Page 170 of Wrath of the Fae

‘Where are-’

‘Are you in pain?!’ she repeats firmly. ‘If you’re in pain, we need to know.’

‘No. No, I’m not in pain. Now tell me what the hell has happened to them, Rhea!’

‘They’re fine. I promise. They’re with Lucca and they’re fine.’

‘I doubt they're fine if they’re with Lucca.’

She grips the bandages around my eyes and goes to pull them off.

‘Don’t!’ I warn, pulling them back down. ‘Keep it on.’

‘Trust me, Raven,’ she says sweetly. ‘Please trust me.’

My hand stays where it is, gripping the edge of the bandages. I don’t want her to see. I don’t want to hear the sympathy or the guilt in her gasp when she looks at the mess beneath.

‘Trust me,’ she says softly again. ‘Please.’

Slowly, I release my hold on them. And she slides off the bandages.

No sorrowful gasp comes. No horrified whimper.

‘Open your eyes, Raven,’ she encourages.

‘Is that supposed to be a joke?’

‘Open them.’

I lift my eyelids and squint against the brightness of the room.

The brightness of the fire ahead of me. The fire in the fireplace that I can see!

I can see!

I can’t help the little whimper that escapes. Never has a discomfort been so utterly welcomed.

I lower my gaze, looking instead at her hand in mine. I watch her thumb stroke back and forth and open my eyes a little more. With a blink, I start to regain focus.

‘I’m sorry we had to tie you down in iron,’ she says. ‘But you’re seriously strong. Your wings nearly cut Tessa in half, and you broke Wolf’s nose. We needed you to stay still so we could do what we needed to do.’

‘What have you done exactly?’

Another blink, and I look up. It’s a little fuzzy at first, but I see her. Her tired, painfully grey face. Her red and puffy eyes. The dirt on her skin and the knots in her hair. She looks like hell, but I have never been happier to see her.

‘Hi,’ she smiles, looking deep into my eyes, her focus dancing from one to another, then back again. ‘Wow. That’s… strange…’

‘I can see you!’ I reach up, resting the tips of my fingers beneath my eyes. ‘How… I mean… what happened… Rhea. You look like shit.’

She bursts into joyful tears.

‘You should look in a mirror!’

I throw my arms around her, and we embrace tightly. By the door, El lingers, watching us. She looks just as exhausted. Her arms are bandaged and the many cuts and bruises from her time in the cells mark her skin. She offers me a little smile and a gentle wave.

I pull back and see Tessa at my side.

‘You okay, Raven?’ Tessa asks, her hand reaching out.

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