“I’ll do it,” Dez offered immediately. “Is there anything specific I need to know? Or would it be just like any other offering?” His question was directed at Tristan.
“On days where my episodes were more exhausting than others, sometimes I couldn’t completely control myself. It might be best to have someone nearby.”
“I’ll be here,” Kaiden interjected. “Why don’t you go make sure none of your monsters make it through the gate while you wait on the wolf.”
“I think you’re being a little harsh, Kaiden,” I quickly inserted myself, unable to stand the wounded look on Tristan’s face every time his eyes even glanced at Morrigan.
Swimming with shadows, Kaiden’s eyes landed on me. It was a clear sign that his pent-up fury would burst sooner rather than later. “This wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for?—”
“Us,” I reminded him. “This wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t forus. If we had done our jobs. If Cass, Dez, Naaz, or I would have beenhonestwith her. If you had beenkinderto her. If Cain hadn’t been sucha?—”
“Cain,” Kaiden growled before stomping toward Tristan. “Where is he?”
“In my dungeon, still.” Tristan stood at Kaiden’s level, but his eyes remained on the girl lying still on her bed. “I can retrieve him while you and Dez help her.”
“I’ll go with you,” I offered.
With a curt nod, Tristan released Morrigan’s hand and walked toward the bedroom door, leaving without another look over his shoulder. Before I followed him out, I gave Kaiden a pointed glare.
“I understand a little of why you’re angry, Kaiden, but you need to figure out how to stifle it before she wakes up. Not only is he a god, but he is yourbrother. One who is now tethered to Morrigan for the rest of her life.”
Small pools of shadows slipped from beneath Kaiden’s pants. “I know that, Eris.”
“Good. None of us like this,” I reminded him. “But if you love her as much as she thinks that you do, you’re going to figure out a way to be okay with this.”
“I already promised her I would?—”
“All of this, Kaiden.”
His brows pulled together slightly in confusion.
“Just asheisn’t going anywhere, neither am I. Neither is Cass… Naaz…”
Kaiden sucked in a slow, deliberate breath and rolled his eyes as he turned back to Morrigan.
It was the only real response I would get from him anyway. But Dez had a little smirk on his face that I wanted to punch off of him. So, before I could spew any more infatuated declarations, I turned on my heel and followed after Tristan.
Chapter 53
DORMIUS
Ifollowed after the guards that went to retrieve Lyra and Eowyn, demanding they find a shadow walker to take me home.
I needed distance. Distance fromthem, distance fromher, and distance from…him. I couldn’t get the images Tristan manifested out of my mind—Stefan’s neck being slit open. Nausea constantly turned in my stomach, rolling in every direction and sending a throbbing pain straight to my head.
I needed to see him. I needed to know that he was okay.
I stormed into my castle, ignoring the guards as they greeted me. Some of my staff stared as if I had gone insane. Maybe I had. My heart ached, and my lungs were continuously closing in on each other.
I just needed to see…
When I turned the corner into the hall, I recognized him instantly. His shoulder-length oak hair was pulled back, and he walked with his helmet at his side as he made his rounds. I didn’t give him any time to react.
Without even checking the hall, I grabbed his arm and yanked him into the nearest room. It was unoccupied, and I swiftly lit the candles along the walls before fisting his chest plate and forcing him to face me.
“What the—” He quickly realized it was me, and the lines on his face softened almost immediately. “D, you’re back already? It’s only been a couple of hours.”
“You’re okay,” I breathed, scanning every inch of his skin.
