A portal opened by my bed, Medusa’s head jutting out of the doorway.
“He’s awake,” she said.
A weight lifted off me. “Thank goodness. Is he alright?”
“Yes. He’s having a shower.”
Hot water cascading down a magnificent body…“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
She regarded me with irritatingly knowing eyes. “We need to get some phones so I don’t have to keeping popping up like this.”
“You don’t enjoy such popping?”
She scowled at my smirk. “Funny.”
“I’ll sort us some phones,” I said.
“Fabulous. Bye.” She disappeared.
Another memory crept up on me, one of rough sex with Aidan. I batted it away like the insect it was. I didn’t have the energy for memories right now.
At least Paris was awake again.
I’ll be back with you soon, shining elf…
Vaughn announced his arrival with a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out.
He entered. His usual cocky aura had dimmed tremendously, sorrow in his features, coming at me in sickening waves.
He was a dear friend, and a formidable warrior in the war. I hated seeing him so diminished.
I opened my arms to him. He came to me, grabbing me in a tight hug.
“Silvanus,” he whimpered.
I held him back just as tightly, a port for him in this storm of remembrance. “I’m sorry I sent you away earlier.”
Before I went to Hawthorn Isle, he’d come by my chambers to speak with me. I’d turned him away, not prepared to deal with him.
Curse my selfishness.
“Talk to me,” I said gently.
He lifted his head and took a step back. He wiped the bloody smears of his tears from his dark brown complexion. “It’s all scrambled. I remember King Lucius dying, and I remember Aidan.” He blinked in quick succession. “Did you really show him mercy?” He shook his head. “It’s not for me to question you.”
“I made a terrible mistake,” I responded. “One no amount of apologizing will ever make up for. Because of me, we’re here in this realm, unable to go home.”
This sounded like self-pity.
“But we might find the way back,” he countered. “As the memories keep flowing.”
“Potentially.” Unless it wasn’t possible. Whatever Aidan had done to Selene Haven was potentially beyond horrific.
I released a growl at the same time as Vaughn.
“Aidan,” he said.
