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Clad only in a thin gown they must have put on me before shooting me up with healing magic, I pulled the blanket on my lap higher.
"Here," Kree said, placing an oversized charcoal-colored sweater over my shoulders and helping me put my arms through the sleeves. "Cas retrieved it just in case you were cold."
Wrapping it around my body, I inhaled the scent of my mate lingering within the threads. The small gesture, like his other small gestures, did more to warm me than the thick wool ever could.
"I'll let Draven and Lyric know you're awake," Kree announced on her way out.
"Casimir first, then?" Hugo drew my attention. "He's close by."
I nodded at the healer. "Let him in. Please."
"Give me a second." With that Hugo exited and left me alone with my thoughts.
Casimir saw what Dolan had done. He'd seen what I'd been reduced to down in that torture chamber under Ansley Keep. I loathed feeling so weak and exposed, but not as much as I loathed reliving it with my mate there, helplessly watching.
Would he treat me like glass now?
My heart leapt as the heavy wooden door creaked open and Casimir stepped inside, his gaze drinking me in from head to toe as if he was only just now believing I was alive. Without delay, he rushed to my side and dropped onto the bed next to me.
The moment our bodies touched, I felt my soul soar out to brush his, as though they'd been apart for more than the short hour or so I'd been in the med bay. I inhaled his scent deeply as the tears began to flow freely from my eyes. I had no idea why I was crying.
Casimir didn't hesitate before pulling me into his lap and holding me tight against him, as if I might disappear if he let go.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
His huff of breath came out harsh. "I'm not the one ... the one ..."
I pressed my fingertips onto his lips. "It's over."
Large hands shifted my weight back slightly, then cupped the back of my head. Rings of black and silver undulated in my demon's eyes.
"It's not over, Raven. They were able to sneak a spell onto a fucking baby gift and we played right into their hands."
"They couldn't have known I was here. And why would they risk harming any of the Shadows? Sersha and Malcolm both know Draven would respond."
The door opened and the Shadow Lord and his mate walked inside. No, not walked. Marched. Lyric's eyes were shiny and excited while Draven's were nearly completely black.
Lyric pounded her fist into her palm. "Those assholes fucked around and now they're gonna find out! Also, are you okay?" she warily tiptoed closer, grimacing. "Sorry! I should have led with that. That's the priority. Raven is healthy and awake and then we plan to annihilate the fae scum who dared to–"
Draven bent and spun the female around so fast her ponytail hit him in the face. She giggled. He didn't.
"We agreed, Angel. Calm. Focused. Steady blood pressure. Let go of the rage and let me carry it. Let Cas carry it. And Raven. Let anyone not carrying an infant inside their belly carry the rage."
Lyric's angelic face blanked, navy eyes focused in concentration. She adjusted her breaths to match his slower ones.
"Calm," she repeated in a slow cadence. "Focused. Steady blood pressure. No rage or killing for me. Only Draven. No fun for Lyric. Only fun for everyone else."
"Right," he nodded, some of the black receding from his sclera. "And in exchange we'll try to keep one prisoner for you to deal with after our youngling is safely delivered and you are healed."
Lyric's eyes widened. "Yes, fun for me later. Maybe two or three prisoners. Or six. Whatever we can manage."
I looked up at Casimir when his chest started shaking. He muttered something about trying to stay pissed off being impossible when Draven's little psycho was near.
"I heard that," Lyric grumbled. "But I am calm and will not seek retribution until a later date. You've been warned."
She smiled broadly. "See, Big Guy? I can do it. I just need a calendar to keep track of when I’m allowed to go cray."
"Now," she turned back to me, rubbing her hands. "You good?"
