21. Willow
Willow
Dagny and Vhalthor gather what's left of our group, and everyone slowly starts moving again. Dagny’s mates are heavily wounded, dragging well behind Vhalthor’s forces.
Malice’s wings are shredded, and Cyprien has to be held up by Fenryr and Lir because of injuries to his legs.
Kaebl and Roark seem unharmed, but their matching limps prove they did not make it out unscathed, either.
My legs feel like water, but Rhune keeps an arm banded tight around my waist, half carrying me as we move deeper into the shadowed passage. The serafyn remains silent, but I can feel it lurking behind my eyes, using my sight to scan the cavern for threats.
The passage narrows, then splits, and a faint mineral scent drifts toward us. Water.
Sensing the same thing I do, Vhalthor comes to a stop, holding up a hand to signal to his soldiers.
Turning to the side, he gestures to the smaller branch of the cavern.
“Down there. Healing pools.” He takes a step toward it, but then stops.
“Everyone stay silent, and keep your eyes out for danger. We don’t know if any of those creatures inhabit the healing pools. ”
We cautiously file into the darkened tunnel, the ground sloping steadily downward. It bottoms out, opening up into a massive central cavern. Dozens of pocket spaces spread out from the main chamber, each housing its own healing pool, though they vary in size and privacy.
“We’ll take that one,” Vhalthor says, already steering his soldiers toward the largest chamber.
Dagny squeezes my shoulder, and I turn to find her wearing a tired smile. “I’ll find you later,” she says. “Rest up. We have a long journey to go.” With one more motherly smile, she turns on her heel, and she and her six mates disappear into one of the small pocket rooms.
Then there were five.
We move into one of the more private rooms, and my gaze unwittingly travels to where Cin stands off to the side near the exit. His pearlescent wings are drooping, his mask catching the faint red light pulsing from the walls. His eyes are open, but there’s nothing behind them. He’s just… empty.
I want to call his name. I want to go to him even though I know it won’t help. Mostly, I try not to worry about him.
I fail.
Before I can say anything about it, Rhune’s fingers find the neckline of my suit, pulling my thoughts away from poor Cin.
Nyx comes closer, and with Rhune’s help, they peel my blood-covered suit from my body.
Neither of them says much, but their hands are gentle, their movements unhurried, and it allows me to take a steadying breath for the first time all day.
The fabric hits the floor with a shudder, and Dravik scoops me against his bare chest. His heart is thumping hard and steady against my ear, and the bond lets out a sigh of relief. Warm. Safe. Home.
He carries me straight into the pool, the water lapping his knees, then his waist. Behind us, I hear Nyx and Rhune shedding the last of their own clothes, then the lap of water against the edges as they slide into the pool as well.
Dravik lowers me into the water, and I let out a breath, my eyes fluttering closed as the magic properties work beneath my skin.
The ache in my muscles unknots one thread at a time, and I relax into Dravik’s hold, allowing my body to go limp.
The water is warmer here than in our lair closer to the surface—almost like a hot spring. It feels incredible. I could cry.
I might, a little.
“Feeling better, little one?” Dravik rumbles against my ear.
“Mm-hmm. So much.” My tongue feels strangely heavy in my mouth, and it’s getting harder to keep my eyes open. As I look around, it seems the water is having a similar effect on all my mates—that, or we’re just so damn tired from the journey and constant threat of death.
We stay in the pool a while longer, until my mates start to drift off to sleep. Eventually, Dravik nudges Nyx and Rhune awake, and one by one, we drag ourselves out of the water. We dress in silence, and Cin falls into step behind us without a word as we head back out toward the main cavern.
Most of the others are already there when we arrive. Vhalthor's soldiers are stationed in loose clusters around the room, and Dagny and her mates are visible near the tunnel mouth, murmuring low among themselves.
We find a quiet corner near the wall and settle in, furs pulled from the packs and spread out over the cold stone.
“I have not slept well in cycles,” Rhune mumbles, curling into the furs next to me. “Hopefully, sleep will find me now.”
“I hope so too,” Nyx says with a playful smirk. “You’re downright grumpy when you haven’t had your rest.”
Rhune sticks his lip out in a pout. “So untrue!”
Nyx looks at me, as if to ask for confirmation. With a laugh, I wave him away, pressing a kiss to Rhune’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I get grumpy, too.”
Rhune pulls me tight against his chest, burying his face in my neck. “But you are so cute when you are grumpy. It’s not fair.”
“I happen to agree.” Dravik curls up at my feet. “It should be illegal.”
I let out a tired laugh, desperately trying to keep my eyes open. I want to stay up and talk and laugh with my mates, but the healing pools have sapped all my remaining strength, and I can’t hold out any longer.
“Rest,” Rhune murmurs against my hair. “You are safe. We will keep you safe, no matter what.”
Even though I’m more terrified of the future than I've ever been in my life, I find myself believing my mate.
And so, I sleep.