Page 95 of Dream in Darkness
“Let’s start with Team Escalus.”
“Gregory and Sampson have concussions, and Stephano came out unscathed, but none of the other lupion made it.”
“There was no hope for Adrian, was there?”
My mind flashes to his cold, limp body, impaled by theice. I didn’t know him, but I’m forever grateful for the sacrifice he gave so that Tempest could still be here today. “No, I’m sorry.”
“I can’t believe he fuckingdied,” Tempest says, and she’s silent for a long while, her face somber. “I’m scared to ask, but how are the carnies?”
“They’re okay. Absinthe has a minor concussion, Gemma has one broken rib. Draven’s left… or maybe right tibia was fractured, and he pulled a few muscles. Leo broke his arm. Everyone’s fucked up,” I say, and she looks concerned.
“Your brother?”
“Khalid’s okay! Three broken fingers and a sprained ankle, but overall alright. Reina and Rowan—the assholes—are pretty much unscathed, and honestly, I’m pretty lucky too. Some stitches for a few cuts, but I’ll be just fine.”
She adjusts herself, sitting up. “Aida?”
“Totally fine,” I assure her. “Oh, and Taryn has been asking about you. She’s been worried.”
“Please tell her I’m okay. So wait, none of the carnies died?”
“Nope. Well, almost, but no. Baelor is in critical condition,” I say, and she gasps.
Tempest’s eyes go wide. “What happened with him?”
“Well, during the battle?—”
“No,” she cuts me off. “What happened before, with Absinthe? I feel like we glossed over a lot of things because of Cain.”
My lip twists. My mind’s been thinking about this on an endless loop. “Absinthe was going through a series of older cases of serial rape, remembering something familiar, and found a thread of evidence linking them to him. When she went to confront Baelor, she caught him attempting to sexually assault someone, and then she beat the ever-loving fuck out of him with a baseball bat.”
“Holy fucking Hel. And he’s here in the hospital?” she asks, and I nod.
“Yes. We initially agreed to give Draven twenty-four hours to sort things out for Baelor’s execution, but then with Lilian’s pregnancy announcement and the situation with Cain, we had to keep it wrapped until the situation subsided. Now that the battle is over, Draven has informed Raph and Luc,” I explain. “Luc has stated he’ll handle it, and we’re to take no further action.”
“Do you think he’ll kill him?”
I know in my heart that he will, but I don’t say that. I trust Tempest completely, but I have no idea who in this hospital might be listening in or even secretly recording us. “I think Baelor will get what he deserves.”
Tempest nods in understanding, and she looks so pale and fragile like this, hooked up to an IV and other wires. For a moment during battle, I genuinely wasn’t sure what would happen to her, but tears well in my eyes again, I’m endlessly thankful she’s alive.
A doctor comes in, and I squeeze Tempest’s hand, excusing myself for a moment to give them some space. Heading down the hospital hallway, I pause, making note of my surroundings to calm myself down.
I feel the soft fabric of my shirt. I hear the loud, obnoxious beeping of machines. I smell cleaning supplies—a mixture of citrus and chemicals. I taste… nothing. Deciding to rectify that, I head towards the hospital cafeteria.
There are at least thirty different smoothies and juices on the menu, and I order something with papaya and mango.
I go to order Tempest one as well, when I realize I don’t know what she likes. I mean, I know some things. She likes to wear baggy clothes. She doesn’t eat fish anymore because of Taryn. She’s right-handed, but she often starts movements with the left side of her body.
I know these things, but there’s so much about her I’ve yet to learn. I want to know her top five fruits, and how she likes her eggs. I want to ask if she has a preference of which side of the bedshe sleeps on, and if she has a favorite color. We’ve spent all this time in this arranged engagement, focused on politics and performing, that we missed out on all the mundane joys of falling in love.
And now I’m afraid we won’t ever get the chance.
When I return to Tempest’s bedside, she looks sleepy, her eyelids drooping.
“Alright, Alpha, I’ll let you get your rest,” I say, but she doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Do I have to leave right away?” she asks, and I freeze in place.
