Boromir smiled, grabbing my hand to stand me back up. “None of that, please. I’ve known Adaela a very long time and don’t think I’ve ever seen her in this bad of shape. She means a lot to us here. She’s the closest we’ve seen to peace in… well, probably ever, outside of Alfhame. We will do everything in our power to restore her to good health. Can you tell me your name?”
“Apologies. I am Vada Livinicus. I’m the new head of the Demon Faction in thePax, and Adaela’s mate,” I said a little sheepishly.
“It’s good to make your acquaintance. Honestly, mate? I thought her mate died long ago,” Boromir said.
“I’ve been told the story. Unfortunately, it was fabricated,” I replied, “but my girl is strong, and I have hope that she will survive this thanks to Underhill.”
“King Cernunnos is dead, then? Hmm. Good riddance. Please, take a seat. This could take some time due to the extent of her injuries. Fae, much like Elves, heal fast unless they encounter iron. I’m afraid that she’s looking at a long recovery if she’s able to make it out of this. Can I get you anything while you, and—” Boromir focused on the minotaur behind me.
“Galdrane, s-s-sir,” Galdrane offered.
Boromir nodded to Galdrane. “Can I offer either of you anything while you wait?”
“I’m fine for now, thank you, but you wouldn’t by chance have somewhere I could wash up a bit?” My skin was itchy, covered in Adaela’s dried blood mixed with probably the blood of the slain Fae and her father’s.
“Of course. There’s a private bath attached to this building for such occasions. I will see about fetching you some clothing that will fit you, too.” He gave Galdrane a once-over, a question in his gaze. Galdrane shook his head, finding a safe spot to rest his larger form.
Boromir led me back behind the door and through several hallways until we reached a door marked “Bath.” I thanked him again and stepped through.
The door led to a vast cavern built into the side of the mountain where several hot spring pools of various temperatures were tucked into alcoves. The alcoves were deep enough into the mountain that the public wouldn’t be able to see into them, but the cave was open so you could view the vast expanse of the city and lake below. Finding the one that was the hottest, I stripped down the heat of the pool and the pain of the day making me slow to dip my feet, then my body into the pool.
I sighed, letting myself soak in the pool for a few minutes before I began scrubbing down my body. I thought back to what might’ve been minutes or hours ago. I’d lost all sense of time. Every single second felt like I was going to lose her.
I let myself break. Dipping my head under the water, I screamed until I had no air left so that the sound wouldn’t echo across the space and out into the world. I came up gasping for air while my chest was racked with sobs. I let all the anger, hurt, betrayal, and grief out in heaving sobs until I had nothing left in me. I was beyond exhausted, but I needed to stay strong for Adaela. I needed to see her face light up with joy while she talked about nothing and everything. I needed to hear her tell me stories about the latest scandalous novel she was reading. Ineeded to touch her skin as much as I needed air to breathe. She was the one person I could be my true self around, and I just needed her to survive this. I wouldn’t survive without her.
Instead of waiting for a fresh set of clothing, I got out, toweling myself off before conjuring clothing from the pocket realm I left there for such occasions. I put on an oversized hoodie, leggings, and flip-flops. They were the coziest items I could think of right now, and I wasn’t here for style points. I threw my wet hair back in a messy bun, then made my way out of the bathhouse. Upon my arrival back in the waiting room, Valen and Poe waited with Galdrane. They were sort of in a standoff with him, so I stepped in front of the boy.
“I’m so glad you both were able to make it, but what’s with the standoff?” I asked the two of them.
“We were told that this is one of the portal magic users. What the fuck is he doing here?” Valen demanded.
“He’s here because he just likely saved Adaela’s fucking life. He also brought Baba Yaga to thePax. He’s no threat, just misguided,” I said, keeping Galdrane behind me.
There was anger, almost hatred in Poe’s eyes. “You were supposed to protect her. You’re her mate. What the fuck happened?”
I fucking lost it. I lunged toward Poe, ready to beat her fucking bloody, when this time, both Galdrane and Valen held us apart. Galdrane was strong, and I didn’t want to hurt him. I struggled hard for a few moments before finally giving up and relaxing. I admit, it wasn’t the best response, even if I was exhausted mentally and emotionally.
“Enough, both of you!” Valen shouted. “You’re both here for a gods damned reason, and I’m not going to sit here and watch a brawl happen in my own territory. You need to figure your shit out.”
I plopped my ass down in a chair across the room,trying to calm down. My eyes were puffy and red from crying, but I didn’t give a shit. I bent over with my head on my knees and took deep breaths. Nothing I did right now would heal Adaela, but it would destroy her to know that her mate and her best friend were fighting.
“I’m sorry, Poe. It’s been a long day,” I said.
The silence was deafening for a long while after that. My mind started to wander toward other things, but I still kept myself hunched over. I was already blaming myself for everything. Playing the what-if game and running all scenarios in my mind.
“Vada, please tell us what happened,” Valen requested in a quiet voice.
I replayed the story again to the two of them, leaving nothing out. I told them about falling through the portal all the way up to the escape to Alfhame. I even included the bit about Pandora’s Box, though I didn’t directly call it by name due to the company we kept and the lack of privacy. I still hadn’t moved. I just kept chanting my mantra in the back of my head.
She will make it out of this.
“I am also sorry, Vada,” Poe finally spoke up. I raised my head, finally focusing on something other than my mantra.
“You have every right to be pissed the fuck off, Poe. I don’t blame you at all. You’re not wrong, this is my fault,” I said, trying to hold it together.
“No, it really isn’t,” she replied. “I was running off emotions about not seeing this happen in any capacity. In fact, I thought Cernunnos would die in a completely different way. So, either the two of you are currently moving against the Fates, or the Fates have rewoven the journey the two of you are on.”
I didn’t know what to do with this information, so I stayed quiet. Whether it was nagging exhaustion or persistent worry about my girl, I couldn’t focus. I got up to pace the small room.
