Page 21 of Black Wing and Shadows
I wasn’t close to Nadine, but Callum… Gosh, he led us so fearlessly and effortlessly. Over the past five weeks, I felt the closest to him. Tears rolled down my face, mixed with feelings of happiness and sadness. Damn it. I wasn't usually a person who cried easily. My emotions felt all over the place.
“How are you feeling?” Beau asked.
“I’m alive,” I said, smiling at him.
“You scared us coming down the mountain, it was touch and go,” Ophelia said.
“Thank you all for looking out for me. Thank you, Beau, Jeremy and Asher, for carrying me. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Asher said, nodding his head toward Beau.
Ophelia motioned toward the door. “The senior Healer says you can go for a walk around the infirmary floor. It would be good for you.”
“I am willing to try,” I said. I moved to the side of the bed, which took longer than I expected. My body was still sore. Beau came to my side, wrapped his arms around my back, and helped me stand. My legs felt wobbly beneath me, but thankfully, my ankle wasn’t hurting anymore. My calf was on fire, but I could do this. I had the support of my squad with me. Step by step, we made it to the hallway. With each step, the pain seemed to dull, like I was working a knot out of my muscle.
“What’s the deal with you and the blue-eyed cadet?” Jeremy said.
“What do you mean?” I said, dropping my eyes to the floor.
“On the field, he didn’t drop his gaze from you. He looked worried, and I could feel your pulse rising…” Jeremy said.
“There is nothing with us.”
“Nothing? Hmmm, if you say so,” Beau said.
“The last time I saw eyes lock like that, with that twinkle, was when my aunt and uncle—” Jeremy said, then stopped as Zane rounded the corner. He looked at each of my squad mates before he locked onto me.
“And you said there is nothing going on…” Beau mumbled under his breath before I elbowed him to shut up.
“It’s good to see you up,” Zane said.
“I’m Asher, and you are?”
“Zane,” he said with a flat voice, giving Asher a straightforward look.
“How do you know Auri?” Beau asked.
“From around.” He turned his eyes back to me. “I can take over the walk from here. Pretty sure you all need to get back to your barracks.”
Asher, Beau, and Ophelia swung their heads to me. I nodded to them, letting them know I was fine. Beau moved from my side, letting Zane move in next to me.
“We’ll try and stop by tomorrow. We start weapon lessons tomorrow. But you know, sometimes we get tasked with bullshit.” Asher told me.
They all nodded or smiled at me as they left me in his arms. I turned my head to meet his gaze. His piercing blue eyes appeared darker than in the sunlight. His hair was tousled and slightly messy, as if windblown. He looked utterly stunning. He gave me that mischievous smile he first flashed when we made eye contact.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
He sucked his teeth and smiled at me. “Nothing, at all.”
“Oh, it’s definitely not nothing.”
“Do you want the truth or some muddied version?” He looked down at the ground.
“Honesty, always.”
“Are you familiar with mates?”
“When two people are destined to be together, completing their—wait, you’re not saying that we are—”
