“I will see to Arathia and then join you,” CK says, handing me over to Devon to take care of.
I nod fearfully but let him go. I feel like a big enough fool as it is being like a scared rabbit. I need to show him that I’m strong. I grab Devon’s hand and he helps me shakily into the bathroom. Physically, I am fully healed, my body is strong and well, but my mental state is shattered. It is going to take me some time to get over this.
“Where was I?” I ask Devon carefully avoiding his eyes in the mirror.
“Not sure. An old council building, we think,” he replies. “Your husband is…well…we always knew he was a bad-ass. Christ, Lizzie, he obliterated everyone in his sight, without batting an eye. He must have killed over a hundred Vampires and just as many Hunters.”
“There were so many there,” I whisper. “They hate me so much.” The words get stuck in my throat and Devon comes over to hug me, but I don’t want it. I just want to forget it ever happened.
“He will get them. Every last one of them,” Devon says darkly.
I nod absently as I start to remove my night gown. Devon looks away and I feel a pang of sorrow. I know he is hurting, and I am being cold. I try not to make a big show of letting him know it’s okay to look at me and I see him cast a quick glance at me as I sink into the hot bath.
“Bliss,” I murmur, closing my eyes. “Tea?”
I open my eyes and giggle. There is already a cup under my nose. “You are handy, aren’t you?” I tease, trying to be normal for his sake.
“Demonic powers are handy,” he agrees and conjures up a cup of coffee for himself. “Lizzie,” he says desperately then. “Did they…did they…”
“Rape you?” CK finishes his sentence as he pushes the door open.
I glare at him and his lack of kid gloves. But I can see his brusqueness is out of concern, not insensitivity.
“No,” I reassure them both with a false smile. “Too filthy for the likes of them.”
“The Vampires…” CK presses.
“No,” I say shortly and leave it at that. I won’t confess to Dmitri’s kiss. CK has already killed him. What would be the point?
I see their relief and close my eyes against it. I don’t want pity. I just want to forget.
“Aefre,” CK says and I know he is going to tell me that he is leaving. “I need to…”
“I know,” I say tentatively. “Please hurry back.”
He nods grimly. “Once every Vampire who attended that trial is dead and Clem has burned alive, I will return.”
“Bring her to me,” I say suddenly, sitting up and sloshing water out all over the floor.
CK opens his mouth to protest, but then shuts it. He knows a thing or two about revenge after all. Current mission - point and fact. He nods quickly and then bends to kiss me. “Be safe,” he murmurs. “I love you, my sweet.”
“You be safe. Come back to me or I won’t be able to carry on.” The tears spring to my eyes even though I was trying to be brave.
“I will always come back to you,” he whispers and plunges his tongue into my mouth.
I kiss him fervently, forgetting all about Devon for a moment and then I release him. He Teleports off without another word and I feel his loss. Our strange bond causing me to feel like I have lost half of myself.
“I’m tired,” I tell Devon.
Even though I could sleep, I am not overly tired. I just want to lie down and close my eyes and not have to engage with anyone. “Don’t go though, okay?” I add, making it clear that alone time is not what I was after. Just silence.
“Of course,” he says and holds out a big, fluffy towel for me to step into.
CK had left Thia’s cot over by the window, but I get Devon to drag it right up close to the bed so that I can stare at her while I pretend to go to sleep. In the event, I manage to drop off anyway, only waking up when I feel Devon inching closer to me. It makes me smile a little bit.
“You can hold me, you know,” I point out, startling him.
He doesn’t say, or do, anything. I immediately know the source of his hesitation.