them before you take off.”

  A sense of excitement rushed through me. I’d seen a lot of the animals coming through the portal during the fight, but stress levels had been so high, I hadn’t taken a moment to appreciate them in a proper way.

  “Thank you for coming to get us,” I said with a sweep of my hand over his wing.

  “Yeah, don’t get used to it. With that wall of yours up, it’s not as easy to find you,” he grumbled, and I grinned. Served him right after all the intrusions he made on my inner conversations.

  We ported to a fi
eld I’d never seen before and found Jordan and Oliver already there. Jordan was bouncing on the balls of her feet and I’d never seen her giddier.

  “This is the best day ever,” she squealed, and I laughed.

  “Calm down. What if there isn’t an animal for everyone?” I asked and glanced at Stryx with a wink.

  Jordan shoved me. “Hey, Debby-Downer. Piss off.”

  “Oh, don’t be so sensitive. Stryx already said everyone was getting one. I was just joking.” When I glanced back at the owl, he shook his head.

  “Actually, not everyone, but Jordan shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

  Well, that was cryptic.

  “Follow me.” Stryx flew toward a forested area I’d yet to venture to. We moved through the dense, shadowed area, and it opened up again after several yards to a much smaller clearing packed with exotic animals from all over the earth.

  Tigers, panthers, cheetahs, lions, monkeys, snakes, foxes, bears, birds, and so many more I was probably missing. Each species came in different colors and sizes, and it was the most unreal experience to see them staring at us with so much humanity in their eyes.

  “What now?” Jordan whispered.

  “You wait. The animals will come to you when they’re ready. Some will just want to meet you; others may approach because they’re your bonded pair. Don’t assume until you’re certain, and I promise, you’ll know. Also, don’t touch until you’ve been given permission. These creatures haven’t interacted with anyone outside our world in many years. Be patient.”

  Patience and Jordan didn’t often go well together, so I was surprised at her restraint as she stayed put. Oliver, on the other hand, shocked all of us by inching further from our group and toward the animals.

  “Should we stop him?” I asked.

  “Not yet,” Stryx replied.

  “So, we wait until after he’s lost a limb to one of the big cats?” Jordan joked, and as she did, a panther stepped out from the crowd and stalked toward Oliver.

  The beast of a cat–if you could even call it that–had to weigh a few hundred pounds, and muscles rippled through its legs as it crouched with its tail flicking behind.

  Oliver paused when he was about halfway between us and the panther. Stryx hadn’t budged from his perch on the tree, but I still began to get nervous. We might live long lives, but none of us was invincible.

  Just as I was about to call Oliver back, the sleek shadowy animal launched itself at our friend and tackled him to the ground. Each of us took a step forward, but an invisible wall stopped us in our tracks.

  “What the hell, Stryx?” Ryland roared, but I tugged on his hand.

  “Look.”

  Oliver was laughing and rolling around in the grass with the panther as they played like children together. There were no claws extended from the oversized cat, and they both seemed to be enjoying themselves.

  The wall before us shimmered out of existence, and Jordan marched forward, intent clear in her stride.

  She mumbled under her breath about how she should have been the first and charged right into the crowd of animals perfectly capable of killing her. My best friend was certifiable.

  “Are you going to do anything about this?” I asked Stryx.

  “Nope.”

  “What happened to the ‘the animals will come to you’ spiel?” Ryland added.

  Stryx ruffled his feathers. “Now that I’m seeing it, this seems like more entertainment. The animals won’t hurt her. Much.”

  Charging forward, I went after my best friend with Ryland right behind me. There was no way I was going to let her get mauled by wild beasts. That was until I found her groping each one before she shook her head and moved on.

  As she was playing with a monkey, I spotted a lion creeping toward her backside. I launched forward at the same time he did and tackled his hind legs.

  He roared in my face, catching the attention of everyone around us. “Get off of me, Guardian,” he spat.

  “Like hell I will. You were going to eat my best friend,” I snarled back.

  His back leg kicked me in the gut, and I let go as Ryland grabbed my arms to pull me back.

  “I was only going to take a little nibble.” The lion purred as soon as Jordan grabbed on to his mane.

  “Did you attack her? Bad kitty.” Their heads pressed together, and I narrowed my eyes.

  Freaking wild animals. Jordan included.

  “Well, I guess everything is fine after all. Stryx warned us for no reason.” As I said the words, Jordan’s fist sailed past my head and collided with a snake.

  “Not exactly.”

  My body shivered. “Ry, if you could find your bonded animal, that would be great.” I was more than ready to leave the clearing before something else tried to kill me.

  Stryx flew closer and landed on the back of the lion. “About that. Ryland doesn’t have one as of now. I thought it would be best for the two of you to focus on your bonds and not have the distraction of another.”

  My eyes immediately went to Ryland. His face didn’t show any emotion, but I knew he had to be disappointed. Seeing the excitement from Jordan and Oliver was contagious, and I knew the joy firsthand with Stryx. My heart broke a little for him, because even though he agreed with Stryx, I knew he was lying through his teeth.

  Chapter Six

  We left Jordan and Oliver with their new animal friends, allowing them the time they needed to get acquainted. Which seemed fitting, because Ryland and I were off to do the same thing.

  "So, I was going to plan everything after I went to the council, but since Stryx already took care of that for us, is there anything you'd like to do?" Ryland asked as we walked back toward town.

  Even though we could port wherever we wanted within Arvayta, I still enjoyed strolling through the lands. There was always something new to see, and I was easily entertained with anything unusual like what I saw next.

  "What is that?" I pointed to a small creature staring at us from a bush.

  "That? You don't want to know." He shuddered, causing me to laugh.

  I took a step forward. "It looks perfectly innocent." The furry thing had massive ears that stood straight up, big round saucer eyes, and grey fur I wanted to sink my fingers into.

  Ryland grabbed my arm. "Seriously. It will kill you before you can even blink."

  "I thought this place was like utopia. Or is it more like Australia? It just looks stunning, but you're likely to die no matter where you go, even in your own home."

  He laughed. "I don't know much about Australia, but there are only a handful of animals here vicious like that thing. Thankfully, the rest of the bad ones don't look near as innocent."

  We kept strolling, finally arriving at the training center where the beginning of town came into view.

  "So, our date. Are you still up for it?" he asked.

  "I am if you are. I know the news earlier might have made your afternoon not so great," I said, hoping to get him to open up about how he really felt not having his own animal.

  "Honestly, the moment Stryx said not everyone would get one, I had a feeling he was speaking to me. Everything happens for a reason, and I'm not worried about this one. He was right. I have more important things to focus on right now."

  Well, maybe he really was okay with it. He was a bigger person than me. I knew I wouldn't have been very accepting of being the only one without a bonded animal.

  "Well, then. How about you surprise me for our outing? I don't know much about Arvayta, and I haven't eaten out much, so you pick."

  He stared off at town as we kept moving along and finally smiled. "Okay, I think I have an idea. How about you go home and change into something comfortable. Jeans and a t-shirt are just fine. I'll meet you at your place in less than thirty minutes."

  "Sure, I can do that."

  He leaned in and kissed my cheek, reminding me that he had promised to take every opportunity to show me his interest. The small kisses and touches he kept providing were de
finitely hitting home. I'd never been much for affection like that, but Ryland was quickly showing me how much of a difference it made in me opening up to him. When he did things like that, it felt natural. Easy, even.

  Without saying anything else, he ported away, and I continued to walk the rest of the way to town. I hadn't been there since the fight with Alaryk. I hadn't been able to force myself to confirm the aftermath had been properly cleaned up, but maybe it was time.

  I was trying to heal, and if I was constantly afraid, then there would be no moving forward.

  Just as I stepped off the path and onto the main road, a hand reached out and grabbed me.

  "I don't think that's a good idea," Lorelle said from the shadows of the nearest building.

  "And why not?" My fingers itched to defend myself, but thankfully my instincts had shown some restraint before punching the old lady in the face.

  "Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for a date?" she asked, and I nodded. "Well, causing yourself to spiral into an emotional battle of the past might just put a damper on the mood, don't you think?"

  "Wait a minute. How did you know I had a date?"

  She waved away my words. "That doesn't matter. Just know there is a time and place for grief. Today is not the day for you to walk through town."

  This old lady was crazy. I barely knew her, but she was speaking to me as if she was family.

  "Why do you care?" I asked.

  "Because if Arvayta falls, then I have to move back to the Otherworld, or worse, Earth. I'd rather not do either. So, when I see a chance to keep things on the right path, I take it. Now, listen to this old lady and go home."

  It wasn’t that I wanted to obey her, but I also didn't have any desire to argue any longer, so I let her win.

  "Fine, but I'll be back tomorrow."

  "No, you won't. Tomorrow is too soon as well. You must wait until after the bonding ceremony, Kaliah. If you don't—" She shook her head and grabbed both of my hands, still remaining in the shadows. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but please heed my warning. I can't say any more."