Page 89 of Castor
I set my bag down and walked back upstairs, cracking open the door to Titan’s room.
Raiden sat in a chair beside the bed and was staring at him. Alastair had put Titan into a deep sleep as his body healed, another of our powers we had that normal Nephilim didn’t. What was left of Titan’s arm had been wrapped, as was his torso, and he was so motionless and pale that if not for the soft rising and falling of his chest, I would’ve thought he was dead.
“Sorry,” Raiden croaked. “I’ll be down in a minute. I just…” He blinked and turned his face away from me.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “I know.”
“Do you?” He quickly wiped at his eyes. Still not looking at me. “Fuckin’ A. I don’t know why I’m so beat up over this. I don’t even know him. He just… he was so kind to me, ya know?”
Raiden had the biggest heart out of all of us. Few people would think that when first meeting him, but beneath the rock-hard muscle and piercing blue-eyed gaze lay a six-foot-seven teddy bear with a goofy personality to match. He cared about people. A lot.
“I’m sure Baxter will keep us updated on him,” I said, squeezing his shoulder before pulling away. “It’s time to go home.”
Nodding, he stood from the chair, wiped at his eyes again, and then, ever so gently, moved aside a strand of Titan’s dark hair. My sternum tightened. I wasn’t sure if the feeling had come from me or him.
The trip back to Echo Bay was quiet. Bellamy joined Alastair in the cockpit, probably his attempt to put distance between us, and Raiden and I were too lost in our heads to talk to each other.
I looked at the empty seat beside me, remembering how I’d rested my head on Kyo’s shoulder as he played that game on his phone. Recalled the few times he’d pressed his lips into my hair and nuzzled into me when he thought I was asleep.
Fuck, I missed him. But “missed” wasn’t a big enough word to describe the ache in my chest. I felt hollow on the inside.
I had no way to contact him either. His phone had been left behind when Tatsuya took him away, and I didn’t have his brother’s number. Not that the water dragon king would answer my call even if I did. The fire in his eyes when he’d told me it was my fault Kyo was hurt was seared into my brain.
“Wanna watch a movie?” Raiden asked, speaking for the first time since the jet took off.
“Not really.”
“Me either.”
The rest of the journey was quiet. A fresh wave of pain hit me when we landed at the airport and I saw Kyo’s bike parked beside Alastair’s SUV. I rested my hand on the seat, hot tears burning at the backs of my eyes. I didn’t want to leave it behind.
“Here.” Alastair tossed me Kyo’s bag. “His keys are in there. Drive it back to the mansion. You can return it to him when he comes home.”
The “when” in that sentence brought more tears to the surface. I doubted it was true, but it was nice of Alastair to say it regardless. I grabbed the keys and hopped on the bike, sliding my hands along the bars before starting it.
The drive to the mansion helped clear my head a little. Wind swept through my hair, a little chilly and smelling of wet leaves and woodsmoke. Autumn had officially arrived. A new season. My reminder that time went on around me, even when it felt like I was frozen within it.
Gray threw open the front door and ran down the steps as I came down the driveway. Once the bike came to a stop, he attacked me.
“Cas!” His arms tightened around my torso. “I’m so glad you’re okay! I can’t believe there was a battle. I should’ve been there to help.”
I kissed his temple before getting off the bike. Gray not being present on the beach was the one good thing to happen. He was a great fighter, but Sloth wore him down easily. The battle had lasted hours. He wouldn’t have been able to stay awake during the whole thing. I couldn’t imagine losing him. Especially since I’d already lost so much.
When the SUV pulled in, Gray left my side to pounce on Alastair, then Bellamy and Raiden. He was like an excited puppy, bouncing from one person to the next, happy that we were home. When things calmed down, I’d give him the leather bracelet I’d bought for him from the marketplace Kyo and I visited on Baxter’s island. The same place I’d bought the silver dragon necklace. My heart hurt too much right now though.
Simon walked down the steps and pulled me in for a tight hug. The human and I had been through hell together. Quite literally. The near-death experience and mutual imprisonment in that cell in the underworld had bonded us together.
Galen appeared beside him and gripped my shoulder before letting his arm fall back to his side. He wasn’t the touchy-feely type, though the relief in his gray eyes spoke wonders.
“Any news on Kyo?” Simon asked. Galen must have told him after Alastair reached out to them about the battle.
I shook my head, not trusting my voice.
The nine hours on the plane had made me restless. After greeting everyone, I tossed Kyo’s and my luggage into my bedroom, then walked out onto my balcony. The sun was setting, casting shadows on the mountain. I pulled off my shirt and spread my wings, turning my face to the sky before lifting into the air.
I flew over the sea, touching the water as I passed down over it, then shot up higher, my wings curling around my body before fanning back out and catching the breeze. My arms felt so empty without Kyo nestled against my chest.
Although the island weather had been awesome, it felt good to be back home.
