Page 100 of Take No Prisoners
Hannah nodded. "Will do, Captain. Now get."
Efren wrapped an arm around Niall's waist and led him to the cabin door. Niall wasn't too tired to notice the gentle care Efren took with him. For the first time since his parents had died, he felt cherished. He only hoped he wasn't imagining it in his state of euphoria after the harrowing escape.
Once in the cabin, the thought he'd avoided throughout his time on Coryn's ship hit him without warning. He'd been abducted. Again. He sank to the bunk, staring at his hands as though they had the answers to all his questions. What did Coryn want with him?
Efren kneeled before him, shifting him over on the bunk until he could sit with Niall in his lap. In his arms, Niall shook with the fear he'd denied himself earlier and the relief of not being alone.
"I've got you," Efren said. "You're so strong, Niall. I'm so proud of you."
"Proud? I almost killed my best friend!" He shivered. "I didn't—he doesn't even remember."
"It was an accident." Efren kissed his cheek. "He's better off for it, too. You healed him."
Niall clung to Efren's chest and cried big wet tears into his shirt. "I was so scared."
Efren rubbed circles on his back and kissed his temple. Niall reached for that place in his core where they were linked and found that Efren had meant what he'd said. He was proud of Niall, and more. Niall wasn't ready to forgive himself, but he could push his fears aside for another day.
"Let's get you into some dry clothes so you can rest," Efren said.
Niall had no fight left in him to argue.
Chapter 25
Efren
Once Niall was changed into a clean and dry sleep shirt, Efren lay him on his cot and passed his hand over Niall's eyes to force them closed. "Sleep."
"We need to talk," Niall whispered.
"It can wait until your food arrives." Efren wanted that talk, too, but Niall's health was more important. He was fading fast. Efren knew how easy it was to overextend with one element. He couldn't imagine expending the energy to ground the ship, bring the storm and the sharks, and the sheer amount of healing it must have taken to return Klaus from the brink of death.
"Soon?"
"Within the hour."
"All right." Niall slumped against the pillow. His brows were still pinched with worry, and Efren hated being the cause of that worry. It wasn't long before Niall's face relaxed with sleep and his breath steadied.
Efren was surprised to learn Niall blamed himself for Klaus's injury. Efren had made his own mistakes when he was first learning his element, and lightning was the most volatile of the eight. Even Hannah would tell Niall it had been an accident. Hells, Hannah was well-trained, and they'd started the ship on fire twice with errant blows of lightning. Efren would have the crew share their own horror stories with Niall when they had more time.
Efren pretended to study his star charts as he thought through the discussion they needed to have when Niall woke, and what he would say. He'd been too afraid to share his feelings, too certain Niall would break his heart, but now, he didn't care. They were fast approaching war with Coryn's navy. If he didn't tell Niall now, he may never have the chance to tell him again. His feelings were far too strong to ignore, even in the short time since they'd met.
A knock at the door drew him back to the deck.
"How is he doing?" Beatrice asked.
"He's asleep. I promised we would talk when his food arrives."
She shook her head. "No. He'll need his sleep. Klaus and Vadim, as well."
"How is Vadim?"
Efren had never seen such a wry twist to Beatrice's lips. "He's in love with that young man, is what he is. Refuses to admit it, though. Don't make the same mistake."
Efren ignored her unasked question, choosing instead to help the crew with rigging until Beatrice returned to her wind station.
When there were no other tasks, he retreated to the port rail and eased their passage through the waves. It didn't take as much effort as Niall's escape, but at least Efren felt like he was contributing to their cause.
Hannah sneaked up on him, as usual, tapping him on the left shoulder and retreating right to avoid his wild swing. They laughed as he tried to compose himself. "I will never tire of doing that."
