The pain lingers in my chest, but it's like this episode has decided to retreat. The hyperventilating slows as my eyelids grow heavy.
Holy shit. Silas's elixir works.
"Did you really have to inject it there?" Everett asks roughly after a long, quiet moment.
"An intracardiac injection is the fastest solution." Relief is written over Silas's features as he gently removes the needle from my chest so I don't even feel it. "I wasn't certain if it would work with her shadow heart, but…"
Baelfire adjusts me in his arms, trying to warm up exposed skin. "Fuck. Just…fuck. You scared the shit out of us—and damn it, you'refreezing. Is the pain gone, baby?"
My body feels heavy. I start to speak but end up nodding because I'm half worried another sob will escape if I open my mouth, and I've already been far too fucking weak for one night.
I taste the tang of blood. My tired, post-episode brain can't piece together why until Crypt carefully removes his finger from my mouth. He quirks a small smile down at me.
"There she is. Lay her down, Decimus. Our girl is dead tired."
I snort softly, my voice a scratchy rasp. "Dead tired. Nice one."
They all roll their eyes at my loopy humor, but I can't keep my own eyelids from slipping shut. Baelfire gingerly tucks me into the middle of the king bed while Everett hovers nearby,fussing over me. Silas and Crypt are quietly discussing getting more of the colorless plant—but they also haven't stopped watching me, as if they expect me to give up the ghost any second.
"I'm good now," I insist.
"Unless there's a delayed adverse reaction," Silas frowns. "We need to watch over you just to be sure."
"You need sleep. Crypt doesn't. He can keep watch and feed on my dreams while he heals."
Silas is reticent about the idea but finally slips into bed beside me, curling an arm around my middle and kissing my neck. As soon as we're touching, I realize how badly I needed to be close to my bound match. This casual intimacy that once terrified me now soothes something deep inside me.
It just feels right.
Baelfire slips in on the other side, resting my hand on his chest so I can feel his soothing heartbeat. It's crowded enough in this bed that it might've triggered the remains of my haphephobia if I wasn't so drained. Together, their combined warmth lulls me to sleep.
I'm vaguely aware of Crypt's alluringly dark, ever-watchful presence in my dreams as he ensures I sleep deeply. Peacefully.
Until sleep evaporates completely when my senses sharpen to needle points like they always do whenever a shadow fiend is near.
Except I know this one.
It'shim.
My eyes snap open. I bolt upright, my pulse pounding. Ignoring Baelfire's sleepy grumble of confusion and Crypt emerging from Limbo with a questioning frown, I bolt out of bed to turn on the lights in the room.
Everett startles awake from where he dozed off in the room's cushioned wingbat chair. He's immediately on his feet. "What's going on?"
"We're leaving.Now. Get dressed so I can transport us," I tell my quintet, flipping on the extra bedside lamps just to be safe and the light in the small closet.
"You're still recovering from your almost-episode," Silas protests, his dark curls mussed from sleep as he throws his legs over the side of the bed. "The transportation spell will be too taxing?—"
"I know my limits. I'll handle it.Get moving."
When shadows linger in one corner of the room, I summon a weak, basic common magic spell to dispel them—but I can't keep using magic when this next transportation spell will burn up so much of the life forces I've taken recently.
I just have to make sure I don't dip into Somnus's life force…but honestly, if that's what it takes to get away fromhim, so fucking be it.
My matches share a shocked look in reaction to my apparent state of panic before they launch into a blind rush to get dressed—except for Crypt, who abruptly appears at my side.
"Darling? Tell me what's?—"
He cuts off sharply, whipping around as he steps protectively in front of me, his pale swirling markings lighting up. Outside the window of this fourth-story suite bedroom, I glimpse a dark mass moving in the starless night before it vanishes.
