His eyes flicked to hers, still full of anger, his chest heaving. She reached for his hand and brought it to her heart while she placed her other on his. Exactly like he had done for her.
“Can you feel that? Feel my heart beating.”
He watched her. Silent.
“Take a deep breath. I’m alright. You can’t kill your brother. Breathe with me now.” She inhaled, Casimir following her instructions, then exhaled. “Good. One more.”
They breathed together.
“Perfect. Come back to me, Cas.” She put both hands on his face, raising on her toes to place a gentle kiss upon his lips. “Come back.”
His eyes softened, the violence receding to a simmer rather than a full inferno.
“There you are,” she whispered, giving him another light kiss.
Jorrar and Quinn let him go and he took another deep breath. “He hurt you.” His eyes moved to her neck, her hands. “Ava…he burned you.”
“He did. But he wasn’t in his right mind.”
Casimir pulled her into a hug, nuzzling her hair and inhaling. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to lose control…I just…when I saw his hand on your throat I…”
“I know,” Ava said. “I probably would have reacted the same way. But I’m okay. I’ll heal.”
“Sorry to interrupt but we need to get out of here before someone investigates the commotion,” said Jorrar.
Ava turned around, Casimir’s hand remaining on her waist. “Jareth killed two guards.” She pointed up the stairs.
“Shit,” said Quinn.
“Here’s what we do,” Jorrar said. “Everyone knows Jareth has a temper. This isn’t the first time he’s killed a random guard in a fit of rage.”
“What?” Ava gasped.
“I told you he wasn’t a good person,” Quinn said.
“We leave the remains of the guards there. Let everyone assume he had a tantrum. We were never here.”
“What do we do with him?” Ava gestured to Jareth’s unconscious body.
“Bring him to our room,” Quinn said. “Tie him up and don’t let him out until he’s calm, and we know he won’t do anything crazy…like assassinate a king while we’re in the middle of a war.”
30
Ava winced as Jorrar treated her injuries, dabbing healing balm onto the burns on her neck. Casimir sat beside her, holding her tender hand, still fuming. At least he didn’t seem as though he was going to murder Jareth any longer.
They all sat outside in the private garden of their suite, Jareth tied to a chair with vines, while the animals kept a close eye on him in case he awoke in a fury. Dried blood was crusted below his nose, a black eye beginning to form from Casimir’s retaliation.
The still dark night watched them like a bad omen and Ava couldn’t help the dread settling into her bones as she told them everything.
“Just so I understand,” Jorrar said. “You think Valeria and Eros woke an ancient god?”
“Yes.”
“And your father and Casimir’s father covered it up.”
Ava nodded.
Quinn paced. “What does this mean? If they used Eros’ body, why doesn’t Andras look like him?”
