Page 65 of Finn's Solace

I hadn't said the words yet, but I'd been so sure I loved him. But if I really loved him, wouldn't I have protected him?

"Finn?"

Levi's voice jerked me out of the thoughts I'd been drowning in, and my eyes watered as they met his.

"Levi? Oh fuck, you're okay." I pulled him against my chest again, and he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back. I felt like I would shatter into a million pieces any moment.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I mumbled into his hair, and he pulled back, cupping my cheek and forcing me to meet his eyes.

"What are you apologizing for?"

"I should've reacted quicker. I shouldn't have let him hit you."

"It was just a bump in the head, Gin. I'm okay now. You reacted just fine. At least now he can be put in jail for assault," he said, then frowned. "Don't know how you'd explain the stone thing to the cops, though."

"Dad's handling it. There's a cop who knows about supes."

"Of course there is. I should've guessed," Levi said with a chuckle. "Come on—let's go inside. Time for a cuddle and some sleep."

I nodded, then helped him to his feet. I checked his head, but other than some dried blood, there was nothing. His garden, his magic, had healed him.

"Thanks, you guys. I'll give you an extra boost once I've recovered," Levi said, rubbing the leaf of a plant close by.

Once we were inside, I locked the doors, then led him to his bedroom. We changed into sleep clothes after quickly washing up, then slipped under the sheets.

I turned on my side to face Levi as he switched off the lights, and he pulled me close, then pressed a kiss on my lips. "I'm okay, Gin, and you're not allowed to worry about me anymore. Understood?"

"Okay," I murmured, wishing it was as easy as that.

It didn't take Levi long to fall asleep, but every time I closed my eyes, thatcrackrang through my head, along with the image of Levi crumpling to the ground.

It was going to be a long night.

Levi

After the night we'd had, I wasn't really surprised when I was woken up by a fidgeting Finn at three a.m. He was mumbling in his sleep, and I flicked the lights on, unsure how to help.

He'd told me not to wake him from a nightmare, since he tended to get disoriented when he woke and it took him longer to calm down, and the alternative was watching him suffer. I couldn't just go back to sleep when I knew he was hurting, so instead I sat vigil and waited for it to be over.

"Levi," he murmured, and I sucked in a breath. Was he dreaming about tonight? Or before?

"I'm so sorry, so sorry," he mumbled, and my breath caught in my chest as tears slipped from his eyes, making his lashes cling together. "All my fault."

Fuck, this was torture. There had to be some way to help him, right?

Greta peered at me from her pillow between ours, then walked over to Finn and curled up against his chest, rubbing her face against his chin.

Was she comforting him?

Finn sighed, and the grip he'd had on his pillowcase loosened as he cupped Greta's back instead, and pulled her into his chest.

She sent a wave of comfort through our bond, and it took me a moment to realize she'd done the same with Finn. Did that mean she had a bond with him as well? Maybe it'd been created when she bit him?

Whatever she'd done, it had calmed Finn down, and I turned off the lights, then wrapped my arm around his middle, pulling him closer. Greta was trapped between us, but she didn't seem to mind as she curled up and went back to sleep.

It took me a while to fall asleep again, but when I next woke up, it was morning, and the other side of the bed was empty.

I sat up with a groan, scanning the room for any signs of Finn or Greta. His clothes from last night were still hanging over the back of the chair, and I relaxed. He hadn't left.

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