Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen 3)

Mae’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“You cut him?” Viking moved round Mae and crouched by her side. “You cut him with a blade,” he pointed at my hands, “that’s why you have blood on your hands?”

“Yes. I… I cut him.”

A stunned silence met my confession. My stomach knotted with guilt, but I continued. “I did not want to hurt him. But he was asking me to kill him. He said he could not take the flames anymore. That they were getting too hot. He was in pain, he was begging me with his eyes…” I trailed off as a sob spilled from my mouth.

“Shh…” Mae soothed as she moved to sit down on the ground beside me. Her arm came around my shoulders and I fell into her warm embrace.

“I have watched him for months, Mae. I have seen how he fights his inner pain. I have seen how he cuts his skin. I have seen how he does it. So I did what he does to himself. I cut him… I… I took the blade and I cut him… I had to release the flames.”

My tears flowed like a river, self-disgust filling my body. Just as I thought I would not be able to fill the pit in my stomach, Viking said, “You got that close?”

His question caught me off guard, immediately drying up my tears. Slowly lifting my head from Mae’s shoulder, I met Viking’s shocked expression and nodded my head.

Viking’s head turned quickly to stare at AK. AK’s brow furrowed. “And why’s he quiet now?”

Clearing my throat, I answered, “He is sleeping. The cuts released the flames. He is resting.”

AK’s eyes widened and he turned away, walking toward the trees, running his fingers through his long hair.

Sitting forward, I addressed Viking. “He needed to rest. But I told him I would stay. That I would be nearby until he is free from this torture.” Ky ducked away and chased down AK. My heart was in my mouth as Ky reached Flame’s best friend. Ky put his arm around AK’s shoulders, which immediately sagged.

“We thought he was lost. We’ve tried everything for two days. But us in that room? It only made him ten times fucking worse. I have no idea who he thought we were, but he sure as fuck wasn’t seeing it was his brothers. We were ready to take him out, then you came, and in a matter of minutes you get him to calm the fuck down, you get him to sleep,” Viking revealed.

His head dropped. He looked so sad. In fact, AK and Viking both looked utterly exhausted. My stomach tightened when I realized just how much they loved Flame. They must have felt so helpless.

My fingers tensed at my side, then, drawing in a fortifying breath, I shyly reached out my hand, but at last minute pulled it back. Viking's head shot up. He stared at me, then his lip hooked up at the corner, giving me a whisper of a smile.

“I am staying with Flame.”

Viking released a long pent up breath.

“Maddie,” Mae cautiously offered, “No one expects you to stay. You have already helped Flame beyond all of our expectations.”

In an instant my back straightened and I got to my feet. I glimpsed Styx, silently watching me, his dark features tracking my every move. But I kept tight hold of my will.

“I am staying,” I emphasized.

Mae got to her feet. “Why, Maddie?”

I turned to my sister and said, “Because that is my Flame in there. And he needs me. No one else. Me.”

“Your Flame?” she whispered, and her head tilted to the side.

I felt a blush coat my cheeks and I shrugged.  “That is how I regard Flame. As mine. From the moment I was able to touch him, and he touched me, I was claimed. I have been his this whole time.”

Dusting off my long skirt, giving my anxious hands something to do, I asked Mae, “Please can you bring us some food? Ingredients to make soup? And things to clean his cabin?”

Mae nodded numbly. Styx reached out and, wrapping an arm around her chest, pulled her flush against his. His lips moved to her ear. He whispered something only the two of them could hear. Mae’s eyes closed, but she sighed and nodded her head.

“I shall bring them down straight away Maddie,” Mae announced.

“Thank you.” Mae glanced to Ky, AK and Viking, then back to me. “Are you okay to stay here while I get what you have asked for?”

I nodded my head.

Mae and Styx quickly disappeared into the woods, leaving me alone with the three men. I stood, head down, playing with my hands, when Viking cleared his throat and spoke.

“You need to be direct when you speak to him.” Curious at that instruction, I raised my head, only to see Ky and AK join Viking.

AK glanced at Viking, then focused on me. “He doesn’t get subtlety. If you want something from him, ask him outright. Don’t hint at it, because he won’t understand. If you want to know what he’s thinking, ask him. He might not tell you, the brother doesn’t say much, but he just might. And he’s shy, real shy. He’ll struggle to be around you, to know how to act. But if you talk to him or look busy, it chills him out. And fuck, if he gets out of this shitstorm he’s in, and he cuts himself, don’t stare. He gets real self-conscious.”

“He doesn’t really show emotion either. If he’s happy, which honestly, I don’t think he’s ever been, or if he’s sad, his face won’t change. But you’ll know if he’s angry. He can’t seem to contain that shit. It eats him up when he’s angry. The flames… they burn more when he’s pissed,” Viking added.