Page 122 of The Trials of Ophelia

“I’m going to see if he needs anything,” I finally said when Cypherion showed no sign of moving.

He said nothing when I approached. Didn’t comment as I remained by his side, absorbing every word of the healers’ inspection and Vale’s answers. He only watched the Starsearcher with a resolved stare.

“Are you okay?” I asked him.

“Fine,” he gritted out. When he looked at me, it was with that same vulnerable stare he had when he discussed the position of Second. The lost one that communicated he didn’t know who he was. “She needs to find a solution to this.”

He needed to, I thought he meant.

When Vale’s eyes finally lifted and found Cyph’s, searing to the point of pain, I thought she wanted answers, too.

Ophelia and I shared a cavern that night, but I didn’t sleep. I watched her rest soundly in my arms as I tried to time my breaths to her own. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again and again. Heard her screaming for me to get that poison out of her. Felt the drag of my dagger slicing through her skin and tasted the bile in the back of my throat.

I wouldn’t apologize for making a deal with Lancaster. He was the only reason she was alive right now. It was a risk I was willing to take for her, despite the wall now between us.

Dammit, I’d risk anything for her, throw myself on that damn dagger instead.

“You okay?” Ophelia asked as we walked through the tunnels the next morning. She scratched at the old Curse scar on her wrist. Spirits, I needed to tell her what was going through my head.

“I’m fine.” I kissed her forehead instead of looking in her eyes because I wasn’t fucking fine. Being locked in Mindshaper Territory was stifling, memories of the last time I was here sharp and piercing. It was all piling up, colliding, ready to burst. It pulled each breath from my lungs with a little more force, feeding me my worst nightmares instead.

Ones I’d seen come true recently.

“Come on. We’ll be late.” Wrapping an arm around Ophelia’s waist, I guided her forward. I’d figure out how to explain it to her later.

Cypherion waited for us in the large open space in the center of this pocket of the Labyrinth. He leaned against the wall, spinning a knife around his hand.

“How are you?” I asked, watching him closely. The sunken, dark circles beneath his eyes told me he hadn’t slept much either.

“I’m fine.” It appeared we were all lying today.

Ophelia gripped my hand. “Cypherion, you can go be with?—”

“I said I would be here, so I am,” Cyph interrupted. He rolled his wrists, an old injury from when we were young cracking in the left one. “Let’s go.”

“CK is becoming the most stubborn of us all,” I whispered to Ophelia as we followed him across the open cavern and down one of the offshoots.

“I know he’s going through a lot with Vale, and I want to allow him time to heal on his own, but…” She trailed off, lips pursing.

“But at some point we’ll need to start pushing.”

Ophelia nodded, chewing her lip against the instinct to address him right now.

“I can speak with him again,” I offered, but she shook her head.

“Thank you.” She pulled me to a stop, placing one hand on my shoulder as she stretched onto her toes to kiss me. “I appreciate how willing you are to help, but this is between him and me.”

She had a point. I hated staying out of her business, though. Had never been good at it when it came to her.

“He’ll come around,” I promised, pulling her down the hall.

Trev’s father’s door was propped ajar, but we knocked when we arrived. “Come in,” his deep voice rumbled. “Ah.” He looked over his shoulder as we filed into the room. “My son said you’d be stopping by. Forgive the mess.”

He waved his arm around the cavern, an open pack spilling onto the desk, leathers and furs and empty canteens decorating the surface. The man straightened up, turning toward us fully, and we were greeted by the same warm eyes as Trev. His skin was a shade darker, his hair sandy and streaked with gray. He probably was an older father, then. Most warriors did not have children until they were well past their first century. He might be past his second.

“We’re the ones imposing,” Ophelia said. “I’m sure you’re tired from your journey, but thank you for giving us the immediate attention.”

Spirits, I loved seeing her like this. The way Ophelia handled adversaries was one of the most attractive things about her. Not backing down, not showing an ounce of fear or regret when it came to protecting those she was responsible for. She’d been a glorious sight before she fell to Kakias’s power in that battle, drawing her enemies’ blood without remorse.

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