My lip’s part on an exhale, and I hear Raiden grunt and turn away. My mind flashes back to what I saw last night, a shiver running down my spine. Lutin’s eyes dart around the room, and with each face he looks at, his own expression turns grim.
“The king isn’t in good shape. They are torturing him.” I swallow roughly, pushing my tears down. “I fear he doesn’t have much longer before the darkness takes him, but he is strong, and he won’t give up without a fight. He has fire in his heart, and it still burns brightly.”
Lutin’s face turns pale as he nods slowly.
Nymeria and Anika suddenly leap off the bed, flanking me protectively. Their low growls resonate like a warning bell through the room sending goosebumps scattering over my body.
“What is it?” I whisper, my voice tight with unease.
Nymeria’s ears twitch, her eyes locked on the door.‘We don’t know, but something smells off.’
Before I can question further, the tingling sensation of magic prickles through the air, sharp and unmistakable. A loud, echoing bang on the door jolts me. Lutin spins, his movements fluid and controlled, his hand reaching instinctively for the hilt of his sword. His eyes flash with readiness as he grips the handle.
Without hesitation, he rips open the door, sword half-drawn. Alivar and Fenris stumble inside, both disheveled and battered. Their clothes are torn, streaked with dirt and blood, and gashescrisscross their exposed skin. My breath catches, and my hands fly to my mouth as I gasp.
Despite their state, Alivar smirks, holding up a small, weathered bag like a trophy. “Got it.”
“Yep. Piece of cake,” Fenris grunts.
Zaria rushes past me, her face pale with worry. “I’ll get the healers!” she calls over her shoulder before vanishing out the door.
Lutin shuts the door behind them with a sharp click, and I find myself moving toward Alivar, my steps unsteady. I wrap my arms around him, ignoring the grime and blood.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
He chuckles, though it’s a weak sound. “My pleasure.” I can feel his exhaustion in the way he leans into the embrace.
I pull back, my gaze scanning his battered frame, noting every tear and every bruise. “Are you okay?” I ask, my voice trembling.
Alivar winks, as if to reassure me. “Perfect.”
The door bursts open again not a minute later, and Zaria reappears, flanked by two fae women. They’re identical, from the pale blue gowns they wear to the golden blonde hair cascading down their backs. Their features are delicate, their blue eyes piercing, but it’s the translucent, shimmering fairy wings that steal my breath.
The healers stop short when their gazes land on Alivar and Fenris. Their eyes widen in shock, taking in the extent of their injuries.
Alivar tosses the brown satchel at the closer healer, his tone filled with authority. “The fairy first.”
The two healers exchange a glance, then nod in unison, their movements efficient as they hurry toward the bed.
“Let’s hope it works,” Fenris mutters, his voice low.
I turn, stepping up to Fenris, my concern outweighing the chaos still lingering in the room. His injuries are impossible to ignore. I reach up and gently cup his face, tilting it side to side to examine him more closely. His skin is warm beneath my touch, blood staining the tattoos on the side of his head.
Fenris’s hand comes up, resting softly on mine. His fingers lightly curl around my wrist.
“I’m fine.” His voice remains low and steady.
A weak smile tugs at my lips. “That’s my line,” I counter.
He doesn’t look fine. Not even close.
There’s a gash running along the side of his head, blood dripping sluggishly down to his neck and matting the dark ink of his tattoos. His bottom lip is split, swollen, and angry-looking. A particularly nasty wound slashes across his bicep, and the subtle limp in his step confirms the toll his body has taken.
“I’m a hybrid shifter,” he reassures me. “We heal fast. I promise.”
I nod reluctantly, not trusting myself to argue. The logical part of me knows he’s right, knows he’ll recover in time, but that doesn’t stop the ache of worry. Tentatively, I rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes for just a moment. His heartbeat is strong and steady beneath my ear, and I let it calm me.
His arms come around me, pulling me into a warm, solid embrace. For a fleeting moment, I feel safe, my mind being transported back to when we were kids, and he’d hold me like this when I was upset.
