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Power ebbed through my veins and I gripped it like a vice. Silvery tendrils became extensions of my arms, my legs, my deepest desires. It was in these moments that I believed wholeheartedly that I was a goddess made to do no one's bidding but my own. Gone was the maiden who was so demure and submissive. I was something to be feared and I...I like it. The eather continued to pulse through my veins, boiling my blood and sending shivers down my spine. Something wet trickled down over my top lip, from the taste of it I knew it was my own blood. But I didn't care. This felt right. Oh so right. I watched as the spindly tendrils reached out, binding the members of the Unseen to me. They could struggle all they wanted to but the power I possessed was enough to end the world.
We had been riding through the Skotos on high alert after our first run in with them. I had used my powers then and it was an impressive feat but it was nothing like what I felt in this very moment. This group was much larger, maybe a hundred or so members had come upon us, stopping us in our tracks. I didn't hesitate. The sheer size of this group would have taken out my small group of wolves and Atlantan in a single hit. They had no fighting chance, or, would not have if I wasn't with them. I could tell that my power had some type of limit, it was impossible for it not to. But, I had been too afraid before to dip into the well and see what I could do. Right now though, I was willing to search for that well, I would drain myself to the dregs if it meant keeping my loved ones safe.
Once I knew I had every masked enemy in my grasp, I reached out with my senses, grasping at every disgusting and terrifying emotion I could and amplifying it. Throwing everything they felt times two right back at them. What happened next was similar to what had happened at the chamber of Nyktos. The Unseen began to whimper and moan, pain beginning to take on a much more physical affect as they began to writhe and shrivel up in pain. Instead of pulling the eather back towards my person, I thrust my hands out grunting in anger as I allowed my power to stretch wider than it ever had before. That was when I felt like a monster, I had officially lost control.
I fought with myself for a moment. Willing the eather to settle back into my veins but it seemed to have a mind of its own. I knew the Unseen members were dead, all one hundred of them were now still on the forest floor. But my power still believed there was a threat. It kept reaching, and burning itself to the dregs. The blood that used to be a slow trickle was now pooling out of both nostrils, the taste irony in my mouth. I could faintly hear someone yelling but all sounds were now becoming muffled by the crackling of my eather. Mine. My eather. I needed, no, had to control it and do it quick. But, I knew it was too late. I was too weak to control my powers, I didn't even really understand how. So I let it burn, let it consume me until my knees gave way and my vision went black.
~~~~
“Poppy!” I yelled as I watched her fall to the floor, her power diminishing along with her. I ran forward, scooping her frail body up into my arms and wiping at the blood that had now slowed to a trickle out of her nose.
“Her pulse is weak but nothing to be too concerned about.”
Kieran’s voice tore my gaze away from Poppy’s face to see him holding his thumb against her wrist, counting silently to himself.
He met my gaze and gave a nod. “Let’s get her out of here Cas.”
I stood, carefully cradling Poppy to my chest. A breath of relief left my body as I could feel the rise and fall of her chest against my own. Once I reached Setti I handed Poppy over to Kieran while I threw myself up into my saddle. Kieran tentatively handed her over, adjusting her so she sat sideways, cradled against my body.
“Let’s continue on to Evaemon,” Delano called out, sending a worried glance towards his Liessa.
I started to protest but Kirean rode up beside me. “We aren't too far out Cas. Once there she can rest in your chambers and meet your parents when she's feeling stronger.”
With that, we rode on towards home. Once again, this was not the homecoming I was imagining for Poppy. But my heart swelled with pride. She had saved us. Without her we would have stood no chance against that group of Unseen. I wish she were conscious right now so I could tell her how utterly beautiful she looked taking on the enemy, using her gods given gifts. But those gifts had taken control of her before she could grasp what was happening. I could still see the image of the eather spinning out of her in what looked like veins, and the blood that was dripping out of her nostrils. It was utterly breathtaking and terrifying.
The air around us began to warm as the castle, my home, grew closer. Poppy let out a sigh and seemed to snuggle closer to my chest. I wrapped my arm tighter around her frame, noticing the clamminess of her skin was slowly dissipating. My instincts had taken a back seat on the ride here as I was focused on keeping us both on the horse. But, with the castle in sight and my chambers just beyond those doors, everything in me told me to jump off Setti and stash her in my room so I could take care of her, fix her, take away whatever sort of pain she was feeling.
Kieran must have noticed the change in my demeanor as he shot me a pointed look. “I’m not leaving either of you alone Cas. Not until she opens those eyes and tells us both she's fine.”
I scoffed at him, watching every movement from the time he jumped off his horse to the moment he was standing next to mine, arms outstretched for Poppy to be placed into them. I glared at him. Not quite ready to place my wife in his hands regardless of how much I trusted him with her.
“Seriously, hand her over. She needs to be cleaned up and placed in an actual bed, out of the afternoon heat,” Kieran looked and sounded utterly annoyed. I knew he was right so I relented. Dismounting Setti and taking Poppy back in my arms more quickly than I ever had before.
“Did you send someone up to the castle to let them know we will not be meeting my parents today and to leave us all the hell alone.”
Kieran rolled his eyes. “Yes. Delano went.”
“Good.”
Nothing else was said until I finally had Poppy laid out on my bed in my chambers. Kieran came over with a small pail of water and a cloth in his hand. I began wiping away the blood from her nose that had crusted in the time we had ridden to Evaemon, making sure to also wipe away the sweat and dirt that was beaded along her forehead and cheeks. Her eyelids fluttered as the cool water was wiped along her forehead, a contented sigh seeping out of her lips.
“You're safe now Princess, you're going to be alright,” I whispered to her as I continued to work.
I hadn't noticed that Kieran had left until he came back in with a small tray of food.
“Thought you might be hungry,” he said as he popped a strip of bacon into his mouth. “Cause I know I am.”
I chuckled at him but shook my head at his offer. “I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat Cas.”
“No,” I shook my head as I sat down on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my sweat-dampened hair. “I won't eat till she's awake and well.”
“Cas-”
A knock at the door interrupted what I could only assume was a long speech about how if I wasn't healthy then I wouldn't be able to take care of Poppy. I was thankful for that interruption as I did not need to hear that speech once again.
“It’s Delano,” Kieran called from the doorway.
“Let him in.”
Delano took a tentative step into the room, his gaze landing on Poppy’s slumbering form.
“How is she?”
I shrugged, I didn’t have the answers to a question like that. Delano just nodded and placed two leather bags near the sette.
“Here's your things. Your mother also gave me a few clothing items for Poppy, which I stuffed into one of your bags. We informed her of what happened on our journey in and she sends her wishes.”
“My mother?”
Kieran came up beside me and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “She's trying Cas.”
He quickly dismissed Delano and brought our bag of clothing towards the bed. The mention of my mothers hospitality sent anger boiling through my veins for a reason unknown to me. I wasn't mad at her, not even remotely, I was just so angry that Poppy seemed to be the one to always take the falls.
“Fuck, Kieran,” I buried my face into my hands. “We need to figure out her powers. She could have-”
I shot up from the bed and kicked the leg of one of the chairs, sending it sprawling with a loud crash across the floor. “Fuck, she could have died and we could have done absolutly nothing.”
“Cas, you need to calm down. We are here in Evamone to get those answers. We will get those answers for Poppy no matter how hard we have to fight to get them. She lost control, unfortunately shit like that happens,” Kieran reached down, righting the chair. “In the meantime why don’t you get her changed.”
I sighed and stared down at Poppy, noticing now the tears in her clothing and the blood splattered on her tunic. Reaching into the bag I pulled out a dusty blue silk nightgown that would work just fine. I slowly slid off her boots and her socks followed, throwing them haphazardly on the floor. A sigh escaped Kieran as he quickly picked up the soiled boots and moved them toward the door. Quickly, I made work of unbuttoning her breeches and sliding them off her legs, then worked my way up to her tunic. When she was left in nothing but her slip, I slid my gaze up and down her body more than once, making sure no new cuts or bruises marred her skin and to my satisfaction, everything seemed to be in order.
As I carefully slid the nightgown up and over her head and arms, I could hear Kirean going about the room cracking windows and turning up the fans. I started fiddling with the hem of the fabric, readjusting it around her legs to make sure it was comfortable for her.
“Casteel.”
“What?” I snapped as a smirk graced Kieran’s lips.
“You’ve been fiddling with that nightgown for a good three minutes.”
“I just-” I tucked a strand of Poppy’s hair behind her ear. “I just want her to be comfortable, I want her to be okay when she wakes up and not be afraid of the power that she possesses. I remember what you told me when we had found her tied in those fucking bone chains. She thought she was a monster. I'm afraid she will wake up and revert into herself, that she will look at herself differently now. Her power took hold of her today, Kieran, and we could only stand back and watch.”
I felt the bed shift as he sat to my right, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“We know she's not a monster Cas. We will get her through whatever she feels when she wakes up. She was alone before, scared. But now she has a whole group of people who love her and would throw their lives on the line to protect her. But most importantly, she has you. No matter what she does, you are going to forever be a constant for her, never judging her or her past. Things are different now, and I will personally make sure they stay this way.”
I couldn't help the swell of emotions that curled in my chest. My former bonded always knew what to say, and the way he to cared about Poppy reassured me that she would remain safe. We would make sure of that.
We sat there watching her for any movement until the sun made its slow descent. I stroked her long, wine colored locks as Kieran picked at the tray of food. She looked so peaceful, so serene and beautiful. One of my favorite past times was watching her drift off into the calmness that was sleep. Even though Poppy thought it was absolutely a creeper move.
“Stop ogling me while I sleep, you know I hate it.”
A voice that I would know anywhere pulled me out of my revere and my eyes met those of green and silver.
“Princess,” I cried as I pulled her to my chest. Burying my nose into her hair and inhaling her sweet scent. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, but still a little creeped out.”
I let out a broken laugh as I pulled her even tighter against my body. Her voice sounded a little rough but I was relieved to see her in good spirits.
“Well, well, well, look who finally decided to join the land of the living.”
Poppy pulled back from my chest at the sudden sound of Kieran’s voice.
“How long have I been out?”
“Seven hours, fourteen minutes, and twenty three seconds,” Kieran said, flashing a megawatt smile.
Poppy’s eyes widened as did mine. At our stunned expressions a small blush began to settle on the tops of Kieran’s cheeks.
“And you were making fun of me for fiddling with her nightgown?” I questioned.
“Oh shut up,” Kieran’s face was wiped of the blush more quickly than it had appeared.
“Wait?”
“Yes Princess?” I say as I kiss the tip of her nose.
“Fiddling with my nightgown?” Her brows shot straight into her hairline as she glared up at me.
I smiled, flashing a bit of fang and I knew it worked to my advantage as the sweet scent of honeydew began to creep into my senses.
“Oh yes, I wanted to make sure you were comfortable when you awoke.”
“Well,” she says, sweeping a hand over her body. “I'm comfortable, and fine. Now would you please let me get up and explain to me where we are?”
“No,” I tightened my arms as she began to squirm in my grasp. I planted kisses all over her face which just made her squirm even more.
“We are in Evamon,” Kieran called out from the door where he was accepting yet another tray of food.
Poppy’s sudden gasp startled me enough that my hold on her loosened. She sprang from my lap but it seemed as though her legs were still weak from earlier as she fell right back down into me.
“Cas,” she whined. “Your parents.”
“All parents have been informed of prior events in very little detail,” Kieran informed her as he placed the tray on the bed beside us. “Here, I got you some food. Hungry?”
“Starving.” Poppy quickly picked up a roll from the plate and stuffed it in her mouth. I tried my best to hold back my laughter but I failed. She looks so cute, angry with her mouth stuffed full of bread. If looks could kill.
It doesn't take long for Poppy to finish her meal especially since I picked at some of the chicken that was on her plate. Damn, I really was hungry.
Kieran leaned forward in the chair he had pulled up to sit in front of the two of us perched on the bed. “Can you tell us what happened earlier?”
Poppy tilted her head down to stare at her clasped hands. “I lost control.”
“Did you lose control or did it take control?”
“It took control. But it felt-” she bit her lip as she contemplated what to say next. I grasped her hand in mine for support. “It felt right, instinctual.”
Kieran studied her for a minute before he reached out and clasped her other hand in his own.
“Whatever you felt, don’t feel guilty for it,” he squeezed her hand and leaned back in his chair.
“Poppy,” I said, getting her attention. “No matter what happens going forward, just know that we will fight for the answers. We will figure out your powers and make sure that you are its master, not the other way around. But until then, you have a group of people who love you, and will always be there whenever you need.”