“Do you want me to talk, or shut the fuck up and just be here?” I ask, trying to figure out what will help him most while attempting to hide the panic in my voice.
“Talk...give...me...something…else...to...focus….on!”
Bastien’s jaw clenches, and he pulls his knees underneath him. He folds in on himself while he also leans into my chest and wraps his arms around my waist. I push his hair out of his face with one hand, and hold him to me with the other.
“Breathe, Bas. It’ll be over soon. It won’t last, I promise. I’m here. I’ll always be here. Just breathe through it.”
I repeat my attempt at comfort over and over again and watch Bastien struggle against what’s happening inside of him. The door to the gym flies open with a largeboomthat echoes around the walls. Valen rushes in, his face radiating pure panic as he searches the room. He spots us on the mats and realization sinks into his features.
“My adrenaline spiked out of nowhere, and I knew something was wrong,” Valen rushes out, and I can tell he’s not sure if he should go or stay.
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Valen. I didn’t even think about how it would feel to you when his runes showed up. I didn’t factor in thetwinaspect, or I would have warned you.”
Valen hesitates for another second and then walks over and kneels down next to us. He puts his hand on Bastien’s shoulder and leans down towards his twin.
“I’m here, Bas.”
“Fuck!” Bastien shouts out in pain and tightens his grip around me.
I try to soothe him with more promises that it will be over soon, as black runes swirl into solid symbols forming one line and then another up Bastien’s spine. He screams out again, as the black marks stamp themselves all over him and the burn of the magic settles permanently there.
“I’m sorry, Bruiser!” he grits out, and I lean back to get a look at his face.
“What the fuck are you sorry for? I did this to you!”
“Worth it!”
I snort at his pained declaration.
“I’d do it...a...mill...ion...times...over...for...you...Bruiser! You...are...worth...it!”
He bites down against a groan, and I fight against the sudden stinging sensation in my eyes. Leave it to Bastien to be worried about me when he’s the one going through hell right now. Valen leans down towards his brother and places his hand on the back of Bastien’s neck.
“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
