But I remembered what had happened to me. And what Wolfe had sacrificed for me.
A hundred years of his life.
"You're awake,” said a soft familiar voice.
I turned my head.
Arielle sat in a chair beside the bed, her hands folded in her lap. Dark circles tugged under her eyes, and her usual composure was slightly frayed at the edges.
She'd been watching over me.
“Hi,” I rasped, studying her face.
Her expression was filled with a sea of emotions. Guilt, sadness, disappointment. Betrayal.
The latter stung.
I’d gone missing on her watch. Lied to her. And Garrick. Then I went and nearly got myself killed.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, softening her gaze.
“I’m…” I shuffled to sit and was surprised I could. “I’m okay.”
“Your body will still be weak for some time. It’s the shock to the system. From what you experienced. Had you not been half mage… well. Let’s just be thankful you are.” I could see that she was trying to sound like her normal self, but she could hardly look at me.
“How long have I been down?” I had to know.
“Just since yesterday.”
Relief flooded me. I still had today and tomorrow before Thayden returned.
But I was here.
My angst returned when I looked back at Arielle. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I did.”
“Please, don’t.” She shook her head. “Forgive me, I may sound like a bitch right now, because the Gods know how many distrustful things I’ve done to you. Our friendship even started off on the wrong foot. But I’m… I’m not in the mood to hear an apology.”
My stomach shrank into a ball of shame. “I understand.”
“I understand, too, why you did what you did. I think every one of us understands. But you could have died. And I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.”
“Arielle—”
She stood up abruptly and wiped away a tear. “Get changed and eat. Then come down to the dining room. Wolfe wanted to speak to all of us when you woke.”
I nodded slowly.
She walked out, closing the door behind her with a soft click that sounded so final.
I closed my eyes and took the moment to think about all that had happened.
To say I’d been a fool was an understatement.
I was reckless and stupid and so damn sure of myself it was scary. I truly thought I could get back home.
All my fucking little adventure taught me was how out of my depth I still was in this damn realm.
And then there was Wolfe.
