Page 98 of The Devil’s Feather

Deandra hovered nearby while Rafael drank most of my water in one go, pausing only to swish his mouth and spit bloody saliva on the ground. I handed over the energy bars I’d packed for this specific purpose and he inhaled those too.

“How did you still have the strength to carry me?”

“You give me strength.” Rafael kissed me, deeply enough to make some people mutter and sidle away from us. “You kept Delilah over there from making good on her threats.”

“You’re Aslan, remember? Only fitting to take down the White Witch.” I tangled my hands in his hair and kissed him for all I was worth.

He snorted at ‘White Witch’. “Would you still love me if I was bald?”

I smacked his shoulder. Gently. “You could be bald, short, gain or lose weight—I don’t care. I didn’t fall in love with your hair. It’s just a nice detail.”

Rafael gasped dramatically. “Anything but short!”

Dee prodded him. “You’re going to the hospital now, right?”

He shrugged.

Benson approached with Matilda at their side. They handed me the 9mm they’d wisely kept hidden from the police, and looked to Rafael. “Hey, can we grab a coffee sometime?”

“No.” He did not look up.

“Ok. That’s ok.” They scratched at their viridian hair. “Look, I don’t expect you to forgive me or for us to ever be friends. I just wanted to say I’m sorry for what I did. It was fucked up, and I’m sorry. I’m clean and sober now, if that helps.”

Rafael snorted. “Odd fucking time to be working your twelve steps.”

Benson raised their hands in supplication. “No, no, nothing like that. I wanted to say something at the event, but it was too crowded. When I heard you’d been abducted, I was afraid I might never get another chance to apologize. So, here I am, apologizing.”

“They seem pretty sincere,” I prodded, “and without Matilda, we might not have found you. You wanted to be on good terms with more exes, right?”

“Who the fuck is Matilda?”

I pointed at the dog.

Rafael rested his head against his arm. He finally nodded, exhaling through his nose, and extended his hand for Matilda to sniff. “I am from the city of cats, but I appreciate your help, madam.”

She whuffed and licked him. Rafael winced, wiping the saliva on his pants. Definitely a cat person.

He looked at Benson. “I…was not kind to you either. Fine, I accept your truce, so long as whatever this is,” he waggled a finger from Benson to Deandra, “does not have negative consequences for Elaine.”

“Now we just busted you out.” Deandra scowled at him. “Can’t you go a single second without calling my shit out?”

Detective Corey coughed to get our attention. “Mr. Nazim, we need your statement.”

He glared at the battered security force. More than one man flinched. “Molly Lively and her weaselly little chicken dick are the main ones I will be pressing charges against.” He gave her a detailed account of how he’d been held and transported against his will and turned over his phone for more presumed proof.

Each member of the search party came over to give a statement as well. I took my time, trying to remember as much as possible. Probably more than they’d ever need.

After much prodding and protests from the crowd, the police finally cuffed Molly and Tech Bro, whose name really was Chad—Chad Kingsley, because of course it was.

One of the more experienced hikers in the group showed us an easier route to get back to the car. The medics warily offered to haul Rafael out on a litter, to which he laughed in their faces. He did, however, walk much slower than usual, and leaned on me a good bit.

I squeezed his arm. “Look how many people care about you.”

“Look how many people want to gossip about me,” he grumbled.

Mandeep sighed loudly. “Speaking of people who refuse to learn. We’re here because we want to help, you stubborn old queen. I thought for sure you’d gotten yourself killed.” He blinked rapidly, tears shining in his dark eyes. “You’d better let Kathy know you’re ok.”

I would have hugged Mandeep, but I didn’t want to let go of my man for even an instant.