Page 11 of Gift from the Wing

“Primary.” Cas sighs, reaching his fingers up and running them down my tear streaks.

“I’m back,” I say when I see his eyes searching.

“I know. Even the darkest part of yourself can’t smother out the light.”

Leaning forward, he lays his forehead to mine and takes slow breaths until our hearts beat as one. He sits like that for a long moment before gently gripping my throat and tilting my head up until our lips touch.

“Don’t leave me behind again, Primary,” he warns darkly, completely opposite to the tender kiss he just gave me, and a smile pulls at the corners of my mouth.

“Never.”

“Little warrior,”Tillman whispers, almost cautiously, like he’s afraid he won’t get an answer.

“My gentle giant.”

His coiled shoulders sag and he pulls me from Caspian’s hands, then lifts me until my feet no longer touch the ground.

“Your mind is a mess right now, Will.”

I snort, because well, what can I say to that when it’s the truth.

“A mess I never want to be shoved out of again. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I believe so. There’s so much I need to explain.”

His understanding eyes douse the rising panic in me about how they’re going to feel hearing everything I need to tell them. The calm and patience that always surround him ground me in a way nothing else can.

Reaching out, gripping his cheeks in my palms, I pull his face to mine. Each swipe of his tongue eases every burning anxiety I have, and I fall as deeply as I can into his protection and unwavering belief in me.

“The dragon is gonna go feral if he doesn’t get his hands on you.”He chuckles lightly in my head.

“I love it when he goes feral.”

With another chuckle, he spins me around and Draken pulls me into his chest as if he knew we were talking about him. Unlike the others, he doesn’t take the sweet and soft approach. It’s all heat and passion from him as he captures my mouth in a consuming feast.

His flames lick across my skin and I allow mine to merge with his as soon as they begin boiling my blood. I let them roam his body completely until I feel his dragon back off from the surface.

“Little wanderer,” he breathes, burying his face into my neck.

“Hey, you.”

“Fuck, my dragon was ready to burn this palace to the ground.”

“Well, I’m glad he didn’t. It’s far too beautiful to be turned to ash.” I giggle, running my fingers down the back of his neck.

“Let me see your hand,” he orders.

I honestly forgot I’d punctured myself with my claws. That sting of pain couldn’t come close to comparing to what I felt in that moment.

“Gaster gave me a healing vial,” I say when they all gather closer to look at my already healed palm.

“The old man’s always prepared,” Caspian says.

“I don’t know if I’d say always.” I sigh. “Will you pull your shadows back in, please? There’s something you all should see.”

His throat bobs as he swallows, and again, I find myself surprised. I’ve seen many sides of Caspian. Sides the rest of the realm—hell, maybe even his brothers—hasn’t seen. But not this side.

There isn’t a time that I’ve known him that I ever recall seeing him nervous. Sure, there have been times when maybe a shred of the emotion may have poked through, but right now, that’s all he is. A ball of nervous energy.

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