Page 121 of Zayrik

I wasn’t used to someone taking care of me.

Nav buzzed faintly against my wrist, its soft blue glow steady.

Still there. Still clinging. Refusing to be removed.

Like it knew I needed its familiar presence to anchor me.

A faint trill sounded at my side.

Zep. Bandaged, and curled tight against my hip. His wings twitched in his sleep.

That stupid, loyal little thing had thrown himself between me and a warlord.

And survived.

Just like me.

Just like us.

A knot in my chest unraveled.

They’d made it.

We’dmade it.

All of us.

I took a sip of water. Then another. Let the cool water wash away memories of pain and fear.

Set the glass down. My hands still shook.

Zayrik didn’t move. Just waited, letting me find my way back to myself.

To him.

I finally asked the question sitting in my lungs.

The one that needed answering before I could breathe properly again.

“What... happened?”

He didn’t answer immediately. His jaw flexed once.

Then his fingers tightened, just enough to be grounding.

“You’re safe,” he said.

I stared at him. “That’s not what I asked.”

A breath. He nodded once.

Accepting that I needed truth more than protection.

“Vask is dead.”

I blinked. Not in disbelief.

Just... processing.

---