Chapter 42
Chapter
Forty-Two
Kainda
W aking up in Elijah’s arms I could get used to if I let myself. The kicker, I wanted that. And it pissed me off. I didn’t have time to think like that. Get your head in the game, Kainda.
Everyone had started to stir as I gazed around, taking stock. Elijah, however, still slept beside me. It surprised me a little that, he’d slept peacefully the entire night, not a single nightmare. If anything, he should have slept fitfully. The only thing I could figure is all the stress and lack of sleep must have caught up with him.
Carefully climbing out of the sleeping bag so as not to wake him, I needed to meet with all the leaders one last time. I tugged on my combat boots, making sure the laces were nice and tight. Hida walked inside, and I glanced over to where my team had bedded down last night. Delmira wasn’t there. Looking back at Hida with a question on my face earned me a head shake. Del must be fine, or Hida wouldn’t tell me to drop it.
Devanna in her cougar form nimbly descended from the rafters, going to the corner where she’s stashed a backpack with her clothes to shift. The other shifters in the room did something similar. It was still unnervingly quiet in here, like no one dared speak. I began slipping my weapons back into place, checking them over one by one as I went. We couldn’t afford even one thing to not go as planned.
Everyone began to drift outside with some form of food and bottles of water for our final planning session. Not really a planning session, more like a huddle to get our plays straight before the kick-off. Giving one last look at Elijah, I grabbed a protein bar and water, leaving him to sleep a little while longer.
“Alright, little halfling, give us an inspiring speech and prepare to lead us into battle.” Devanna said the words sarcastically, though her facial expression said she was serious. The shifter seemed to enjoy pushing my buttons. An odd duck that one.
Joining the crowded group, moving into the center, so everyone could see me. “I don’t have some inspirational, uplifting, rile you up speech. It’s just not my style, my team can attest to that fact. But what I can say is we’ve been over this plan a hundred times, and we all know our parts. We can do this, I believe that, or we wouldn’t be going out there today. I want everyone to be smart and give it your all. Uttu must be sent back to Gehenna. There is no room for mistakes. I hope to the gods that I see you all back here safely tonight, where we can celebrate our victory.”
Well, maybe I did have a speech in me after all. It almost rattled a laugh out of me, almost. I looked back at the door, hoping Elijah had woken up, but I didn’t see him at the back of the crowd. The thought of having to go in there and wake him filled me with dread. I started to think that maybe this was a sign I should leave him behind and not risk his life using him as bait. Shaking my head, I knew that I couldn’t do it because when he did finally wake up he’d be furious and just come crashing through the forest after us and likely get us all killed. And he was the bait for our trap. The whole plan depended on him.
Hida joined me as everyone else finished preparing for the day. She looked worried as she discreetly motioned me away from the gathered warriors. “You should check in with Del before we head out. I’m worried about her, something isn’t right with her.”
“Sure thing, Hida. I’ll talk to her again after I wake Elijah.” I gave her a reassuring smile as I headed inside.
With everyone outside, the interior of the building’s temperature had cooled. It looked like a tornado had come through here. Bedrolls, discarded clothes, food wrappers, and backpacks tossed everywhere. If it not for the magical symbols on the wall, the salt lines, and the still floating candle, I’d worried I’d gone through a portal and come out in a flop house. Elijah still slept where I’d left him a short while ago. He looked peaceful.
I sank down next to him, pushing his hair back from his face. At that moment, hope for getting out of this for him surged. I memorized his face as I looked down at him. His dark hair, the eyelashes long enough to make any girly, girl jealous, and the healthy glow of his skin. Nearly all of his scars had faded away thanks to the magic healing. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and kiss him senseless. Shaking my head, I reminded myself we didn’t have time for that.
My magic moved, reaching out to him. It was strange how this unconsciousness, entity, craved him just as much as I had started to realize I did too. Maybe giving him a chance if everything worked out today no longer seemed like the end of the world. The stray thought shocked me. I violently shook my head, shoving that errant notion to the furthest reaches of my mind. We didn’t have time for this.
Closing my eyes, I tried to find my center and settle my mind. Going into battle like this wasn’t a good idea. And I wouldn’t let my foolishness get anyone killed. Especially not him.