Page 43 of Claimed By the Depths

“Syoran—”

Warmth grazed my back. “I’m here. I’m right here.”

My fingers trembled, but as he solidified his touch, the tremors began to dissipate. “She… She was fine when we split up, but as I was searching, I heard her fractured breaths. When I got over here, she was like… in a trance.” Syoran started to speak, but the words were falling from me faster than I could stop them. “It took three times for me to call her name before she came to, but as soon as she did, a wave of pain I’ve never witnessed nearly sent her to the ground. And shortly after that, she fainted.”

Confusion lined his expression. “Did she say anything about what she was feeling?”

“No,” I whispered.

A lump formed in my throat at my admission. While I hadn’t known Rohen for very long, she had quickly become someone I was easily able to call a close friend. Sure, her first impressions hadn’t been too… impressive, but it didn’t take long for me to see through the mask she wore.

We were similar in that way, identities molded by the expectations of others. We both wielded defensiveness as a weapon to protect ourselves, but deep down, all we longed for was someone to see through our mirage. That’s why I opened up to her so willingly, and her presence at the palace was the only reason I chose to reach for the concept of freedom once more.

If she hadn’t been there to rescue me, I would’ve ended up bound to Sorva, completing whatever task she requested of me. But Rohen had gotten there just in time, and yet I hadn’t been fast enough for her.

And now she…

Fingers brushed across my cheek, drawing my attention from the dangerous path I’d wandered down. “Kael.”

Throat bobbing, I lifted my gaze to meet Syoran’s dark stare. Concern rippled through irises I once believed to be dark as night, speckles of golden brown now visible with our closeness. His thumb followed the line of my stubble once more, and I chased his touch as if guided by something instinctual.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m… I’m just worried about her.”

Hand slipping with hesitance, he checked Rohen’s pulse. The sharp shing of metal came at his proximity, the dagger settling against the inside of his wrist before he could even make contact. Its sharpened tip pressed against his skin, a hitched inhale coming from the woman I held as my eyes fell to her.

“For fuck’s sake, Kao…” Rohen mumbled, her head lolling to meet my chest.

“What in the gods' names are you ‘for fuck’s sakeing’ me for? You were unconscious, Levitte; smite me for trying to ensure you hadn’t faded into Elaros’s embrace.”

“Well, lucky enough for you, it is not Elaros’s arms I found myself in.” Shoulders rising with a steadying breath, she tossed him a playful smirk. “Just a handsome prince’s.”

“Yes,” Syoran’s brows drew together in annoyance, “I’m aware.”

Cheeks heating at his utterance, I interjected, “You frightened me.”

Emerald hues locking on me, Rohen frowned slightly. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what… I don’t know what happened.”

“What do you remember?” Syoran questioned.

“There was this sharp spike of pain that surged up my spine before a deep headache settled.”

She went to sit up, but I shoved her back into my hold. “No. Take a godsdamned minute. Please.”

With the dip of her chin, she continued, “I remember touching the wall”—she gestured to where I had found her slouched over, palm against stone—“and then I was hit with…”

At the fade of her words, Syoran pushed, “Hit with?”

“Caspian.” Conflict caused her features to pinch. “We were together, but happy.”

“You mean to tell me you two didn’t have blades at each other’s throats?” Syoran teased.

Without missing a beat, she punched him in the thigh. “Asshole.”

“I am what I eat, I suppose.” Shrugging indifferently as if he hadn’t uttered such, he motioned to the wall. “Seems you collided pretty hard with it, considering a godsdamned stone is out of line. You sure you didn’t hit it with that hard head of yours?”

“Go fuck yourself, Kao.”