Ian nods against me and gives me one last squeeze before finally passing me over to Luca, who drags my scent into his lungs in grateful gasps. “I was useless in that fight, princess, I’m so sorry.”
I nuzzle against his chest, letting ripe cherries and red wine wash over me. “You heard the chimes. You knew this place existed. I just hate that he did, too.”
“You’re hurt,” he whispers, his voice hoarse, scent spiking in the small temple. “Saints above, that piece of shithityou.”
“He wanted to do worse. I’m just… I’m just so tired.”
I swoon and my alpha lifts me into his arms, looping one of my arms around his neck. He cradles me close, tattooed hands wrapping around my shoulder and knee, and I feel so small. So precious to him.
“Let’s get them both to the infirmary,” Doc murmurs quietly and Cassian lets out a low growl when Ian and Marcus approach Simon. He accepts help from no one, drawing an unconscious Simon up into his arms, as careful as possible, like our sweet beta might break.
* * *
I wakein the infirmary’s too-familiar nest sometime in the middle of the night, a clean beta scent and the sweet smell of summer sunshine shot through with traces of salty sea air in my nose.
And just like I did when I awoke after Ian unlocked my magic, I can’t help but think that the alpha and beta beside me smell like pack. I thank Doc for doing us all the kindness of letting us rest and recover together, as there’s no way I’d be anywhere but by Simon’s side when I woke anyway. That we’re all cuddled together in a nest feels far too right, but I’m so relieved to see Simon sleeping beside me that I don’t question it.
“You’re awake,” Cassian rumbles—no, not rumbles. He’s purring for the beta curled between us.
I nod, my throat burning around a knot of emotion so tender it renders me speechless for a moment.
But Cassian doesn’t seem to mind the silence, doesn’t mind letting his deep purr fill the space between us as he holds the beta closely but carefully to his body.
“How is he?”
“Healing. Reinhardt took his ember back in the temple, but his flesh still needs time to heal.”
“He’ll be okay?”
Cassian swallows hard and nods. “With time.”
“And sleep if you two’d shut the fuck up,” our beta mutters between us, wincing as he shifts in Cassian’s arms so he can meet my gaze.
Tears well in my eyes and I reach out to gently stroke his cheek.
“I’m so sorry,” Cassian and I both say at once.
“Alpha,” Simon says, craning his neck to look in Cassian’s eyes. “Shut up.” He turns back to me, letting out a grimace of pain. “And you, tell me you’re okay.”
“You’re so bossy,” Cassian mutters, but he presses a kiss to Simon’s shoulder and the beta preens with the sweet attention.
“Junes likes it,” Simon yawns, and if he hadn’t nearly been killed, I might have poked him in the ribs for that.
“Just a black eye,” I promise. A black eye that’s practically healed after Doc’s attentions while I slept. “Is the pain terribly bad?”
Simon winces and nods. “Doc gave me the good spells, but I won’t be waltzing out of here in the middle of the night like someone I know did. You could have at least let her know you were okay, you grump.”
Cassian ducks his head, but he can’t help his smile, even as Simon chides him.
“Grumpily guilty as charged.”
Saints, Cassian is sosweetwith Simon. I thought I was meant to be with Cassian, but I see now that Simon was. And Cassian with Simon. Pain hardened Cassian, but Simon softens it with little jabs of his bony elbows and bossy orders. When Cassian left the infirmary after his own run-in with the Ever Ember, he wasn’t running from me: he was going home, into Simon’s arms.
“Shut up, Junes,” Simon says.
“I didn’t say anything!” I protest.
“You’re thinkingveryloudly. Kiss me good night and then nap with me. All right? You need your beauty rest after that shiner Rad gave you.”
