Glancing down at my new furry friend flapping only their left wing to stay aloft, I rushed to my feet and slid gingerly along their wing until I had a clear point to hop off and onto the ledge. Landing roughly, I stumbled before righting myself and turning around to say goodbye, but the bat had already soared away.
“Thank you,” I whispered into the wind, gratitude filling my heart.
Before I could even turn around, two sets of large arms surrounded me, squeezing me between large bodies. Pure relief and euphoric joy slammed into me, knowing exactly who was holding me.
“Fuck, Ky,” Dakath muttered, his lips resting against my temple. “I’m so sorry. We never should have left you alone, even for a second.”
Kolvar’s large hand came up to grip my chin, forcing me to look up into his beautiful hazel eyes that glimmered in the sunlight. “Darling, I hope you know we are never letting you out of our sight ever again. Bathroom trips? They aren’t solo trips anymore.”
My lips split into a full smile as he let out a laugh and lowered his face until it was mere from my own. “I’m only slightly kidding,” he added, chuckling before sealing his lips to mine.
I melted into his touch for a moment before Elijah’s slumped body came to mind once more.
Breaking away from Kolvar, I pushed fervently on his chest until he backed up. “Elijah?!” I yelled, sprinting over to where his prone body lay on the couch in the Empress's sitting room.
Shit. What was wrong with him? I needed him to open his eyes and talk to me to calm the nerves rolling through my stomach with the unknown.
Brushing the back of my fingers against his cheek, relief slammed into me when he murmured, “Love?”
Was he…was he callingmelove?
Cradling his face in my hands, I whispered, “Can you open your eyes for me?”
His thick, blonde lashes fluttered against his pale skin until they finally opened and those gorgeous emerald eyes gazed back at me. “You’re here,” he breathed out, awe filling his voice.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily,” I joked lightly, dropping my hands as he pushed to sit up, wincing slightly as he held a hand to his temple.
Lifting his eyes to where Myrin stood off to the side of the room sipping from a cup, he muttered, “That was uncalled for.”
Lowering her cup, she lifted a single brow and retorted, “Agree to disagree.”
“Wait,” I interrupted, taking a seat next to him on the couch and scooting toward him until our thighs pressed together, desperate to be as close as possible to him. “Did Myrin knock you out?”
He let out a grumble that was answer enough, opting to grab my hand and lift it to his mouth, placing a gentle kiss there. “How did you come back to us? I couldn’t have been outthatlong.”
Dakath took a seat in the chair to my left, and I reached out for his hand as well, squeezing it and smiling at him before glancing back to Elijah.
“You probably wouldn’t believe me without seeing it with your own eyes.”
Kolvar tucked his large body into the chair across from us, leaning forward until he was close enough to rest a gentle hand on my knee as he said, “You chose a poor time to take a nap, brother. It was quite the sight to behold.”
This caused everyone to chuckle, besides Elijah, who opted to grunt under his breath about how he didn’t opt for his unconscious state.
Myrin took a few steps forward, gracefully dropping into the final remaining chair, depositing her cup onto the table between us all, the motion breaking Kolvar’s reach and forcing him to lean back in his chair. Folding her hands in her lap, she glanced up at me. “I’m very happy to have you back with us, Kyella. Are you well?”
The edges of her eyes and lips were pinched, belying the worry she must have felt for me. It made my heart swell, seeing the undeniable care she felt for me. Her gaze traveled down my body, and I followed it, wincing as I took in my state. Dried blood covered the tatters of my dress alongside the holes that had been cut into it with the daggers.
The memories washed through my mind of the torture I’d endured, sombering my mood rather quickly. Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head and exhaled as I looked back up at her. “I’m okay now.”
My words didn’t seem to soothe her, but she nodded in return. “We will ensure you always have guards with you if, for some reason, these three ever have to leave your side again.”
“We won’t,” Elijah growled out.
While I appreciated that they wanted to protect me, this situation had only proven my need to train. I didn’t want to be coddled and kept in a room, guarded at all times.
“I need to train more.”
My words hung in the air, and all three men exchanged a look, likely wondering what brought me to that conclusion. Then again, they weren’t aware of what I’d been through, though I had a feeling they would ask for those details soon enough.
