Embrace the Wild (The Blood Rose Series Book 6) (13 page)

He shook his head because his mind spun. He couldn’t seem to make sense of what he was looking at.

She once again took his hand. “Come this way. I want you to meet the leaders of this colony, both of whom knew Davido a couple thousand years ago.”

Sweet Goddess. Very few realm-folk lived into the range of multiple millennia.

The crowd that had gathered in the square, near a tall stone obelisk, parted for them until he saw a beautiful fae wearing an elaborate necklace of feathers and beside her an elegant male fae with his wavy hair swept away from his face. They were a handsome couple.

The closer he drew, however, the more he felt their shared power, a joint power that seemed to emanate from the earth. He understood in that moment that he was looking at Realm royalty, figures from past eons that had served the Nine Realms in a quiet capacity all their lives. He resonated with their commitment, just as he knew Willow did.

“Mastyr Malik, may I present Illiandra and Gervassay of the Ashleaf Realm Colony?” She turned to the couple. “Mistress Illiandra and Lord Gervassay, Vampire Mastyr Malik of Ashleaf Realm, in service these two-hundred-years.”

Very formal.

Illiandra spoke. “We are honored to meet you at last, Mastyr Malik. My husband and I welcome you to our colony and we’ve opened our hearts and our homes to you this fine realm night. Mistress Willow, will you and Mastyr Malik receive a blessing?”

“We will.”

Malik felt the pressure of Willow’s hand on the inside of his arm and didn’t at first know what she meant by it, until two lovely young fae girls moved forward to spread out a thick rug before the couple.

Willow leaned close and whispered, “We’re expected to kneel.” In any other circumstance, he might have balked at the requirement. He didn’t expect anyone to ever abase themselves before him, all realm-folk being equal.

But right now, in Ashleaf Colony, a frequency rose up and surrounded him of such great peace, that he felt as though he must be in the presence of the Goddess. Maybe he was.

He lowered himself to his knees and Willow followed suit. He bowed his head, so overcome that his soul felt ready to bust out of his skin.

As Illiandra began speaking in a different language, every vibration he possessed moved softly through his body. His surroundings were completely forgotten as the woman’s voice rose and fell. In the middle of it, he took Willow’s hand and she gave his fingers an answering squeeze. He could feel that she was as overwhelmed as he was.

Odd to think he’d expected to meet a few wraith families living in various farmhouses, and instead he found a large town and a spiritual depth that stunned him.

When Illiandra finished, he felt her touch his shoulder, the cue to rise. The moment he gained his feet, Willow as well, the two girls quickly gathered up the rug.

For a long moment, Malik could neither move nor speak. His heart felt incredibly full. He finally turned in a slow circle, wanting to greet all the onlookers as well, the very quiet fae-wraiths that watched him with open, innocent expressions. How different they were from the Invictus, those wraiths turned by Margetta’s foul methods into vicious killers.

He lifted his arms, palms up, then spoke in a loud voice. “I am so happy to meet all of you tonight.” He then pressed one fist against his chest.

There was silence for a moment, after which a loud sustained cheering filled the square.

He turned with a question in his eyes toward Willow, but she only smiled.
They love you,
she pathed.
They know the sacrifices you’ve made, the laws you’ve instituted on their behalf. Many of them have half-breed children, and grand-children in various parts of the Nine Realms.

Malik had never needed to be told his role was valuable in Ashleaf. Hell, one of the first things he’d done was to enact laws to protect wraiths and half-breeds. But this acknowledgement, so full of obvious appreciation and gratitude, moved him as nothing else could.

He took another turn and waved, meeting as many pairs of eyes as he could. He nodded and smiled, and from his heart silently thanked these fellow realm-folk who’d lived in constant danger from Axton and The Society all these centuries.

At last, he faced Illiandra and Gervassay again, and the latter lifted his arms, encouraging the crowd to quiet down. “And now, Illiandra and I will show Mastyr Malik our fair town.”

This seemed to be a prearranged cue, because the town folk scattered like mad, running here and there back to their shops and dwellings. Many laughing collisions couldn’t be avoided.

Malik had no idea what was going on until the wraith couple took the lead, asking Malik and Willow to follow behind.

Okay, he never thought he’d be part of a processional going down what proved to be two miles of a very long High Street. It turned out that the few wraith families Willow protected was a township with surrounding farms, villages and hamlets for a combined population some twenty thousand strong.

He’d never smiled so much or felt so deeply honored in his entire existence than during this walk he shared with Willow. Many called out her name as well and blessed her for her service. She blushed often, as if unused to the accolades.

At the end of the High Street, a small villa came into view. But what caught his eye was how the land really opened up, and he had to blink several times. Ashleaf Realm as a forested mountain world had little pasture and farmland, yet that’s exactly what he saw as a soft, green landscape rolled to the western horizon as far as the eye could see.

And Willow’s protective spell had kept all of this from view.

He tried to think just how many times he might have flown over the same square miles – thousands of times, no doubt – but he had no real recollection of any unaccounted for land.

Once more he was stunned by Willow’s level of power and how she could prevent even his eyes from seeing this land.

When Illiandra reached the path to the villa, she turned to him. “Gervassay and I would like Willow to show you the breadth of the colony, if you would fly her over. And when you’re done, come back here and we’ll share a meal together. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful.” Yet, the word seemed inadequate.

Gervassay offered his arm to his wife, and when they headed down the front path to their home, Malik took Willow high into the air so he could get a bird’s eye view of the protected twenty square miles. To Willow, he pathed,
How do you do it? How do you shield this much land?

He passed over a number of farms and a few smaller villages and hamlets. The countryside was more pastoral than any other part of his realm.

I’ll make a confession,
Willow responded.
One of the reasons I decided to bring you here was because I’ve reached some sort of limit in my protective ability.

Alexandra the Bad taught me well and I’ve gained in power under Illiandra’s tutelage. But right now, I’m maxed out. If one more baby is born, or one more home built, or if any of the flocks increase in size, I don’t think I’ll be able to offer the same level of protection.

You’ve been burdened.

I’m not complaining, Malik, I promise you that. I’ve loved serving the colony all this time. It’s been my privilege.

He thought about the deaths of her parents.
And a way of honoring your mother’s family.

Yes, at the very least that.

But now you need help.

There’s no question in my mind that I can’t do this alone anymore.

CHAPTER FIVE

Later, Willow sat beside Malik at Illiandra’s table. Their hostess served a simple vegetable soup with stoneware in a beautiful shade of dark teal. Slices of flavorful herbed goat cheese, toasted sour dough bread with a hint of basil-butter, and home-grown tomato slices tasted of heaven.

The flight with Malik had shifted something inside Willow that she found very hard to define. He was no longer just the mastyr of the realm or the man who had chased her through the forest. With each shared encounter, he was becoming more real, more man, more of a companion and that scared her. And he was the only realm-person, besides Illiandra, who knew that she’d reached the limits of her ability to properly guard the colony.

She’d never thought she’d end up with a vampire one day. Her desire had always tended to more intellectual fae males, and her fantasies had involved being married, having babies, and living close to one of the Realm universities.

Mating with a vampire had never entered her thoughts. Of course she was drawn to Malik and in one sense how could she be anything else? He was handsome with large brown eyes that right now had fixed themselves on Gervassay as the fae spoke, of all things, about septic tanks. Of course, waste management in a mountainous realm like Ashleaf was a serious topic.

She was tuned into Malik, the level of his interest in the colony, his enjoyment of the savory soup, and his constant concern for the inhabitants of Ashleaf, including pure-blood wraiths.

Once the septic tank issue had been fully explored, Illiandra asked, “I heard a report that you’re talking about relocating all the half-breeds in Ashleaf to Swanicott Island.”

Malik didn’t even flinch as he met Illiandra’s gaze. “I have no choice. The recent murders, which I’m sure you know about, have made the decision for me. I won’t have another half-breed’s death on my conscience. And by the same token, given Axton’s intention to breach the hidden entrance, I think we should talk about relocating your colony as well.”

Willow dropped her spoon, clattering it on her bread plate. She turned to Malik. “You’re bringing that up now?”

He met her gaze, then looked away, his eyes growing pained. He shook his head several times. “I don’t see why not.” He glanced from Gervassay to Illiandra. “Maybe you’ve lived a safe, cloistered existence, but since The Society took over, I’ve had over three hundred murders to contend with. And I won’t have one more.” He lifted both hands, as though the matter was settled.

Both Illiandra and Gervassay appeared somber, but hadn’t reacted as Willow had expected. Something else seemed to be on their minds.

Gervassay folded his hands in his lap. “There’s just one problem.”

“And what’s that?” Malik’s deep voice, full of tension, sounded loud in the small dining area.

“Our people won’t leave. Haven’t you guessed it, yet Malik? Felt it? I believe you must have when my wife blessed the two of you in the town square.”

Malik, his jaw bearing a stubborn line, once more shook his head. “The blessing was absolutely beautiful, no question. But beyond that—”

Illiandra spoke quickly. “Malik, what my husband is not saying is that there’s something else you need to understand and perhaps experience. Let me ask you this, can you feel a vibration beneath you, coming from the earth?”

“I can,” Willow offered. “I feel it all the time when I’m here in the colony or anywhere on my land.”

Malik glanced at her, his brow pinched. “Yes, of course I feel it. It’s like a humming. Is this where the light comes from as well?”

Illiandra nodded. “Absolutely. What you’re feeling is the heartbeat of the Nine Realms. This is where it all began, the birthplace of our world, and where the Goddess, our Creator, set everything in motion.”

Willow had never heard Illiandra speak of the Ashleaf Colony in that way before, but she felt her words as truth. She also wanted to give expression to something she’d been considering for a long time. “We’re all wraiths, aren’t we? All of us in the Nine Realms?”

Malik looked at her as though she’d just gone insane, but Illiandra nodded. “We are. The wraith genome is the base from which all other species evolved. It’s why we’re compatible and can intermarry.”

Malik stared at Illiandra for a long moment. His lips parted. “And you’re sure of this?”

“One-hundred percent certain.”

Malik narrowed his gaze. “It would explain so much that we come from a common root.” He smiled, shook his head, then began to laugh.

“What is it?” Willow asked, overlaying his arm with her hand. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m thinking about The Society and their mission to destroy all half-breeds, when essentially every realm-person is part wraith.”

“That’s exactly right.” Illiandra stroked the feathers at her chest.

Malik’s gaze fell to her fingers. “Huh. I thought that was a necklace, but it’s … part of you, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” Illiandra’s turn to smile. “And now, I have a suggestion, because I think you’ve both been through a lot tonight.” She rose as she spoke.

Willow glanced up at her, waiting expectantly.

Illiandra’s smile broadened, “Why don’t you take Malik to get some ice cream. We have some of the best here in the Nine Realms.”

~ ~ ~

“Ice cream?” Malik was incredulous. He’d been talking about relocating an entire colony of wraiths to an island off the coast of Swanicott Realm, then learned that he was part wraith. And now, he and Willow should go get some ice cream?

He met Willow’s gaze and saw the laughter dancing in her hazel eyes. “It sounds so
normal,
doesn’t it? Something neither of us are used to?”

He considered her words and the light in her eyes, then felt something inside his chest finally relax. Maybe Illiandra had a point. “No, that we’re not.” He gained his feet and offered his hand. “But I’d love one piece of normal right now.”

A few minutes later, he held Willow’s hand as he walked her down the cobbled street. The town was very attractive with large baskets of flowers hanging from the lampposts. Many of the townsfolk waved from doorsteps and windows, but for the most part left them in peace.

He asked Willow about her nightly existence and how she spent her time. She was a fan of reading, especially essays on avocations like gardening and forest exploration. She enjoyed listening to classical music while crocheting or sometimes drawing.

“I lead a very quiet life as you can imagine.”

“You’ve missed a lot.”

“I suppose you could view it that way, and maybe I have, but I don’t necessarily feel that way. Do you think your life has been lacking?”