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It’s finally time to put this horrible, shitty day behind us.
Riley recovers from her queasiness enough to conjure three small, cozy, warm tents for us before she slips inside of hers to lie down.
Nine heads out into the darkness, disappearing for a couple of minutes, then returning with a jar full of crystal clear Faerie water and some kind of plant that I’ve never seen before. He nods his good night and joins his mate.
Because Nine’s not about to risk burning himself, it’s up to me and Rys to carry Jim inside of one of the other tents. Rys tries to tell me that he’ll do it himself, but I’m capable. Besides, if I help hoist Jim up, that’s less contact Rys has with him. Less burns.
I just wish I could lift him on my own. Jim’s not exactly a big guy, but he’s got a head on me, a ton more muscle, and I’m running on fumes at this point. At least I can help, though.
Once we’ve laid him out in the safety of Riley’s shadows, Rys murmurs that I should get some sleep. I know it’s pretty obvious that I’m meant to stay in Jim’s tent with him and I don’t argue. What else can I do? He’s snoring now, so I know Jim’s doing a bit better, and it’s not like I can go and sleep in Rys’s tent.
He slips out into the night with barely a glance behind him.
I curl up on the ground, my back to Jim’s side. I can’t stand looking at the marks on his face, knowing that I’m almost as responsible for them as the fae who used the diamaint gloves on him.
No surprise, then, that it’s fucking impossible to fall asleep. I’m still wired, way too overtired, and every time I close my eyes, all I see is the shocked expression on Dusk’s face right before Rys went after his neck.
Yeah. I’m so not ready to sleep yet.
Scooting away from Jim, I crawl out of the tent, hoping that maybe Rys is still awake and I can talk to him. I know for sure that I’m not going to have the chance any time soon, not with the mated couple around, and Jim… well, Jim.
As soon as I exit the shadows, I find Rys sitting about fifteen feet away from our camping set-up.
“What are you doing?”
The tiniest flame is bouncing in his palm. As soon as he hears my voice, he closes his fingers over it, extinguishing it. “Keeping watch. Go back to sleep.”
“I will. Just… not yet.”
Rys glances up at me. Since he’s returned from the jailbreak, he’s kept his hood hanging down his back. I like him that way. I like being able to see his face and tell what he’s thinking. I like looking straight in his golden eyes and running my gaze over his beautiful, long tawny hair.
I left my own cloak back in the tent with Jim. Why? Good question. I guess, honestly, it’s because I was hoping for something just like this. I could never get too close to Rys while wearing it since the shadow cloak would only weaken him further. It’s one thing to stand beside him, but, right now, I want to do so much more than that.
As if he can read my mind, Rys holds out his hand. He doesn’t get up from his spot on the icy ground, but he doesn’t need to. Taking hold of his hand, sighing softly when the barest touch feels so good—so right—I let him tug me down so that I’m sitting on his lap, my back pressed against his chest.
He wraps his arms around my middle, a silent concession that, for a few moments at least, I can just use him for his heat—and my comfort.
I need them both desperately.
“Can’t sleep, Leannán?”
“No.” No point lying to Rys. It’s pretty obvious that I’ve got way too many thoughts running through my head. Call them freaking Usain Bolt, because they’re not just running, they’re sprinting. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Mm. About what?”
About us.
I can’t say that, though. Not now.
So, instead, I say, “What happened at Samradh.” I pause. “That was Samradh, right?”
“It was. And, before you ask, yes. I did remember that Helix sent Dusk to this prison. Did I know he would be there when I went for your Jim? No. Was I hoping to see him during the escape? Of course. He deserved his fate. I only hope you agree with me.”
Is that what’s been bothering Rys?
“Totally. Hey. You told me from the beginning you were a soldier. You killed people. Do you want to know if I’m upset you killed Dusk? Fuck no. He would’ve killed you first.”
“You have such little faith in me.”
