“We're glad you're home safe, my lord,” Farin said gravely. “We're sending word to the king.”
“No,” Dal stopped laughing to say. “Don't. I need to speak to the King in person. Prepare to leave. We're going back to Kestria. And someone get a proper container for the Coyote Soul; it will need to be returned to its king.”
“Yes, Hawk Lord!” Farin saluted and left the room with the other guards.
As soon as they were gone, Dalsharan turned to me, yanked me to him, and rolled me onto the bed. He stroked the line of my jaw before kissing me tenderly. The veil of his shining hair fell around us. I reached up and grabbed a handful, using it to pull him closer. Dal growled into our kiss and ground his body over mine.
“Whoa now, Hawk Lord,” I murmured against his mouth. “We've just had a long night. Don't get me too excited.”
“I'm so sorry,” he whispered.
“For what?” I frowned.
“For what he did to you,” Dal whispered.
“Babe, you offered to suck his cock for me.” I grinned. “Don't apologize. We're good.”
“Don't make a joke of it, Ravyn,” Dal said sternly. “He hurt you and it's my fault.”
“No, it's not. And he didn't hurt me. That was nothing. I can take a tiny dildo up the ass. Please, my ass is a champion.”
“Ravyn.” He shook his head in amazed amusement.
“He fucked up Kervel, though,” I said with a snarl. “That son of a bitch needs to pay for that.”
“He will,” Dal vowed.
“I stabbed him in the throat with my beak, but I don't know if he's dead.”
“He probably survived.” Dal sighed and rolled off me. “Brendallen's too fucking mean to die that easily.”
“Will they hunt him? Will they let us hunt him?” I sat up and took his hand.
“I hope so, but I don't know. He's a warlord, and we only have our word as proof.”
“But you're a warlord too. Isn't your word good enough?”
“I'm a disgraced warlord,” he reminded me.
“What about me? I'm the Valorian.”
“And my consort,” he said softly.
I cursed.
“We will tell our king, and he will believe us.” Dal squeezed my hand. “Whether he can sway the other royals is the question. The Coyote King, in particular, will be hard to convince.”
“The Coyote King has a birthmark on his left ball sack,” a voice said hollowly from the doorway. “It's shaped like a star.”
Dal and I both spun to face Kervel, who stood in a war robe, surrounded by his fellow guards.
Kervel stepped into the room. “And he likes the Coyote Lord to use his teeth when he sucks his cock.”
“What the fuck, Kervel?” I gaped at him.
“The Coyote Lord told me things while he... tortured me,” Kervel said stiffly. “Taunted me with his intimacy with the Coyote King. He said the King would never give him up because he's got him trained.”
“I think the Coyote King might be interested in hearing that,” Dalsharan said and slowly smiled.
“Welcome back, Kervel,” I said with a smirk. “You're one tough bastard. I should have given you more credit.”
“No, my lord.” Kervel bowed deeply to me. “You are the one who deserves more credit. Thank you for taking me with you. You could have left me there. I would have understood if you had. But you took me with you. You saved my life. I will never forget that.”
“I don't leave soldiers behind,” I said sternly. “Not if I can help it.”
Kervel bowed again.
Dalsharan got out of bed and looked from me to his men. “Stretch your wings, everyone, it's time to go home.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Removing the Coyote Lord from power was not as easily done as removing Dalsharan had been. But Dal had been restored just as quickly as he'd been demoted and now sat beside his king wearing the Hawk Soul Stone. I sat on his right, given a place at the table with the Kings and Queens of Varalorre because of my status as Valorian. Behind us stood Dal's personal guard, Kervel front and center to remind the Coyote Lord of what we knew.
The Hawk King, Dal, and I had a private meeting with the Coyote King before the other royals had arrived. We returned the Coyote Soul and much was discussed, but even more was alluded to. Dalsharan diplomatically mentioned a star-shaped bit of evidence we could present to confirm that the Coyote Lord had not only betrayed his people but also his king's confidence. King Wanerel had stared at the box with the Coyote Soul for a drawn-out moment and then, finally, nodded his acceptance.
The Coyote King now sat across the table from us with the other Canine Kings. The Felines had taken the far end of the table. We were gathered in the Coyote Castle. Since it was the Coyote King's warlord whose honor was in question, the Royals had agreed to meet there. Plus, his kingdom was more centrally located, making travel easier on the other Royals.
Our meeting went on for hours, during which I cast many weary looks at Dalsharan. Even with my new fae immortality, I was fucking tired. I'd been tortured, had flown two men several miles, then flew to Kestria, and, finally, to the Coyote Kingdom, all within the space of a day and with very little rest between events. I wanted to be in the meeting and hear how Brendallen would be arrested and brought to justice, but I also wanted to sleep. My head bobbed and my lids threatened to close. Dal pinched my thigh. I inhaled sharply and straightened.
“King Wanerel, are you certain you are satisfied with the evidence against your warlord?” Queen Vervain of the Lions asked. “We have been presented only with the word of the Hawk Lord, the Valorian, and a Hawk knight, and as much as all three are above reproach, so is the Coyote Lord. I know that if my warlord were accused of such betrayal, I would demand physical evidence as well. At the very least, I'd want my warlord present so he could be given the chance to face his accusers and defend himself.”
“I have all the evidence I need,” King Wanerel of the Coyotes opened the box before him, revealing the Coyote Soul Stone. “The Coyote Soul has spoken and denounced its lord. I have no doubt that Brendallen has betrayed us.”
As the Royals gasped and murmured over the shock of a soul stone tattling on its warlord, I gaped at the amulet and then at Dal. He shook his head at me, just as surprised. Shit, we'd tortured the Coyote King with Brendallen's gossip for no reason. The Coyote Soul had verified everything. I gave the Coyote Lord an apologetic look.