Page 73 of Twilight of Embers
The moment my feet touched the ground, I knew I’d made a mistake. My legs wobbled, and the world around me swam.
Knox cursed as I wavered on my feet. But it was too late. I was already falling.
“How the hell did you let this happen?” Easton snarled at someone I couldn’t see.
Couldn’t see because I was floating on a cloud. Some part of me felt pain pulsing in my head; another part recognized that I had to be with the guys. But I couldn’t see them. Couldn’t see anything but swirling blackness all around.
“Watch. Your. Tone,” Cillian gritted out. “We didn’t let anything happen. And trust me when I say we will find the traitor, and he will pay.”
Cáel let out a low growl of agreement. “I want in on that retribution.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t take her to the hospital?” Knox asked.
His voice was closer than the rest, and I felt it then. His hand in mine, his thumb tracing designs on my skin. Heat pulsed there, comfort.
I wanted to open my eyes but couldn’t quite get there.
“No,” Maddox clipped. “The healer examined her. We can’t risk them finding something in her bloodwork.”
I felt myself frown. Healer? Bloodwork?
“You all should’ve been watching her better,” Easton snarled. “And what about her guards?”
Guards? What was he talking about?
Cillian let out a growl. “James tried to protect her, and he paid with his life. Sean is touch and go.”
Easton muttered a curse. “I’m sorry—I just—what the hell is happening?”
“We have to assume the Corbetts know about Hayden now. They’ll do everything they can to take her,” Cillian said, voice low.
Cáel let out a noise that sounded more animal than human. “That’s not going to happen.”
“No,” Cillian agreed. “It’s not. But we’re going to have to tighten security in every way. We need to move Hayden into the house.”
“No,” Easton clipped.
There were sounds of a scuffle.
“You’d seriously put your bullshit fears above our mate’s safety?” Cillian demanded.
“It’s not bullshit,” Easton shot back. “And you know it.”
“Enough,” Maddox said, his voice full of exhaustion. “This is where she has to be. We’ll deal with it, Easton. She’s more important.”
My mind struggled to pull together the pieces of their conversation, but none of them made sense, and my brain was foggy at best. I let out a sound of frustration.
Knox’s hand spasmed around mine. “I think she’s waking up.” He squeezed my hand, purposefully this time. “Hayden?”
I wanted to open my eyes. I didn’t want to be stuck in this weird alternate universe anymore. But my eyelids felt so heavy.
A palm ghosted over my hair. “Come on, Little Flame. Show us those violet eyes.”
A prickle of awareness came with Cillian’s touch, one more thing pulling me back to the present. My eyelids fluttered against the low light of the room. It was a sea of blue. Everything about it was peaceful and serene.
“There she is,” Cillian said softly, his voice rough.
“How do you feel?” Knox asked, his thumb still sweeping across my skin.
