“They’re retreating,” Casimir said as he rose from the ground, pulling Ava with him. The moment Saxumdale arrived with additional forces, the remainder of the enemy army stopped their advance, clearly outnumbered.
Checking Ava for injuries, he scanned her leather armor, now painted in black and red blood. When he came upon that daemon towering over her with a blade to her throat, it had unlocked a fierceness so deep it was all he could do to stay in control.
“Are you hurt?” His palm cupped the side of her neck, thumb stroking her jaw.
“I’m alright. But you still have a dagger in your thigh.” Her eyes darted to his leg.
Taking a step back, he yanked it out and tossed it to the ground. “Not anymore.”
“Cas,” she chastised, dropping to her knees as she put pressure on the wound. “What is wrong with you? You aren’t invincible, you big brute.”
Reaching beneath his leather armor, he rippeda strip of fabric from the bottom of his tunic. “Here.” He handed it to Ava. “Wrap it. I’ll be fine. It’ll heal on its own eventually.”
With an exasperated sigh, she tied the fabric around his thigh. “If I had a dagger in my leg, you’d be carrying me to a healer right about now,” she muttered. “But no…the stubborn general just pulls it out like it’s nothing.”
Casimir couldn’t control the quirk of his lips as she rose. “Thank you, love.”
“You’re welcome. Now what?”
His amusement faded as the aftermath of the battle hit him. “We assess our casualties and move out. Take the wounded with us. We cannot camp this close to Frosthaven.”
Bodies littered the ground, the crimson stains bright against the white landscape. Snow fell in a light flurry, the beauty of the flakes at odds with the morbid scene. Moans of the injured carried on the icy breeze. Casimir shuddered, the scents of fear and blood a sudden reminder of his imprisonment.
Ava laced her fingers in his. “It reminds you of the camp, doesn’t it?”
He answered with a nod.
“Me too. It smells the same. Like death.”
Releasing her hand, he wound his arm around her waist, pulling her into his side. “Do you still dream about it?”
“Sometimes…but I think having you there keeps me from waking up in a panic.” Her brow knitted with concern. “Do you?”
Shaking his head, he swallowed, preparing to speak his biggest fear aloud. Something he hadn’t yet expressed, though it haunted him almost daily. “Most of my nightmares are about something happening to you.”
Leaning into him, she whispered, “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
They embraced for a few minutes longer. Casimir’s hand tightened on her hip and Ava leaned her head against him.Hundreds of fae from Saxumdale continued to march forward, their iridescent armor contrasting their gray rocky skin.
Raine approached with Sabriel in tow, both speckled with daemon blood. “Good to see the two of you are in one piece.”
Casimir raised a brow. “Good to see you didn’t lose your sense of humor.”
“Never,” Raine replied.
Pax strode up. “Maeryn’s looking for you, general.”
Casimir let go of Ava, giving her a quick kiss. “Stay with them,” he ordered.
“Yes, bossy general.”
Pax slung his arm around Ava’s shoulders, giving Casimir a wolfish grin. “The princess will be fine. She decapitated a daemon with her roots in battle.”
Casimir jolted, tilting his head. “Impressive, love.”
Raine’s eyes widened. “I wish I had seen that.”
Ava winced. “It was disgusting.”
