Page 224 of Caged

For a second, he looks like the Daxen from three weeks ago. Before our lives went off the rails. Before our brother was almost killed. Before the coma. Before the Omega.

I just hope I can hold it all together long enough to stop the rest of him from unraveling.

Chapter 30

Caelan

Time doesn’t work right here.

Wherever I am, I’m not dead, and I’m not dreaming.

This is more like another realm, or plane of existence. I really have no Fates-damned idea.

Somewhere between the first twilight and fourth sunrise, I worked out that my soul is somewhere my body isn’t.

No one’s ever mentioned a place like this. Some strange dreamscape you visit when you’re half-alive. This would be a great time to have access to Dax. He would know. He’s a damn encyclopedia.

I know I was injured. I remember the night at Varenthrall’s—and the silver. I remember my packmates showing up and the overwhelming sense of relief that hit like a freight train.

And I remember trying to scream at them through a bloody mouth and shredded throat to find her.

Find our Mate.

Everything after that is foggy.

So yeah, my best guess is that I’m healing. And while my body’s forced to work shit out, my mind or soul or whatever has been dumped here.

Wherever here is.

I call it the Grasslands. Not very pretty, but I’ve never been a poetic guy. Blunt, brute-force is more my style.

It’s a meadow. Endless and beautiful, with tall grass that spans into eternity. The sun is always shining, and the warmth seeping into my skin is the best thing I’ve ever felt. There are large, beautiful trees placed sporadically around the meadow. Birch, Pine, Cedar, Ash, there’s no end to the variation.

Fruit hangs heavy from a few of the trees. Every time I bite into a piece, the exquisite taste explodes on my tongue. Tart, sweet, and perfectly crisp. Juice runs down my chin and onto my shirt, where it disappears.

I never get dirty here, either.

I have the overwhelming sense that this place was created by someone who misses Earth, despite never having been there.

There’s a sense of time passing, but it’s non-linear. One moment it’s twilight, and the next the sun is high in the sky.

That’s all there is, though. Nature, and the never-ending wind blowing through the grass and leaves.

The only thing plaguing me is boredom. There’s nothing to do except think. And my thoughts are always on her.

My Mate.

Idril.

For one excruciating moment, I was ripped from this place. When I opened my eyes, my body was on fire. Nerves screaming, silver flowing like tar in my veins, and Dax leaning over me, yelling something I couldn’t understand.

I grabbed him. Tried to tell him—about Idril, about the Bond. I needed him to stop her. She was pushing her strength into me. I could see it, feel it flowing down the Bond.

A tiny flame, flickering with light and life and love. I knew if she kept pushing, she’d die.

I tried to warn him. To make him understand. But the pain was overwhelming, and before I knew what was happening⁠—

I was opening my eyes, back here again. Pain-free, and full of fucking anxiety. Not long after, I figured out how to put a wall up to block her out.