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“Nothing’s wrong.” Kyros smiles weakly, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Mateo asks, dragging Kyros closer to where Adrian and I sit. “This is a reason for celebrating. Max is going to be out of here in a few days. Oh, is this about Titus figuring out the answer first?”
“Of course not,” Kyros huffs in frustration, pulling out of Mateo’s hold. “I don’t care who found the answer, as long as we get Max out of there safely.”
“Max—” Mateo starts, but Maximus cuts him off.
“You need to take Liv home.”
“I already told you, I’m not going anywhere,” I grind out, narrowing a glare at my mate.
I suck in a sharp breath as realization slams into me. I don’t want to be fighting with him. None of us should be turning on each other right now.
“Liv,” Adrian says, breaking through my thoughts. “We should really take you home to get some rest. Max should get to sleep too to keep his strength up, and he can’t do that with you here.”
I frown as I focus on Maximus, letting all the emotions that have been piling up on my shoulders slip away, and really look at him. He’s lost some of the color in his face, and sweat beads along his brow. I place my hand on the barrier, wishing I could touch him, that I could heal him or do whatever necessary to take away his pain. His shoulders slump slightly as he must see the fight drain from my face.
“I’ll keep watch, Olivia,” Octavia says, strolling from the entrance to the cave, clearly having overheard the conversation from afar.
“I’ll stay too, little mate, and we’ll switch out in a few hours so everyone can get some sleep,” Mateo murmurs, kneeling down to place a chaste kiss on my forehead.
“I really don’t want to leave you,” I sigh, pressing my hand harder against the barrier, like I can somehow rip him from his prison. “But I can see that you need your rest too, and obviously me being here is getting in the way of that.”
“Princess,” he grumbles, placing his hand against mine, but I shake my head, silently assuring him it isn’t like that.
“I understand because I would feel the same way.” I wish I could feel his rough palm beneath mine, the warm, comforting touch that I’m so used to, but my hand rests against the cool, smooth magic that keeps us apart. “We’ll get you out of here soon though.”
I slowly peel my hand away, regret wrapping around my chest with a vise-like grip. This is what he needs from me right now, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I desperately hold on to that flicker of hope that burns inside my chest, the one piece of good news I’ve heard since we left for the infernal realm.
“I’ll see you soon, princess,” Maximus says, his voice a low rumble. Pain slices through my chest, but I nod and slowly pull myself to my feet, hating the way that Adrian’s arm wraps around my waist, like he doesn’t think I can stand upright on my own right now. I pull out of his grip and take a few shaky steps away, not wanting anyone’s help.
Why the hell am I so weak? Everyone else is fine.
“Thank you,” I nod to Octavia, my lips pursing as I scan her over. Her hair is still done in her tight braid, eyes open, ready and alert.
“Of course,” she breathes. “I’m here for anything you need.”
My chest warms at the gesture. Every day I seem to be getting closer and closer to my mother.
“You know I’m always here for anything you need, little mate,” Mateo murmurs, wrapping his arms around me from behind and lightly squeezing me. “And you too, brother.”
“Thanks,” Maximus grumbles. “Now go. We’ll be fine.”
Mateo backs away from me, and I pull my powers around me, determined to dissipate out of here on my own.
“Olivia, wait—” Adrian shouts, but it’s too late. My power sweeps me up on an invisible wind, and I breathe a sigh of relief, empowered to be doing this on my own and not being treated like a—
“What is this?” I say on a shaky breath, my eyes stinging as I look around me at the house—or what’s left of it now.
The energy I was clinging to is zapped from my body in an instant, and I crumple to my knees, sending a cloud of dust up at the impact. The tiny particles cling to my throat as I take my next breath, and I desperately try to clear it but it won’t go away—it won’t go back to what it once was.
The house—our home. It’s gone. Completely and totally destroyed.
I knew it. They told me it was gone, but seeing and knowing something are two completely different things. I couldn’t have even pictured this level of desolation if I’d tried.
“Olivia,” Adrian shouts, his footsteps clambering towards me, but I tune him out, unable to register anything but the pit where our house used to be.
I learned to love in this house. I learned the truth about my life, my future, and my parents—and now it’s just gone.
