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The elf rolled to a stop beside me, his arm flopping across me.

“Shit…” he rasped, lying on his side. Eyes on me.

“Are you alright?” I asked, the haze of lavender clearing away.

“Not really.” He lifted his head with a groan. “Scraped my damn knees.”

I sat up, massaging my skull. I was covered in dust. I rubbed at my eyes, inspecting our surroundings.

The air was cold here, wind howling outside, flickering lanterns swinging from the ceiling, casting anemic light across the room. Closed wooden shutters rattled at the windows, the foundation of the stone moaning beneath us. Every inch of this huge room carved from the same gray stone. There was damage everywhere, chunks torn out of the floors, the walls and ceilings badly cracked.

The metals things were goblets and plates, the solid structure I’d hit was a large stone piece of furniture that might have been a table, judging by the metal crockery atop it.

It looked more like a coffin to me.

“What now?” Paris asked. He sucked in air through his teeth, his jeans split at the knees, the scent of his blood filling my nostrils.

My goodness, his skin was badly torn.

“Let me take care of that for you.”

“I’m sweetcream,” he said. “Wolfy healing is already kicking in.”

I reached out and stroked his hair.

He touched my face affectionally, his eyes scanning the room. “Windy, huh?”

I pulled him to me, hugging him. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He rested his head against my chest.

“For coming downstairs too late.”

“Don’t be. Those fuckers are always…” He sighed. “Whatever. I can’t deal with that now.”

I kissed the top of his head, then stood up. I turned on the spot, finding a door to my left, not rattling like the shutters. No light peaked around its edges.

“These knees need a minute,” Paris said.

“Ride on my back until you’re healed,” I replied.

He didn’t argue, allowing me to pick him up and carry him.

“Thanks,” he whispered, kissing me in the crook of the neck.

Your kisses give me so much strength.

“I’m going to try the door,” I said.

My goodness, he fit so easily against me.

“Lead the way.” He didn’t sound jovial, only empty and exhausted.

This was not the time to discuss what’d happened at the hotel. Not until we were safely out of whatever nightmare Caer had forced us into.

“I’m ready to get stabby if anything jumps out on us.” He summoned his stakeblade, keeping it away from me.

“Good to hear.”