“I’m sorry,” he said softly, leaning closer to Kade. “But we’re almost done. Just one left.”
Disa visibly stilled next to him, then asked in a hushed voice, “It’s true, then? You really do have the Arrows? The Golden Arrows?”
Florian hesitated. “I... Yes. Yeah. That’s why we were here. What we’ve been doing.”
The woman was quiet for a long moment, long enough that Florian thought maybe she wasn’t going to say anything else about it and had gone back to inspecting his arm. Finally, though, she added gently,
“It’s a noble thing you’re doing, King Florian, but don’t get yourself killed in the process. Alright?”
He let out a single, half-amused chuckle. “I’m really trying not to.”
She smiled at him again, a kind sort of amusement sparkling in her eyes. “Well, try a little harder, won’t you?”
“Try a little harder,” Kade echoed, squeezing his hand. Florian didn’t protest.
Disa slathered his arm with a salve and gave him medicine for the pain, plus something to help him sleep. It was early in the evening; Florian and Rune had arrived back in the village just before sunrise, but it was still the same day, which somehow Florian couldn’t quite believe. It felt like he might have been asleep for days—a week, even. He thought hecouldsleep for a week and still not recover from staying shifted for so long.
When Disa left, Florian realized Koji must have slipped out of the room at some point, as it was just him and Kade now. The wolf shifter had settled into a chair at Florian’s bedside, holding his unharmed hand. Already the medicine Disa gave him was making Florian sleepy, but he smiled over at Kade once they were alone.
“I did it,” he murmured, eliciting a small chuckle from Kade.
“You did,” he agreed. “I always believed you would.”
“It sucked, though,” Florian groaned, shaking his head. “I don’t want to remember it.”
“You don’t have to,” Kade replied quickly. “Just rest now.”
Florian mumbled something in reply, but he wasn’t quite sure what it was. His eyelids were becoming heavy, and the room was dark and warm. After a little while, he felt Kade’s hand slip out from his own, but it might have been a dream.
