Page 114 of The Ballad of a Bard

“I can’t.” Connor smiled sadly as he reached out through the bars for her hand. “I’ve gone and fallen in love with that boy that you’ve done such a good job of taking care of. The child that I never got to know before. But he is strong and beautiful and no matter whose blood runs through his veins, he ismy son.”

Crimson contemplated it before placing her fingers through his. He squeezed once.

“I’m here now, and I will not leave you again, Crimson. I swear that to you.”

She trembled as she dragged herself closer to the metal bars that separated them. “Thank you.”

“My beautiful daughter,” He pulled her as close as he could. She let him embrace her, hesitantly wrapping her own arms back around him in return. “Never again.”

Fifty Five

Aknock sounded and West bolted upright from his bed, his dark hair falling in his sight. It wasn’t like he’d actually been able to sleep the last few days anyways. He tossed the covers aside and made for the entrance, curiously placing his fingers on the handle and turning it, surprised to find it unlocked for once. They’d added the lock after he’d tried to hide Crimson, and it was an addition that would be removed once he’d gained his freedom back and this was all over.

Other than the guard who slipped food in and retrieved it an hour later, no one came to see him.

He opened it a fraction of the way, peering out to find Damien’s brown head of hair standing in front of him, Thalias warily keeping an eye out for other guards who were nowhere to be seen.

“What are you two doing here?” West interrogated, opening it a bit more. Then he glanced down as tiny arms wrapped around him.

Cobalt.

He sank down and hugged him back, relief flickering through him that the boy was alive, still alright. He sighed as he caressed the onyx hair, burying his face into the boy’s small shoulder.

“Leysa thought it best that we bring him here for safekeeping. Altivar hasn’t made any moves to harm him yet, but it’s the yet part that we are hesitant on. We can sneak in anything he might need, but my brother and I both agree that he should remain with you.” Thalias didn’t finish his statement but there was no need for it.

Because if something happened to Crimson, then West was all this boy had left. He’d take him in without any issue, but he prayed to all of his fellow Saints that that wouldn’t need to happen.

“I didn’t want the Prince to keep using him as a bargaining chip after we heard what happened.” The taller Steele said. “No one should be used against their family.”

“Hey, Blue.” He murmured and broke apart with as much of a warm smile as he could muster up. “How are you holding up?” He ruffled his black hair with a playful hand.

“I’d be better if I could see my sister, or my father.” He swiftly answered and began to chew on his lip in the same fashion that his sibling did.

West’s head snapped up to the two men at the door. “Heartache’s here?”

It worked then.

Damien bobbed his square chin. “Altivar took him down to the cells about a day or so ago. My best guess is that Crimson has reunited with her father by now.”

He rose from the ground, gently ushering Cobalt even further into his room. “Saints, I can’t even imagine what she’s going through right now.”

He wanted nothing more than to see her, see how she was doing and just… be with her. He wanted to take her in his armsand turn them back towards the bed, to have both of them curling into the other as they had before.

“We aren’t allowed to see her, otherwise I’d bring you an update, Captain.” Thalias regretfully said. “I’ve tried multiple times, as had Damien but we can’t get past.”

“I’m not a captain anymore.” He informed them both, dragging a hand through his umber hair. He’d reorganised his room back to the original state after Altivar’s men tore it apart looking for Crimson, but it still was missing something.

Missing her.

“You will always be our captain.” The brothers said in unison, warming his heart that had felt so cold as of late.

“Bed!” Cobalt scrambled onto the messy bed, mused from West’s night of tossing and turning. Even if Dream had granted his wish, Crimson had haunted him all night long. He shoved his legs under the blue covers and slipped down until his small head hit the pillow and curled into himself.

Thalias snorted and Damien chuckled.

“I need to see her.” West quietly rumbled when the silence had lasted long enough. They knew him well enough to know his strained relationship with the lesser Saint. “I don’t care how or when, but one way or another I need to get into the cells.”

A spiralled galaxy bloomed inside of him as stress and fear cultivated. His inner stars twisted with each day that passed and became a storm of beautiful shapes that collided and crashed with others. The midnight sky that he embodied had been lacking in light and radiant luster as she slept a few floors down. Even his own light had become dull without her.

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