"I'm… I'm so sorry," she said, and would have tipped over if Taranis hadn't been holding onto her arm.
Avallach moved over and patted the bed. "Come here, little sister. You look far worse than I do."
They helped her into the bed beside him, and she flung an arm around him and sobbed.
Taranis patted her on the back. "I'll let you all catch up. I have to see to some things."
"He's stressed," Reeve said once he was gone.
"It's a king's job," Emyr replied.
Yelena hugged Avallach until he groaned. "Easy there, little sister. I don't need my ribs any more bruised than what they are."
"It was the only way to save us. I'm so sorry," she said into his chest.
"Stop saying sorry. I'm a bit knocked around, but you said we would survive, and we did. That's what matters," Avallach said, holding her close. "I'm a little miffed I didn't get to be the one to kill Cathal, but Valentine did a satisfactory job."
Yelena wiped her cheeks. "He did?"
"Yeah, he ate the bastard. You should have seen it. Cathal was changing to all these different forms, trying to escape, andValentine ate him whole," Emyr said, and wrinkled her nose. "And he also ate your hand. Cathal was wearing it as a trophy, and Valentine took offense at that."
"Fucking gross," Reeve said with a laugh. "Val has never been one to do things by halves, though."
"I wish I could have seen that," Yelena added. She knew she probably shouldn't, but she didn't mind that he had eaten her hand. Dragons weren't squeamish about such things. "Cathal had it coming many times over."
Reeve grinned. "I'm glad you are both okay. Especially you, Avallach. I would have hated to tell Moira you were defeated."
"Charlotte passed on her letter," Avallach snorted.
"She wrote to you? That's cute. I didn't get a letter," Yelena said with a pout. She liked the fiery little Ironwood.
Avallach gestured to Emyr, who passed him the small piece of paper from the nightstand. He gave it to Yelena.
She read out loud, "'I'm glad you aren't dead and that you remain undefeated.' Aww, that's cute."
"Turn it over," Avallach said.
Yelena did and choked on her laughter. "'So I can still be the one to defeat you.' Oh gods, she's so murderous, and I love her."
"I'm staying in Faerie from now on," Avallach said with a snort. "Little monster will get me in my sleep, I swear it."
Reeve laughed harder. "Pretty certain it's how Ironwoods show their affection. Threats are like their love language. I'm sure she secretly thinks you're the coolest and will train extra hard to defeat you."
"That's no bad thing. Extra training will keep her safe," Emyr said and nodded in approval.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one she's sworn a blood vendetta against," Avallach complained.
Yelena laughed with the rest of them and clung to the feeling of normality. She tried not to wish Valentine were there withthem. She kept looking at the door, hoping he would come through it.
"He's down in a workshop," Reeve said, giving her a smile so like his brother's. "Don't worry about him. A project is generally how he processes big, traumatic emotions and events."
"Any idea what he's making?" Yelena asked curiously.
"He's being cagey about it." Reeve squeezed her hand. "But you should ask him yourself. You're probably the only one who will understand what he's saying when he explains it."
Yelena grinned. "I just might."
12
