75. Kami

75

Kami

" H e's gone." I can't stop crying.

But instead of falling to the ground, I'm swept up into Malkar's strong arms.

"Go ahead, little dryad. Cry your heart out. We're here. And we're not going anywhere."

Why does it sound like he's saying that to someone in particular?

But I can't think past that random thought, awash in grief all over again. Losing Ahza forever.

I lose track of time as I weep, passed from one of my companions to the next, until I'm cozied up in Oz's strong arms, yawning and falling into a dreamless sleep.

When I wake, it's to the sound of battle. I start as a tree clasps me tighter in its embrace high above the others.

Oz and Ries are working together to take out a horde of mages, and to my surprise, Ries is wielding weapons made of water with great effect.

Oz crumples the enemy like bits of straw and tosses them at each other, wearing them down .

On the other side of the trees, Crash and Malkar work together to punch and claw through people. Though neither is using magic, just fists and weapons they must have taken from their opponents.

The fight ends fast, and they return to me while the forest sucks down the dead, burying them deep into the ground to further the life the leshy will feed to the trees and foliage all around.

In a way, the leshy is like me. But it's not absorbing the souls of all the dead, those that linger, waiting for the right way to go.

A job for me to do, I think, and ask to be let down.

Then I go around to collect those who are meant for a different afterlife, and some who are not meant to be.

I am not eating them so much as collecting their spirits and steering them to the correct path.

Yes, I feel Caethybdue deep inside me say. This is your way, Kami. Do so and many may find the way After.

Odd that she would be speaking of Sebastian and not Leon. Right?

And even more odd that I recall those Evers and the dream state—or dead state—I was in when before I forgot everything.

"We need to get Folas here and end him," Crash growls as he marches around the makeshift battlefield. He leaves a wake of warmth as he passes, but still controls no flame. "What's he waiting for?"

"It's like I'm empty," Malkar says with a sigh and holds up his hand. "There is no cold fire to be had. No blue flame. No victory over Firefly unless I take him down with my claws. And that's no fun."

"Oh please. You couldn't take me down when you tried," Crash scoffs .

"To be fair, I wasn't really trying." Malkar smirks and shows off a fang.

Instead of stirring Crash to argue, the fire fae slumps onto his butt on the ground. "We can't keep waiting. I mean, how much longer do we have until Beyrthnel conquers everything in our world?"

They all look at me. Like I have a clue.

I shrug.

Oz swears. "Crash is right. If Folas won't come to us, we have to go to him."

"They're smart. They know something's up." Malkar looks at me. "We've been tiptoeing around you because you were hurt. Well, dead."

I nod. "I appreciate that. But you can't afford to be nice. Not now."

"Exactly. So get off your sexy ass and help. We could use some reconnaissance."

"What do you mean?"

Oz, our surprisingly skilled tactician, explains, "Use the trees, Kami. Bond with them or do whatever it is you dryads do. Find out what's happening so we can adapt. The forest has been great, but I don't trust they won't try to burn us out at some point."

"Let them," Crash says, a hint of crazy in his eyes.

"No, dumbass. That would kill the trees," Ries mutters and glances around.

Branches above wave despite there being no wind, as if aware.

"Oh. Right." Crash flushes.

Malkar snickers and ruffles his hair. "Hothead."

"Shut up." Crash pushes him away and mumbles to himself as he paces angrily around the small clearing we've been calling home .

"That's a good idea, for me to look around." I glance at all of them and feel a well of emotion making it hard to speak.

After a moment, I say what I've been feeling. Because we could all be dead—dead-dead—at any time. "I'm glad you all stayed with me while I was out of it."

The group focuses on me and move closer.

"You could have left, escaped from this mess at any time."

Ries and Crash look uncomfortable, while Oz and Malkar act as if they'd never given it a thought.

"After all this. Once we do what we're supposed to do. I'd, um…" It's taking all I am to say what I feel. " Iwantustostaytogether, " comes out in a rush.

Oz blinks. "You want me too?"

"Of course. You're my heart." I smile at the faint blush over his cheeks.

For all that Oz is a giant and a savage on the battlefield, he's a sensitive soul underneath. And I know he still thinks it's his fault I died.

"And me?" Ries asks, sounding haughty. "I'm a lot for any female to handle." He gives me a rakish grin. Yet I see the uncertainty he can't hide.

"Of course, your majesty," I tell him and snort. "What would I do without my special merman slash water mage? You know you're the sexiest."

"That's true." He looks pleased.

Malkar and Crash scowl.

"And Crash, as angry as you always are, there's honesty in your fire. I like you no matter what you say."

"Of course you do. I'm so loveable," he says with a ton of sarcasm. Yet he seems pleased, and there's a smile fighting his lips.

"There is no need to reassure me, Kami," Malkar says. "But you're slightly misinformed. "

"Oh?"

"Yes. You can't keep me, or the others."

"Why not?" I ask.

"Why? What's it to you?" Crash says, Mr. Angry all over again.

Ries glares. "Fuck off, Malkar. We're with Kami."

"What he said," Oz agrees.

But Malkar is looking into my eyes when he adds, "You're mistaken if you think you belong to her. You all belong to me. And I'm keeping you."