Page 92 of In the Dark

“I don’t know…what I can do,” Astix murmured.

“Let me.” Morgan shuffled forward and placed both hands on the sides of Karsia’s head. “I’ll never give up.” He shot them a tired grin and added his magic to theirs. Seconds ticked by into minutes, first a few and then several. There was no change, though Morgan pushed down the worry. If Karsia insisted on falling into the void, then he would follow and bring her back kicking and screaming if necessary. “Karsia? Speak to me.”

To his surprise, a set of garbled groans answered him.

“Please wake up,” he continued. He pushed her hair away from damp cheeks. “I need you. I need you more than anything else in this world. More than air, more than life. I am nothing without you, Karsia.” He placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

Astix put her hands against his and he felt his skin warm. Her strength poured in through his nerves, into his blood. Morgan drew in a breath and felt light flood his body.

“Yes. That’s it, girls.”

He waited another few seconds, his heart stuttering when Karsia’s eyelashes opened. Lips parted and a breath of stale air escaped her lungs.

“You don’t need to say anything.” Morgan brushed the hair away from Karsia’s face with shaking fingers. “Take it slow.”

Astix and Aisanna were nearly in tears. Stunned, they sat back on their haunches, staring. Thankful.

Karsia gave her arms a testing push and pull. “I heal fast. It’s…part of the witchy family package.” She swallowed, her hand snaking out to find his. “How did you find me?”

It was a whisper, the softest murmur of sound, but it was enough to flood him with happiness.

“I don’t know. A bond. Something based purely on emotion, a connection between my heart and yours that has nothing to do with dark or light, or power or magic. I would find you anywhere, anytime.” He brought her fingers to his lips.

“I will remember.”

She cried out when he grabbed her, crushing her to his chest. Gone was the scent of rotting meat, the underlying tones of death and decay. In its place was a sweetness he could not put his finger on, though he thanked the gods for it.

“I would love for us to have a touching moment here, and not to be the voice of reason or anything, but this place might come down on us if we don’t move.” Aisanna peered up at the stalactites quivering from their aloft positions. “Let’s get to safety before we have our tender moment.”

Morgan used the rest of his strength to draw them both to their feet. “Then we’d better move now.”

Pressing her lips together to fight against the trembling, Karsia stared up at him. The curtain had lifted—so to speak—and she finally saw him for what he was. What he represented. She saw how she was supposed to be and could be again. It stole her breath away.

Coming through the rip between reality and the subconscious had been like being born, only backwards. The immense pressure pushing down on her until the air was sucked out from her lungs.

Her soul, the piece of herself she’d never been aware of before, had teetered on the brink of the abyss. She’d felt death creeping in, reaching out those long splintery branch-like fingers and beckoning her forward with the promise of sweet peace. She would have been gone had Morgan not intervened.

Recognizing the extraordinary lengths he’d gone to for her, she forced her tired body to cooperate when all she wanted was to rest. She sent a tired smile to her sisters. They’d done everything they could to save her and, despite the odds, succeeded.

There was no voice in her head. No hard weight in her chest. She took a moment to listen to the soft beat of a very real heart, muscle and blood instead of cold stone. It was amazing. She was alive and whole.

Something she would never take for granted again.

Leaning heavily on Morgan, she allowed him to lead them from the cavern, confident Astix would keep the ceiling contained.

“Would it be wrong of me to want to sweep you into my arms and never let you go?” Morgan spoke as they walked. He crouched, maintaining his grip on her. Afraid to let go.

She appreciated the contact and squeezed him in return although the action took more than it should have out of her. “No, it’s not wrong. I would be happy to let you. As long as you don’t mind if I snuggle close and refuse to leave.”

He made a small sound of pleasure and slowed his pace.

They made their way out with little fanfare. It took all of their combined strength to make it down the rock face. Karsia didn’t focus on what had happened, or the struggles still in front of them. She was just glad to be alive.

It mortified her, the things she’d done while Darkness controlled her body. The things she’d said and the casualties bobbing in her wake. Yes, logically she knew she couldn’t be held responsible for what had happened. Morgan would surely tell her the same thing once she voiced those thoughts.

But Karsia knew. There was a lot to atone for. Especially with her sisters, who had been there for her when she wasn’t able to help herself, there for her even as she pushed them away. There were certain things they needed to say to each other.

But not tonight.

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