“We just have to be patient, and then all of this will finally be over.”
I didn’t feel the serene layer of peace across my shoulders. Didn’t feel excited for the future. All I could think about was my brother, who still hadn’t woken up, even though an entire day had passed.
Everyone was morose, not saying much to one another, just waiting for news.
Callum and I returned to our villa, but we were distant with each other, like we were both mentally occupied by my brother’s well-being instead of each other. Viper even stopped by in the hope that I had an update, and whatever tension had existed between the three of us had disappeared in light of what had happened to Hawk. The three of us even sat at the dining table together, drinking the wine that Callum had made himself.
Viper took a sip. “Pretty decent stuff.”
Callum gave a slight nod in gratitude.
“I didn’t see what happened to Hawk,” he said as he looked at Callum. “Did you?”
Callum shook his head. “That battle was chaos. But it looked like he’d been stabbed with a dagger or the edge of a blade. Hard to know with the way his armor was destroyed. But the dragons were able to keep Talon alive for a long time, so I imagine they’ll be able to do the same now. He’s young and healthy, so he should start to heal quickly.”
“I hope so,” Viper said. “He’s a good guy.”
“That’s nice of you to say,” I said quietly.
Viper shifted his gaze to me.
“My brother and I had never been close, until all of this happened. We’ve somehow become friends through it all, so this hurts a lot more.”
“He’ll be okay,Xivin.”
I felt Callum’s stare pierce the side of my face before I gave a nod. “What will you do now, Viper?”
“Return home,” he said. “And stay there for a while. I’ve traveled enough for a lifetime.”
“That’s fair,” I said.
“Life had been pretty unremarkable for the last hundred years. And then in the last few, it’s been one battle after another. I’m eager for some peace and quiet. But with my luck, when I get home, my brother will tell me we’re at war.”
“And if that were to happen, you’d have an army of dragons flying across the sky to your aid, so it would be a quick battle.”
He looked at me and gave a slight nod in gratitude. “There’s been a lot of loss and bloodshed, but it seems like everythinghas worked out in the end. I think I can speak for everyone when I say it was worth it.”
I gave a nod in appreciation.
There was a knock on the door, and we all turned to the doorway.
“It’s open,” I said.
A guard opened the door and crossed the threshold. “Prince Hawk has awoken.”
I stepped into my brother's bedchambers with Callum at my side.
My mother was at his bedside just the way she’d been when I’d woken up after I’d sailed across the sea for three days alone. She held his hand and ran her fingers through his hair.
His eyes were heavy, and his skin was pale, like he’d lost a lot of blood.
My father was in the armchair on the other side of the bed, eyes bloodshot and tired like he’d been up for days straight, worried about his son.
I felt horrible for everything my parents had been through the last couple of months.
Hawk slowly turned to look at me, squinting before he had the strength to open his eyes fully. “Fucking badass.”
I felt the involuntary smile move over my lips as my eyes watered.
