As I look deep into her heart, I realize she is hidden in her safe place, waiting for me—of course she is.
I send a little of her tingling heat to her joints and muscles so she can uncurl. Little by little, she moves a hand, then a foot, and then a leg. As her muscles relax, I drape over her, surrounding her with warmth. I siphon energy to her as I had when the goddess got injured, but she pushes back.
She must be overflowing with power, not drained—good to know.
It’s time to try speaking, so I whisper into her head.~Love? ~
~Hi. ~She whispers, even her inner voice coming through like a faint echo from the bottom of a well.
Relief floods me, and I try to follow the sound.~Where are you, love? ~
~Hiding.~
I chuckle, chiding her gently.~Really? Wow, that’s news. You want me to find you or let you hide, heart of mine? ~
She huffs,~If I saw where I’d ended up, don’t you think I would have told you by now? Ass. ~
~I’m your ass, luv of my heart. ~
~Yeah. ~
Continuing my search inside her, I struggle to keep frustration out of my voice.~That’s all you have to say, sassy wench? It’s been a shit day, but I could cut off a limb and you’d do better than that. ~
A wan smile filters through our bond.~Sorry. I guess I’m burnt out. I didn’t mean to be lackluster. Would it help to say the dreaded phrase? ~
~No, love. Don’t say anything you don’t feel like saying. I’m teasing you. ~
~You’re being nice and I’m frustrating. ~
~Sod me. I’m here for my amusement when no one else’s amused. ~
I sense her pout as she replies,~Don’t want sod you. Not even sure what it is. Doesn’t sound pleasant, though. Makes me think of football fields. ~
~It’s nothing to do with soil, pet. Don’t you worry your cute little brow about it. ~
~Okay.~
~Well? ~
~Well, what? ~
~Tell me if I should be here with you, damn it. You won’t come out; I don’t know what to do. There’s no point in me being here if you’d rather be alone, damn it. I can’t find you, and it’s making me upset! ~
She comes out of wherever she squirreled away inside, looking and feeling haggard. “I’m here. Please don’t leave me, too.”
“I wasn’t leaving you, only backing away from inside you, love.”
“Can you come here? Please?”
Her eyes open, and she moves closer to me on the outside and the inside. “Yeah.”
I meet her halfway, wrapping her up. “Aww, baby, it’s okay. I’m sorry, love.”
“It’s okay,” she sniffles.
Rocking her in my arms, I soothe her as best I can while stroking down her spine. “I love you, baby. We’ll get through this. It’ll get better.”
“I hope so.” She chokes up, tears flowing down her face, and the ache radiates from her heart so keenly that it echoes in my own.
