Cyrus sucked in a breath. Her fingers felt cold in his grasp. Gods, was he going to lose her again? Would the shock of it all pull her under once more?
Instead of replying, Cyrus drew closer, pulling her to his chest and holding her. His hands traced circles along her back as she shuddered against him.
“It’s all right,” he whispered. “It’s going to be all right.”
“Please,” Prue breathed. “Pleasetell me it’s not true. Please tell me he isn’t gone.”
Cyrus squeezed her tightly, pouring as much affection and comfort as he could in the embrace. He needed her to feel his warmth, his strength. He needed her to know she wasn’t alone.
Prue’s fingernails bit into Cyrus’s arm. “Cyrus, answer me.”
With a sigh, he withdrew and cupped her face in his hands. “Look at me, Prue.”
Her lavender eyes met his, and there was more strength and clarity in her gaze than he had expected.
His wife was strong. She would weather this like she had every storm of her life.
“It’s real,” Cyrus said softly. “It’s all real. And Lagos… Lagos is dead.”
It was the first time he’d uttered the words aloud, and now he hated himself for it. Now it wasreal.There was no taking it back. There was no reversing the situation.
Lagos was truly dead.
Prue’s face crumpled, and tears streamed down her face. She shook her head, her lower lip wobbling. “No.No.”
“I—I’m so sorry, Prue.” Cyrus’s voice cracked, just like his heart. Seeing his wife like this was breaking something inside him. Something he worried could never be repaired again.
He wanted to hold her again. But the guilt, the gnawing pit in his stomach, made him realize he was the last person who should be comforting her right now.
Because all of this was his fault.
A hard lump formed in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. “Should I get Mona?”
Prue blinked rapidly. “Mona’s here? Is she all right?” She gazed around the cavern, hope brightening her eyes.
Cyrus stood. “I’ll fetch her.”
Prue snatched his hand, her grip firm. “Cyrus, don’t go.”
He stared at their entwined hands, unable to look her in the eye.
“Cyrus,” she said again, her voice gentle. “Stay with me. Please.”
He nodded tersely. “If that’s what you want.”
Prue’s brows drew together, and he knew she could tell something was off. But the last thing he wanted to do was lay outhisburdens for her to bear. She had enough to deal with.
“Should I show you the privacy caves now, or wait?” Wren asked awkwardly.
Cyrus had completely forgotten the witch was there. He ran his thumb along the inside of Prue’s wrist and looked at his wife expectantly. “What do you need right now, Prue? Do you want to stay here with Mona, or go rest in the caves?”
Prue stared at him, a dozen emotions warring in her gaze. He tried to look as reassuring as possible, to let her know it was all right if she would prefer to be with Mona right now.
Prue opened her mouth, then hesitated.
“You are welcome to return to the communal space at any time,” Wren offered. “I just need to show you the route to take so you don’t get lost in the tunnels.”
Prue glanced at Wren, then back at Cyrus. “Let’s go to the privacy caves,” she said at last. “I—I should probably rest.”
