The events of the previous night—or had it been longer?—came back to him in fragments. The convergence. Winchester. The Codex splitting in two. The desperate escape from the collapsing monastery. And then water and coldness.
He dimly remembered Viggo’s arms around him and his lover’s voice, rough with fear. After that, nothing.
“You’re thinking too loudly,” Viggo murmured against his hair.
Evander smiled despite himself. “How long was I asleep?”
“Two days.” The arm around his waist tightened briefly. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Evander blinked. He looked at Viggo over his shoulder. “Two days?!”
He realised Viggo was waiting.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“No, you’re not.” There was no heat in Viggo’s voice, only weary acceptance. “You’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Evander couldn’t argue with that. He turned carefully in Viggo’s embrace until they were face-to-face, wincing at the protest of stiff muscles.
Dark circles shadowed Viggo’s eyes and stubble darkened his jaw. He looked like he’d barely slept in those two days. The relief in his gaze when he met Evander’s made something hot unfurl in the mage’s chest.
“I would,” Evander admitted quietly. “But I’m still sorry for worrying you.”
Viggo’s response was to pull him closer and kiss him with a tenderness that made Evander’s heart ache. The Brute pressed their foreheads together when they finally drew apart.
“The others are fine,” he said, anticipating Evander’s questions. “Shaw’s arm is healing well. Ginny’s bruises are fading. The rescued mages and researchers are being tended to by Richter’s people.” He paused. “Lina Velghe has been asking after you.”
Evander’s thoughts went to Princess Eloïse. “We need to return her to Brussels.”
“I know.” Viggo’s thumb traced idle patterns on his hip. “Richter’s already made arrangements. We can leave tomorrow, assuming you’re well enough to travel.”
“I’m well enough now.”
Viggo snorted. “You can barely keep your eyes open.”
“I’m conserving energy,” Evander said stubbornly.
He ruined the effect somewhat with a huge yawn.
Viggo’s lips quirked. “You’re a terrible liar. Rest today. We’ll leave in the morning.”
Evander wanted to argue, but exhaustion was already dragging at him, heavy and inexorable. He let his eyes drift closed, secure in the warmth of Viggo’s arms.
The journeyback across Europe was as different from their outward voyage as day was from night.
Where before there had been urgency and uncertainty, a desperate race against an enemy always one step ahead, now there was something closer to quiet peace. They had retrieved half the Codex. They had rescued the missing mages and researchers. And, most importantly, they had survived.
The cost, of course, had been significant. Winchester had escaped with the other half of the ancient text. “I” remained at large. And Evander still didn’t fully understand what had awakened inside him during those impossible moments within the convergence.
But for now, as their train wound through the snow-dusted Austrian countryside, he allowed himself to simply breathe.
Their party had grown for the return journey. Lina Velghe sat in their compartment, her dark hair now clean and neatly arranged, her dress a far cry from the tattered remnants she’d worn when she’d been rescued from the monastery. She was quiet, her eyes often distant and haunted, but there was steel beneath her fragile exterior that reminded Evander strongly of Princess Eloïse.
The other rescued prisoners had been divided among Richter’s care and that of their respective governments. Messages had been sent ahead, families notified, and diplomatic channels carefully navigated. The Austrian inspector had proven invaluable in managing the complex logistics.
It was Lina who’d offered an explanation as to the presence of theMagical Conduitdevices Viggo, Fairbridge, and Solomon had found in the cells of the monastic prison. She and another researcher had overheard their guards talking once and had learned of a possible plan to kidnap hundreds, if not thousands, of thralls and mages across the continent in the near future.
The account had haunted Evander, just as it had Viggo and every member of their team.
