Page 12 of The Magic of Eternity
And he did. Everything he remembered since waking up in a cell without windows and being kept there for weeks without any human interaction. Fuck. It was exactly what they’d done to me. The weird part though was trying to figure out Laurie’s angle. Why had she taken him from the cell at all? She never did anything that wasn’t calculated.
“But why hasn’t she put an end to us being together in here? Why turn a blind eye?” I wondered out loud, watching as Cam’s face hardened, determination flaring in his eyes. I suddenly remembered the way he’d held that knife to his wrist, the words he’d said.
“They want us alive. I’m of no use to her if I’m dead,” he said firmly, his face taking on a blank expression. I’d never seen Cam like this before. Hardened. The passion that he’d always possessed was missing, and what was left was someone who was doing what he had to do.
“Fucking hell,” I cursed. “Don’t even think about doing something like that, Cam. We need you. All of us. Our woman...”
He stood abruptly to pace back and forth beside my bed. “Listen, K. We’ve always said we’d be honest with each other, and I need to do that now.”
I blinked slowly, and his form blurred around the edges. “Tell me the truth then, Thunder Daddy.”
He didn’t smile. His mouth didn’t even twitch at the use of the ridiculous nickname. My stomach sank, because whatever he was going to tell me must be pretty bad.
“Your fever is one hundred and six degrees, and it has been for the past six hours. Nothing I do is bringing it down. Your wounds are looking worse by the minute. I don’t even understand how you’re awake and speaking right now.”
“Is that everything? The full disclosure of my situation?” My voice sounded too soft even to my own ears.
Cam pulled a chair up to the bed and took my hand. “If a healer doesn’t come... your body won’t be able to continue like this. If the infection gets into your bloodstream—”
“Then I’ll die,” I finished for him so he wouldn’t have to say the words. I watched as he glared at the wall, his jaw tight. “Butyouwon’t.” My words caused him to turn his glower on me, and I gave it right back. Because fuck that. “You need to find Saige. The babies. Our brothers. Get out of here and go find them, and leave me. Once you’re gone, she’ll bring a healer.”
Cam looked thunderous as he pinned me beneath his stare. “I know you’re feverish and sick as hell, but you canfuck offwith that nonsense. I’m not leaving you. We stick together.” He paused for a moment. “What does Asrael want from you?”
I laughed and then groaned, because oh gods—the pain was unlike anything I’d experienced before. “Wants me to shift into a fucking dragon.”
“A dragon? Can you do that?”
I huffed. “No. Not that I’ve ever tried, but I just know I won’t be able to do it. Call it intuition.”
Cam considered that information, probably wondering what the obsession with dragons was as far as Asrael was concerned. I could’ve told him it was pointless to wonder, because I’d done that for the past few weeks and had figured out nothing that’d provide any answers.
“I–I don’t feel good,” I mumbled as the room spun before my eyes.
“What is it? What can I get you? Let me grab some wat— Oh my fuck!” Cam exclaimed, and he jumped, swiping at his head as if he were under an attack by bees.
“What are you doing?” I blinked rapidly, wondering if I was hallucinating. Something tiny and black flew from Cam’s head, landing on the bed. My body jerked in surprise and panic, because what the fuck was that?
“Messieurs. Your rescue party has arrived.”
Now I really was losing my mind.
“Napoleon?” Cam gasped, sitting back down in the chair and peering down at the mouse who was now perched two inches from my eyes.
“Oui. ‘Tis I. You’ve no bloody idea what I’ve been through. The halls are swarming with fat Persians with the temperaments of mantis shrimp and the snouts of bloodhounds. There’s been a mark on my life from the moment I entered this stone-walled hell,” Napoleon rambled, his tiny front paws moving a mile a minute.
“Do you hear him?” I asked, looking at Cam who was staring at the mouse in shock.
“He said there are Persians here. Why are there Persians in the demon realm? And how the hell are you here? And how can I even hear you?” Cam demanded, giving Napoleon a suspicious look.
“Persian cats,” Napoleon spat and visibly shivered. “Foul beasts. I was not surprised in the slightest when I laid eyes upon the first smushed face I came across. They belong here. Hell cats. As for my new communication skills? All will be revealed.” The tiny mouse sat back on his haunches, waving his paws like a magician.
“How didyouget here though?” I asked him, blinking heavily. My eyes were so tired.
“Rode here with the team, of course. Can you believe that stunt they pulled in the throne room? My warrior’s heart bled with the urge to maim, but of course, I am a patient man. I have played the long game,géant. Reconnaissance. I would have made myself known sooner, but the cells in which you were being held captive were sealed up tight. So I put my talents to other uses, and I’ve learned a great many things.”
Cam and I looked at each other. Was the hero of this story really a black mouse with the soul of Napoleon Bonaparte? It was looking more and more like yes, yes he was the fucking hero.
“I saw the horror of what you suffered through,géant.You are the bravest man I’ve had the pleasure of serving with and as such, I’ve made sure to shit all over Asrael’s food that gets delivered to his quarters. Works great as he has a love of freshly cracked peppercorn. Blends right in,” Napoleon bragged, and winked. Fuckin’ winked. I snorted a laugh, unable to stop myself, but I still grimaced when the humor faded.
