The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 23: The Cave

Chapter 23: The Cave

Taking her to the stable, Kai let her spend some time with Viva and then helped her climb and mount to sit on the saddle after she was done caressing Viva. "How about your cousin?"

"He’ll catch up." He sat behind her, pressing her back onto his groin, making her hold her breath. "Sit tight, and don’t worry about them. He knows where to go."

Ren was curious about that man with red fiery hair that blazed like fire and strange yellow eyes that glittered with intensity. There was something about the way his presence commanded concentration as if he carried secrets of ancient origins. Not just because he was so powerful but also because his knowledge of the Fae seemed to unravel mysteries she had barely begun to grasp.

Additionally, he was also the only relative her husband let to meet her. She could ask him a lot of questions while he was in Moon Valley to train her. The same curiosity was gnawing at her nerves about Thegara. Her next destination after this assessment would be the library. That was the only place that could help her learn about this land and the background of her husband.

"Your Highness, I’m here." Axe bowed his head politely as he approached.

"Beta Coran will be taking care of matters here, so I want you with me. Where is Rail? Tell him not to fool around and focus. I don’t want any intruder or interruption during the assessment process."

Kai warned him. The last thing he needed was raiders or stupid, brainless goblins who were after his wife for some reason. Agara might be able to find out, but he hadn’t caught him alone yet to find the answer. Ren must survive this stage of her life. She might be even more useful than he had anticipated. Significantly, in his absence from the war, greedy eyes would shift to Thegara and exploit the chance to attack, but knowing that his mighty magician wife was still in the capital would shield the people. Even the rumors would do well.

"He is checking the route, Your Grace. I’ll twist his ear if he’s fooling around." Saying that Axe was about to shift when Kaisun scowled. He suddenly got the point and walked off, but Ren heard his howl a few seconds later. He had shifted again but not in front of her. Her husband had just signaled him not to do that there!

Ren smirked wryly. Well, so considerate of him, for she wasn’t accustomed to this particular act yet. However, she was inquisitive to the core to learn how her husband would shift or what color his wolf was. Gloria might know, right? She had been living here for so long.

The forest they crossed wasn’t that dense, with sunlight filtering gently through the sparse canopy. Ren’s eyes were drawn to the crystal-clear springs that glimmered like scattered jewels among the greenery. Even more glamorous were the rare herbs growing near the water’s edge—delicate plants with vibrant hues and faint, fragrant aromas. These were the very herbs she used to pay a fortune for when buying them from merchants.

Seeing them, she allowed herself to ask, "Am I permitted to come to this forest and collect herbs?"

Kai’s eyes were on the road, yet alert and inspecting. "Not alone. Even if you summon your magic, I’ll always have Rail by your side."

Ren frowned, her tone laced with a mixture of defiance. "I thought you said I could do whatever I want. Why are you sending Rail to babysit me? Don’t you trust me enough to handle myself?" So she wasn’t entirely free unless he trusted her.

Kaisun looked down at the face that was looking up at him sweetly. His heart skipped a beat, but he managed to control it as he looked away casually. However, he came to a point of believing that human females were dangerous.

"Don’t make a face like that. Don’t blame me either. I sincerely meant that but I never said you would be alone while doing whatever you want. You have to tolerate it for now since you are my wife. You’ve figured out that so many people are not happy that I married a human! After the war, you have the option to either stay in or leave Thegara."

How about the option to remain his wife? She questioned but didn’t let him hear it, keeping it to herself.

Oh damn yes, he was right, but it still stung like a viper, and she wasn’t sure why. They kept berating her for being human, weak, frail, fragile, cunning, and many other things. It was crystal clear that he just wanted her to play this role until he returned from war, not even giving a damn shit about her feelings and how deeply they were rooting.

"Sorry, I forgot my position," she taunted, and he just sighed.

After a long awkward silence, she opened her mouth to ask about the mind link and a way to block it, but he pulled the bridle and stopped Viva as they reached the end of the forest and met the meadow.

"Here we are! That’s where we are going." He pointed at the view which was a few miles ahead.

Ren felt her hackles rise at the sight before her eyes. The route ended at a giant barren mountain range that was coated with snow. The cave was in that black misty mountain. The sight before her was profoundly unnerving, with the black mist curling like spectral fingers around the jagged peaks of the snow-laden mountains. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to leech the warmth from her very bones, and Ren felt a sickly knot tighten in her stomach, a visceral reaction to the dreadfulness of the place.

He put his hand into the satchel attached to the saddle and took out a coat. "Wear this, Doe-eye. It’s cold where we are heading."

Oh, really? She could see that. But why there? What was so distinct about that cave that drew them this far? Even with a fast horse like Viva, it took them two hours to ride only to arrive, not to mention the return trip.

Wearing the coat, she fastened it around her neck, but as they got closer, cold specks of snow lashed her face, making her squint her eyes.

"This is the Veil Valley. We are going to a Fae temple which is called ’The Cave’!"

So that wasn’t the cave she had reckoned it to be. But how come the Fae had a temple in this neutral area?

After half an hour of a bone-chilling ride that she wasn’t used to, they entered a valley between the two mountain ranges, her eyes drifting to a glorious stone temple carved into the mountain’s chest. Her mouth hung open instantly from what she was witnessing. It was one of the most beautiful places she had come across.

"We have to let Viva stay here for a while. We are to climb the stairs."

Ren pouted, feeling bad to leave Viva in the cold. But she was a battle horse; this weather shouldn’t bother her for a while. She caressed her long raven black mane. "Forgive me for leaving you here. I’ll be back soon."

"She won’t be alone, Luna Ren. I’ll be here with her."

Rail emerged from behind, clutching his cloak tightly around his lower body as he tried to catch his breath, his disheveled state hinting at a hasty transformation or an unexpected event. Good gods, hopefully, he wasn’t naked. But wait, wasn’t it hard for them to run when the wind pulled their cloak back around their neck?

"Thank you, Rail. You are so kind."

Rail smiled and nodded, but his face grew serious as his eyes met Kai’s.

"Be watchful, Rail!" Kai cautioned, grabbed her hand gently, and led her to the stairway, with jagged edges, as they had more than a hundred steps waiting for them. Ren looked back to see Viva’s reaction around Rail and narrowed her gaze. "Viva was very repulsive to anyone other than me, but she has been calm around you and your men."

"Because I told her not to worry!"

Kai disclosed, and she looked up with astonishment. Oh gods! This man had so much on his plate that she had no clue what they were.

"You can talk to my horse! What?"

What was her husband exactly? This question kept popping into her mind a lot recently.

~*~

If you are reading this, it means we are about to say goodbye to February. First, let me thank you for voting and adding this story to your library. As for the reward, and encourage you to read further I will drop a mass release (20) on 2nd March, and from that day you’ll receive 2 Chapters daily. Please keep reading and invite others to catch up with us on this journey. Please don’t forget to vote and leave comments so we can rank it up and become a community.

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