Raine sat at the edge of the bed, placing his hand onCasimir’s shoulder, an ache in his expression. “Cas. It wouldn’t have mattered.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was Vivienne.”
“I don’t understand.”
Raine explained what he and Ava had discovered when they first entered the camp to search for him. How they’d found the advisor bloodied and beaten and then Raine had ended her life. Casimir shook his head in disbelief.
“Does Thorne know?”
“Yes. So don’t you dare apologize for what happened. You don’t have to take on everything all the time. Share the burden with us.”
Casimir swallowed.
“I…I don’t know what any of us would have done had we lost you. IfIhad lost you…” Raine’s voice was hoarse.
Casimir studied his friend’s face. The friend he grew up with; whose father adopted him when he was lost and alone in a cruel world. Who was always there for him and supported him. Who called him out when he was being a stubborn bastard and yet never hesitated to show his affection.
Reaching out, he grabbed Raine’s hand and squeezed. They looked at one another for a long moment, saying nothing. They didn’t need to. Their love and loyalty didn’t have to be spoken aloud.
Raine leaned in, clasping the back of Casimir’s neck and pressing his forehead to his. “I’m glad you’re alright, Cas.” They both took a breath. Raine stood, adjusting his tunic as he strode away. “I had best let Kai check you over now.” He paused at the door with a smirk. “By the way, Aro is a complete asshole when he’s stressed. Kind of like you.”
Casimir couldn’t contain the laugh that tumbled out of him as Raine disappeared.
Kai approached and sat on the chair, crossing his legs. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired and a little sore. Why won’t Ava wake?”
“You’ve both been asleep for about three days. Ava had her great tribulation when she was rescuing you and drained herself much too quickly. She’s still recovering.”
“How much longer do you think she’ll sleep?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I was able to rouse her and get her to eat and bathe yesterday but she went right back to sleep and hasn’t stirred since. Could be a few more days.” Kai stood. “You need to eat.”
Casimir nodded. He was starving, and as he was about to ask for Cirilla, she entered with a tray of food.
“Perfect timing,” said Kai. “Eat. Then drink this. I’ll come check on the two of you later.” Kai handed him a vial and left.
Casimir thanked Cirilla as she pulled the side table close to the bed and set the tray down.
“Don’t you go off and put yourself in danger like that again, general,” she chastised him, but there was a hint of affection in her eyes. “You had the whole castle up in arms.”
“I apologize.”
“Eat,” she ordered, patting his arm before she left.
Casimir carefully pushed himself up and Ava whimpered, clinging to him in her sleep.
“Shhh…It’s alright, love,” he whispered, stroking her hair.
He covered his very naked lap with a blanket, then a pillow, and carefully arranged Ava’s head on top. She clung to his legs but didn’t wake as he continued to run his fingers through her hair, ensuring she was comfortable.
Reaching across the bed, he grabbed a forkful of roasted potatoes and took a bite, almost groaning at the taste of real food. He didn’t remember much after he was captured. Bits and pieces of the torture performed by Vazgeth and overseen by Andras and Deidamia. It was as if he blocked it out, shovedaway the pain so he wouldn’t have to re-experience it. He had a vague recollection of Ava coming into the cave, then Vazgeth pinning her against a wall.
Wait…did she kill him? A hazy picture of Vazgeth’s body on the ground—in two separate pieces—formed in his mind along with an abundance of plants growing along the cave walls.
There was a moment where she gave him to Pax in the woods, and the feeling of panic as she left again. But that was it. He didn’t remember getting back to the castle or anything else.
