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He was right.
If it’s our best option, then nothing else matters.
I nod to him with my reluctant understanding. Letting the devastating reality of this new plan, new predicament, settle into my belly like rotting food. Leaving my family behind feels dirty and evil. I’d die for them. I’d gladly make myself the decoy to get them out. But looking down at Ruth’s shivering, frail body…I know what must be done.
“We have a few days until the next Fun House Night. We’ll have a plan,” I say, looking into Niles’s puffy eyes.
“Let’s get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch on Ruth.” Dessin holds me in his strong arms as he arranges himself to have a clear view of Ruth, with enough room to check her vitals throughout the night.
“Wake me up when it’s my turn,” I whisper with my eyes closed.
“I will.”
And I know that’s a lie. With something this traumatic, his system won’t be getting any sleep tonight.
~
Dessin
I spend the entire night working through different scenarios to get Skylenna out first.
But I only land on one that would be the most efficient. However, it depends on Skylenna. Her mind. The void. I still don’t fully understand how it works, and I’m not sure she does either.
If she can force Kaspias into the prison void, maybe she can get him to sneak her out. He’s a commander with high clearance. At this point, with all he’s done, I don’t give a shit if she fucks up his brain to get herself out.
Neither do I, Kane says near the front.
About fucking time, Kalidus adds.
I’ve been dissociating throughout the whole night. Performing surgery on Ruth that might very well have killed her was damaging to our system. The amount of blood, the complexity of rearranging her nerve endings, and keeping my hands from shaking was enough to send other alters racing to the front for different reasons.
And on top of everything, my heart nearly exploded in my chest as I realized where Skylenna ran off to. The Bird’s Nest. I had my doubts, but seeing her face told me all I needed to know. She blamed herself for Scarlett’s death. And this hit too close to home. It triggered an abrupt emotional response that she had the day she found Scarlett hanging in that closet. The day she tried to burn her house down with her inside it.
I should have figured it out sooner. But I was only focused on making sure Ruth survived the surgery.
A foul wrath races through my veins, pounding into my brain at the thought of losing Skylenna after everything we’ve been through. What the fuck would I have done? Would she really have jumped if Scarlett hadn’t stopped her?
She wouldn’t have done it, Kane says with unwavering confidence.
How do you know? I ask him.
I know she probably thought she was going to. But we’re soul mates. She wouldn’t move on without us. I know her better than I know myself, Dess.
I sigh, dropping my head to kiss Skylenna’s hair, breathing her into my lungs, and closing my eyes as I fantasize taking her far away from here. Building a house in the Red Oaks and eventually giving her the castle she deserves.
Warrose’s vibrant eyes shake me from the thoughts I’ve buried myself in. Ruth looks so small, withering away in his massive embrace. He circles her in his brawny arms, absently caressing her arm.
“How long have you been awake?” I ask in a low voice.
He shrugs one big shoulder. “Long enough to see you haven’t slept.”
I haven’t slept much these days at all. How long will my body be able to keep up?
“How does her skin feel?” I lift my chin in Ruth’s direction. “Hot? Cold? Is she running a fever?”
Warrose glances down, shifts his hand silently over her forehead, then to her cheek, and last her neck. “She’s a little warm. But no fever.”
I let out a breath of relief. “Good. And her pulse?”
