The crater turned against us, that’s what had happened.
Chapter 10
Allie
“And your room is right above mine?” Dax asked for the third time, surveying his new bedroom with the steely, haunted gaze of a man who’d just seen death and definitely didn’t want it creeping up on him again.
His room, though smaller and without a door connecting him to the next bedroom, was remarkably similar to mine, down to the double doors leading up to the balcony and the magicked balmy temperature.
I hoped it would chase the ice away from Dax’s memories. Even after a bath hot enough that steam escaped from underneath the door and a nice change of warm, wool clothes, his hands and feet still shivered.
The sleeping clothes were large enough on him that I wondered if they had been made for Ryker, but Dax still wore them with that regal air of his that made you think nothing was amiss and he’d actually planned all along for the hem of the pants to pool around his ankles.
“Yes. Only a shout away,” I said gently, trying my very best not to cringe as my cold, sodden socks squelched in my boots.
Both Ryker and I had refused to leave Dax’s side after the ordeal. He’d wanted to keep an eye on the Protectorate brat who’d stumbled into his crater and almost got himself killed. I couldn’t lose Dax out of my sight.
Not again.
I fought against the urge, but still tracked each of his paces on the plush carpet.
He’s alive.
He’s safe.
“Can’t invite friends over at midnight while I’m staying here, then.” Dax stopped in front of me and leaned to the side, looking through the open door. “Is mister tall and towering going to be watching me from the hallway all night?”
I turned, only to see Ryker in the same position he’d been in for the past half hour. Back leaning against the wall, one knee bent, arms crossed in front of his chest–which only accentuated the muscles showing through his soaked shirt.
He’d only taken off his leather armour, now piled at his feet, and observed, still as a blade, sharp and ready to cut, as if he hadn’t also fought for his life less than an hour ago.
“In case you drowned in the bath as well.” Ryker arched a brow.
“If that happens, don’t touch your lips to mine again. You’re marrying my cousin, after all.”
“Would you rather I watch you from inside your bedroom? Each movement, every breath.”
Dax huffed. “As if you’d ever be lucky enough to be invited inside.”
“Enough, you two.” I rolled my eyes. “You both almost died tonight. Maybe stop wasting your precious breaths on trying to one-up the other.”
They still glowered at each other. A resounding no, then.
I sighed and patted Dax’s shoulders. “Get some rest, you’re safe here. Don’t go exploring by yourself, the crater’s dangerous.”
“I figured that already, thanks.” He pulled the collar of his sweater to the side, revealing the purple lines the wing harness had dug into his clavicle.
My throat closed as I stared at the marks on his dark skin.
I’d been so close to losing him.
He’s safe.
He’s alive.
He noticed my sudden stillness, because he yawned wide enough for me to see his molars. “Good hostesses know when to retire, you know? We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. And the day after that. And on and on and on, until we’ll get sick of each other.”
That was an understatement. If Dax had truly memorized the Protectorate vaults ledgers, we’d probably spend months reviewing them all.
