“Dimri!”someone yelled.
Dimri blinked his eyes open.He hadn’t even realized he’d closed them.That was bad, wasn’t it?
A fine dust still lingered in the air.It made his eyes burn, but not so badly that he couldn’t see Roque.He was standing in front of where the entrance to the tunnels had been.He was reaching for the stones that had collapsed and closed off the entrance, almost as if he was planning on digging with his bare hands.His focus was entirely on what was in front of him, and Dimri realized he hadn’t noticed him.Neither had the guards who stood behind Roque and watched him with apprehension.
Dimri opened his mouth, but the only thing that came out was a croak.He cleared his throat, wondering how long it would be before he could get something to drink.He’d kill for a glass of water right now.
“Roque,” he called out, ending the word on a cough.
That got Roque’s attention.He turned around quickly, his eyes widening when he saw Dimri flopped there against the wall.He was by his side in seconds, kneeling on the dirty floor.Dimri took a moment to look at him.It didn’t look like he’d fought or like he was wounded, which was a good thing.
“Please tell me we won,” Dimri croaked.
“Of course we did,” Roque said as he slid out his phone from his pocket.Dimri had never been so happy to have a piece of human technology to use.He’d never bitch about that again.
Roque’s attention was on Dimri, even during his phone call.Dimri wanted to close his eyes and go to sleep, but he wanted to watch Roque even more.
They’d done it.They defeated Ramiel, which meant that Dimri and Roque now had a chance at being together.At the very least, they’d have a chance at finding out if they could do that.
There was no way to know for sure.Dimri had dreams and plans, but maybe he and Roque wouldn’t work together.Maybe they wouldn’t find a way to fit as a couple.Roque looked like he cared about Dimri, though, and the thought of that made Dimri smile.
“The healer says to take you to the throne room if you can be moved,” Roque said as he lowered his phone.“He’s already done with Berith.”
“What?Please don’t tell me you called Reyni.”
“Who else should I have called?”
“One of the other dozens of healers who work at the palace.I don’t need Berith’s personal healer.”
“Yet that’s who you’re going to get.”
Dimri couldn’t say he’d minded.He liked Reyni, and Reyni was very good at his job.He wouldn’t be Berith’s personal healer if he wasn’t.“As long as I’m not taking him away from Berith,” he murmured.
Roque got back to his feet.“You’re not, but I understand why he doesn’t want to leave Berith on his own.”
“Berith got hurt?”Dimri reached for the wall so he could get to his feet.If his prince was hurt, he needed to be there.
Roque rolled his eyes and leaned down.Dimri didn’t have time to argue before he was hauled into Roque’s arms.Not that he actually wanted to argue.He was perfectly fine where he was, especially since that meant he wouldn’t have to walk.He wasn’t sure his legs could carry his weight at the moment.
“Yes, Berith got hurt,” Roque confirmed as he hurried down the hallway.“That’s why Reyni’s with him.”
“But he won?”
“Ramiel is a thing of the past.No one will ever have to worry about him again.”
“And Berith?Will he survive?”
“He was trying to argue with Reyni when I left the throne room.He’s a little banged up, but he’ll be fine.”
Dimri relaxed.He quite liked being carried around by Roque.Maybe he should ask Roque to do it even when he wasn’t on death’s doorstep.
He should make a list of things he wanted Roque to do.He hadn’t allowed himself to think too much about it before, but they were safe now.Ramiel was dead.It would take a while for the palace to be back to its former glory, considering the damage Dimri could see as Roque carried him down the hallways, and people would need to heal, but they were resilient.They were demons.They always survived, no matter what happened.They’d survive this, too, and now that the danger was over, they’d thrive.
Dimri still felt lightheaded by the time they reached the throne room.There was less damage here, and someone was dragging Ramiel’s body away as Dimri and Roque entered.Dimri stared at the body, briefly wondering if anyone would mourn the demon it had belonged to.He certainly wouldn’t, and knowing Ramiel’s reputation, he didn’t see how anyone would.As far as he was concerned, Hell was a better place without Ramiel.Berith had done everyone a favor by killing him.
“I said I’m fine.”
Berith’s voice reached Dimri.Dimri looked away from Ramiel’s body and glanced around the room, trying to find his prince.He was relieved when he saw him sitting on the steps in front of his throne, even though he could see blood on Berith’s chest and side.
