37 Take A Deep Breath (1/2)

”We didn't post a single fucking guard,” Alexios mutters. ”Not one lookout.”

”Mattias and Elias were looking out,” Silver says.

”So they either let that happen, or they died first.”

”They wouldn't let it happen. They wouldn't let me be hurt!” I interrupt his speculation, growing increasingly upset at the very idea of Mattias or Elias betraying me. They might have worked for the sheriff, but they looked after me.

But, there's the other option. If they didn't betray the mercenaries, maybe they died first. I don't want to think of that being a possibility. I don't want to imagine any of this being true. I want to shut my eyes and discover that this was all some fucked-up fever dream.

”Try to get some rest,” Silver says, coming over to sit next to me on the stretcher. ”It's been a long day and it will be an even longer night.”

”I don't want to rest. We should go back for the others.”

”Absolutely not. Nobody leaves the rendezvous point until everyone is here or accounted for,” Alexios says, his voice rough with command.

”Lie down,” Silver soothes, putting a large hand on my shoulder and easing me back onto the bed.

”It's this dress,” I mutter, my eyes filling with tears. ”Dresses are cursed. I want it off!”

”Do we have a change?” Silver asks Alexios.

”Yeah. It will all be too big for her, but...”

”Grab a shirt, a sweater, some underwear, and some socks,” Silver says. ”She needs to be in something warmer than this anyway.”

He helps me strip out of my clothing, and then helps me re-dress in an oversized white t-shirt, a big wooly sweater, and long socks that come up over my knees.

”Cute,” he says, pressing a kiss to my nose, the tender touch sending a little blush of warmth through my body. ”Now, you're going to lie down under this blanket, and you're going to curl up and get some sleep.”

”But...”

He fixes me with that gaze, the one that makes it impossible to look away.

”How are you doing that?” I clap my hands over my eyes.