"I'm fine." I sighed. "Just frustrated and empathetic to Declan's situation."
I get that," Jas murmured softly next to me as he spooned at his stew. "I've read most of your journals by now, and I know that you lost a lot of your party members starting out. I'm sure Declan's situation is a sensitive spot for you."
I sucked in a shaky breath, remembering the faces of those that I had lost over the years. "Exactly that. Most of the time, I would have died alongside them, so I only survived the way Declan had about twice out of the many countless times I had lost my party. Monsters were more aggressive and had more numbers back then."
"I'm so sorry you went through that, sunshine." Cas frowned as he stared at me. "I never want you to go through anything like that again."
"Well, with you guys cursed like me, I won't be losing my party anytime soon." I let out a sigh of relief.
Silas shook his head and mused, "You're referring to us as your party now."
"I mean, we kind of are." Aimon shrugged.
Silas tilted his head in consideration. "I mean, I guess so. When it comes to the monsters, at least."
"I'd be in your party any day." Cas winked.
Jas nodded along with his twin. "Just like you told Declan, it will be okay, goddess. We will figure it all out."
"You're right, but I guess the biggest concern right now is Matthieu and the Revivium Empire." I shoved a spoonful of stew in my mouth and savored the taste.
"That and the antidote," Bastian reminded me.
"Of course." I swallowed my food and took another bite as the flavors exploded on my tongue. Aimon's cooking was so good. I never wanted to go without it again.
"Good girl," Aimon's voice rumbled, and my body flushed as I continued eating. "You need to eat to replenish your energy, bug."
"He's right, sunshine." Cas scooped up a spoonful and shoved it into his mouth, chewing expectantly at Aimon before swallowing. "What? No praise for me?"
"Good boy, Cas," I said between giggles, glancing at Aimon. "Praise does feel good."
Cas preened as he took another bite.
"Such a baby," Jas teased him, but Cas poked him with a light wisp. "Ouch!"
"I've been wanting to mention that there's something about Matthieu that has always felt off to me," I admitted, bringing up the dreaded topic. I genuinely didn't like that mage. "I think he might be part of whatever is going on with the Revivium Empire."
"The guy is a fucking weirdo." Jas finished his last bite before setting his bowl down on the end table.
"And he likes pain a little too much," Cas reminded us. "Otherwise, I would've chopped off his entire hand by now."
"I've always gotten a bad vibe from him," Bastian murmured. "But I never thought that he could be a part of something big, like a conspiracy or anything."
"Matthieu is weird, obviously." Silas groaned. "But Emperor Lloyd would not put up with someone who was a danger to our empire. I know they are close, but I also know that Emperor Lloyd is trustworthy, so if he trusts Matthieu, then so do I."
"You can trust him with the empire, but I don't trust him anywhere near Fawn," Aimon stated.
The twins immediately agreed.
"Fuck that," Casper grunted. "I'll cut off his arms. Then he won't be able to touch her again."
"We should just kill him if we have to rescue him." Jasper shrugged. "Not like Emperor Lloyd will know the difference."
"Jasper," Silas scolded.
"He is extra eccentric around Fawn," Bastian added, glancing at Silas.
Silas reached back and rubbed the nape of his neck. "That's a good point, but I don't know why that is. I am sorry about his demeanor around you, Fawn. It's unacceptable."
