It is alright,I tried to calm her through our bond while reaching out a hand for her.
Pyrope dropped to her belly immediately, her thick tail swiping back and forth so hard it moved her whole body. She pressed her muzzle into my hand and whined at me until I stroked her head soothingly.
I could only imagine how ridiculous we had to look with Sage now lying flat on his back and trying to keep Serafin still against his shoulder. While I knelt over him and tried to distract Pyrope from licking tears off Sage’s face the way she had gotten used to doing for me.
Once the vargr had both settled, Rian knelt next to us, looking amused. Nuala was propped up against his chest with her head turned into him so I was pretty sure she had regained consciousness.
“I need to take Nuala to my tent. You probably need some time to rest as well, and then we will celebrate as soon as you are able,” Rian suggested.
Sage smiled at his cousin before dropping his gaze to the witch Rian cradled so protectively.
Rian rose before Sage could inquire, shifting Nuala up against him so that her face was in the crook of his neck. The Autumn Prince then turned to Amira who sat near the tree trunk with her arms slung over her knees. I realized she had been watching me when I glanced over and met her eyes, so I looked away again quickly.
“Thank you, Amira,” he told her with some difficulty. “Take her back to the prison,” Rian instructed Ciaran who gave a nod, but then he glanced reluctantly at Sage.
“I will see you soon,” Sage reassured him, and Ciaran smiled in agreement before he turned to retrieve Amira. He forced her up and followed Rian out of the tent.
Sage frowned as he watched them go, so I reached up to try and smooth away that line between his dark brows. He merely turned those pensive purple eyes on me.
“You blame her,” he guessed.
“Of course. It was her and Riordan who orchestrated your abduction with the Sylvan,” I reminded him.
Sage seemed to consider that for a moment before he closed his eyes with a sigh.
“I need sleep,” he admitted, clearly not ready to have a discussion about the griffins or my friend or the Sylvan.
“I can portal you,” Darragh offered, and I agreed.
“Do you want food or—” I began to ask Sage.
“Just you and our bed,” he insisted.
I knew he had not meant to insinuate anything sexual, sincehe was certainly not in any shape for it. But I still couldn’t help the hot flush that spread across my cheeks. The blush deepened when he saw it and a smile began to tug at the corners of that wicked mouth of his.
“I am going to need rest first,” he assured me.
My eyes widened at him before darting up to Darragh who had averted his face. But I could still see the slight curve of his amused smile as he formed a portal.
Darragh helped me get Sage into our bed, and I made sure he finished the tea Carrick brewed. Then my mate passed out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
I stripped once he was asleep and removed my armour from him, leaving him in his pants and tunic. Then I laid awake for hours with my head on his chest and listened to every breath and every beat of his heart until the anxious flutter in my chest began to ease. I could not move except to swipe at tears of bittersweet relief as they rolled down my cheeks. I was so tired, and my magic was in desperate need of being replenished with some rest, but I just could not seem to close my eyes on him.
I did not realize I had finally succumbed to exhaustion until I was waking groggily. I initially thought it must be a dream when I woke to the feeling of Sage curled around me from behind. He gently brushed his fingers through the hair at my temple and tucked it behind my ear, which gave a flicker at the contact. I had dreamed of him with me so often while he was gone that all I wanted to do was bask in the delusion for as long as I could.
But then his scent hit me, real and solid, and I jerked my head up to look at Sage over my bare shoulder. Part of me could still barely believe he was back, so when I met those purple eyes, the relief took my breath away again.
“I did not mean to wake you,” he said quietly, and my heartquickened when his eyes lowered to my mouth and then to my naked shoulder between us.
“I am glad you did,” I insisted as I flipped over and pressed myself into his chest.
Something moved, and I worried someone else was in the room before realizing it was just Serafin. He had crept up onto the bed in spite of my direction the night before for him to stay on the floor. It was not unusual for him to sleep on the bed, but with Sage so badly injured, I had thought it was best not to crowd him too much. But I did not have the heart to scold the vargr when I saw his head resting on Sage’s hip with his fervent eyes glued to his beloved rider. He gave me a pleading whine.
“Stubborn beast,” I muttered, and his tail thumped on the mattress in excitement at my grudging sanction.
I returned my attention to Sage as I rested my hand on his chest to let what little magic I’d managed to recoup flow into him. Sage gave a sigh of relief as more of his pain was relieved, but I knew it was going to take more power than I had at the moment to heal him completely. And I would only be able to restore what had been done to him physically. I could not repair his stolen magic.
“I can still use it through you,” Sage reminded gently, sensing the direction of my dour thoughts.
