“Ronan.”
I lifted my chin in response to Kieran uttering my name, dragging my gaze to the scene before me where the security team was lifting Niz’s stretcher to move him from the medical center. Immediately, I stood, watching as Bastian went to one side, continuing to work his magic. Kieran stood with Gabe and Steele, waiting for me to join them.
“Are we heading back to the house?” I asked, trying to maintain a facade of collected calmness. It wasn’t that I wanted to hide my emotions from Kieran—maybe the others, but not her—I just wasn’t fully ready to talk about how I felt. Hell, I didn’t evenknowhow I felt.
“I’m staying here,” Steele stated, and Kieran nodded in return.
I had to hold back a grunt of relief. We were better off without him around. I still didn’t have words for the bastard, after how I’d seen him treat Kieran during our time here, but I also understood that now was hardly the time to emphasize that. Especially with his grandma laying injured and unconscious in a bed only feet away.
“Let’s go then,” Gabe agreed, and I followed them out, keeping myself close to the group since I was finding it hard to believe that the threat was truly gone.
Kieran was mostly silent as we walked the familiar path back to the house, but when she intertwined our fingers and held my hand in support, I felt warmth invade my chest. The feeling grounded me, helping me relax, even if just a little.
When Gabe flew up ahead a minute later to ensure the house was open and ready, I wasn’t surprised by the low, gentle sound of her voice. She squeezed my hand as she spoke. “How are you feeling about everything?”
My brow dipped as I looked down at her earnest expression, feeling bad that I didn’t have a better answer for her—so I went with the truth.
“I don’t know…” I admitted with a sigh as my eyes continued to scan our surroundings for any threat. “I need to talk to Niz first. I need to figure out why he never told me about this side of his life.” I took a second to wet my dry lips, shrugging before I continued, “Past that, I really don’t know what to think.”
Kieran nodded, squeezing my hand again as we approached the house we’d all been calling home recently. As we entered through the large front door, security began to move Niz up the stairs. We followed them quietly as I considered where they would place him—it wasn’t like he needed a bedroom before now.
“My room,” I instructed Gabe as he glanced back, probably having the same question.
My voice seemed to echo in the silence between all of us and I walked ahead, having to drop Kieran’s hand to direct security toward my suite. I didn’t know where I would sleep, but I’d figured it out. I couldn’t deny that I still considered Niz my responsibility. The years we’d spent together couldn’t be erased in the span of an hour, or however long it’d been since his revelation.
As we entered the room, they gingerly lowered Niz and the sheet wrapped around him onto the bed. The team filed out quickly after confirming we didn’t need any further assistance, leaving Bastian the room required to comfortably use his powers once more.
“I’m going to hunt down some clothes and other stuff to make him clean and comfortable until he’s well enough to shower,” Gabe offered, running a hand through his hair and looking a bit on edge. “I probably need to go check on how everything’s going on the front line. I know Steele has subordinates beneath him that can handle it while he’s at Amelia’s side, but it would soothe my nerves to get some eyes on the situation myself.”
“Do what you need to do,” Kieran assured him with an understanding smile, though her brows drew together in confusion as Bastian suddenly stepped back from Niz.
“Are you done healing him?” I asked the Caster.Had that truly been long enough? Would he be okay now?
“He’s stable,” Bastian assured us before making an amused sound and casting us a smirk. “Now we just need him to wake up so the bastard can thank me for saving his life and reconsider our friendship.”
“Bash,” Kieran scolded, but I noticed a softness to her gaze that she couldn’t hide. “Thank you.”
“No problem, Darling.” He winked and left the room.
Kieran approached me and rested her head against my arm. I twisted my own toward her, leaning down down until my nose brushed against her hair, letting out an exhale before moving my arm to tug her against my side.
What a fucking mess.
“I’m going to get cleaned up and maybe try to make something for an early breakfast. I don’t have much of a hand at cooking, but I want to give it a go,” Kieran said, tilting her head up to look at me.
“I could help.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s going to wake up soon, and I think you should be the first one he talks to.”
I considered her words as I nodded, not completely in disagreement. When her lips brushed my jaw in a soft, passing touch, I resisted the urge to not let her go. She felt like my anchor amidst the storm of my tumultuous emotions.
As her footsteps retreated down the stairs, I let out a heavy sigh before pulling a change of clothes from my wardrobe. Stiffly, muscles and head aching, I went into the bathroom. Exhaustion seeped through every part of my body, but I wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon—not until Niz opened his eyes.
Part of me dreaded the wait, not knowing how long it would take until he was alert once more. So I took my time showering, soaking my weary muscles under the hot stream of the shower. I leaned my head against the wall, letting the water pound against my shoulder blades, trying to force my mind to anything other than the possibility that something might happen to Niz.
Eventually, I forced myself from the comfort of the shower, toweling my hair dry before pulling my clothes on. Heaving a deep breath, I twisted the door handle and stepped into the room with a heavy stomach. What the hell would I do if he wasn’t okay in the end?
But when I walked back into the room, I found Niz awake, his gaze on the ceiling before moving over to me with a small smile. I tried to offer one back before pulling a chair near the bed and sitting down, but considering the way his smile faded, I had a feeling I failed at my attempt. I couldn’t deny that beyond the anger and betrayal I still felt deeply, there was a significant amount of relief pulsing through me at the sight of his open, seemingly alert eyes.
