58. Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Kade

T he two days after Riven’s attack passed in a blur. They had rushed south without stopping to ensure they reached the Drengr Village. Linx, with the help of Belle, had stabilized Todd’s injuries, but Kade’s weapons master had fallen into an endless sleep, his wounds grave.

The return home hadn’t been the joyous affair Kade envisioned.

Bétar and Yennifer had excused themselves to return home. Eldrick had headed straight for Lār while Tovi headed in the opposite direction towards the Shield-maiden with Lou. Kade had walked through the motions of introducing Evelyn to his father and uncle, but then they retreated to his own cottage in the woods, away from the village and the weight of the last two days.

Night ascended over the forest outside the window. Kade grew restless. Upstairs, Evelyn washed the grime and dirt away, and by the emptiness in her eyes, Kade knew to give her space. She’d placed her magic into the bloodstone to protect everyone from the possibility of Riven ever using it. Kade’s heart ached for her sacrifice. They didn’t understand the gravity of it, yet. Could she get it back? What did this mean for the prophecy? He hadn’t the capacity to broach the subject, not when he partly blamed himself. He hadn’t gotten to her in time, hadn’t protected her.

In fact, he’d harmed his teammate, someone he loved, in the process.

The fire in his cast-iron hearth dwindled to cinders, wisps of smoke traveling unseen through the pipe leading outside the roof. Burning pine tickled Kade’s werewolf’s sense of smell, and the shrinking flame reflected Kade’s misery. He sank further into his chair, stewing.

Evelyn’s feet pattered in the bedroom upstairs, the floorboards creaking above him. He tried to grasp some calm, grounding himself in the fact Riven hadn’t succeeded. Evelyn was with him, safe. Kade should’ve been upstairs with her, but how could he when his efforts had harmed Todd? This power, this energy, made him lose control, and Kade never lost control. Purpose. His mission. His title. Duty. Kade had always grounded himself in those things, and he should’ve felt grounded with Evelyn, his mate, finally home.

Yet, he was restless. Why?

Perhaps it was because his newfound power still grew within him. His use of it had barely dimmed its strength, and it was building again. The more he thought of everything he faced—Evelyn’s pain, Riven’s threat, hurting one of his own teammates—the quicker the energy pulsed and grew.

Outside the kitchen window, he couldn’t make out the stars past the evergreens, but a glint of hazy silver followed the curve of the waning moon.

Evelyn appeared at the bottom of the stairs and sauntered to him. She wedged herself between his legs, running her hands through his beard and making him look at her. She wore one of his tunics. It reached below her knee, and by the way it fell over her chest, he guessed she wore nothing else underneath. Any other time, he’d delight in taking his time peeling it off her gorgeous body.

Her silvery stare locked with his, yet something dark and vacant muddled the blue. “If you’re worried about Todd, you should go and see him.”

At his teammate’s name, Kade hung his head. “I don’t know if I should.”

Evelyn brought his face to her chest and wrapped her arms around him. Kade’s body relaxed into her hold, and he inhaled his mate’s sweet, warm sent as she dragged her fingers through his hair. She was so strong, so kind—despite cutting out a piece of her soul.

“It was an accident,” she said. “You didn’t mean to hurt him.”

Kade shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. Evelyn wasn’t wrong. He’d never hurt Todd willingly, but it didn’t negate the fact he had.

“It’s happened before.”

“Your power?”

“Yes, a few times. It’s new, and I don’t know how to control or wield it. Everyone told me to learn it, but…” Kade couldn’t manage to admit he’d been too worried about her. He didn’t want to blame her. That wasn’t it. Instead, he couldn’t sort it all out. One foot in front of the other , and yet his boots had been filled with stones.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Evelyn asked.

“I think I was ashamed.” The words rang true, but hurt, nonetheless.

“You never need to be ashamed of anything. Not with me,” she whispered. “I, more than anyone, know what its like to struggle with power or an ability. Talk to me, Kade. I’m here for you, always.”

Love weaved with her words and brimmed between their mated souls. Even with her magic gone, their hearts still beat in tandem with each other, the mating bond intact. That magnificent certainty had the power to bring Kade to his knees, and relief washed through him, enough he revealed his fears to Evelyn.

“What if I hurt someone else? What if I hurt you?” He studied her face.

Evelyn cupped his cheek and peered down at him. “Do you remember what you told me in Callum?”

Kade shook his head.

“We’ll figure it out,” she said .

Kade blinked. Those hadn’t been the words he’d expected to hear. Not at all. He wanted to tell her how much he appreciated her, but his tongue seemed as tired as the rest of him, and he couldn’t form a single word.

She interpreted his silence as agreement—she kissed his forehead and untangled her hold of him. “Go to the infirmary. Sit with him. No one will hate you for it.”

“I don’t want to leave you alone,” Kade said, grabbing her hips. “Not after what happened.”

They studied one another. There was so much to discuss. Her magic. What they’d learned from Opal. Riven’s relentlessness. And yet, Kade couldn’t focus on any of those things, not with the pulsing in his chest. He had to figure that out. He knew that now, and perhaps seeing Todd was the first step.

Evelyn sighed. “I think I’m ready to talk to Tovi.”

A breath whooshed out of him. If Evelyn had mustered the courage to talk with Tovi, he had enough courage to enter his village and sit with his teammate.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go.”