Their Light

Chapter 38

Hadley

I woke up feeling stiff and sore. What happened? I peeled my eyes open, taking in the sleeping form beside me. The bright carrot-colored spirals stood out against the dark sheets. Instantly, it all came back to me.

No more sunlight streamed through my window, but there were various lamps set up around my room casting a warm glow. I didn't know what I would have done if it had been dark again. I shivered as I remembered it.

My hand tightened around Isaac's. I cradled it to my chest. His hand squeezed back, surprising me. I whipped my eyes up and met those sparkling emerald ones, completely free of any darkness.

"Hey," he said, his voice rough. He swallowed once, but it didn't seem to help.

"You're awake," I replied, trying to sound cheerful. "How are you feeling?"

I pushed my powers back out and searched his body for anything amiss. He squeezed my hand again, gaining my attention.

"I'm fine. You saved me." I cuddled into his side and breathed a shuddering sigh of relief. That was way too close. I almost lost him.

These boys had become so important to me. I almost lost him, and it could have been any of them. I could have lost them all. Flashes of that terrible nightmare broke through the last bit of resistance that was keeping the sobs at bay. I cried into the side of his chest. His other arm wrapped around my back, pulling me closer to him.

"I'm okay, we're okay," he murmured comforting words in my ear as the stress of what happened, worry, and relief all roll through me at once. A knock at the door quieted my sobs. I tried to pull myself together as whoever it was entered the room.

"I brought you guys some soup and grilled cheeses," Peter said, placing a tray full of steaming food on the bed. He handed me a tissue off the tray without a word. I took it gratefully as Isaac and I attempted to sit up. I winced and leaned back against the pillows.

"How are you feeling?" Kent asked, coming through the door, followed closely by the others. They crowded around the bed, staring at us both. I glanced at Isaac. He looked pale but overall okay.

"I'm tired, but I'll be fine after some more sleep," he said, reaching for a sandwich. But he didn't take a bite of it. Instead, he handed it to me. I took it, loving the warmth of it on my fingertips. I didn't even realize that I was cold.

I barely had time to shiver before another blanket was draped across my shoulders. I glanced up and smiled at Zeke, grateful for his thoughtfulness. The silence in the room dragged on, and I realized Kent was waiting for me to respond. I took a mental inventory of myself, wiggling around slightly.

"A little sore, honestly," I told him, wincing at the slight pain. Why would I be sore? Isaac was the one that was attacked.

"Makes sense," Kent stated. "You used a lot of power." My persisting confusion must have been apparent because Peter stepped in.

"It's like a muscle you're not used to working out." Oh. I nodded my understanding and took a bite out of my sandwich. I had to hold back a moan. Peter had a gift.

"Caspian and Zeke finished packing everything up, so we'll be leaving at first light," Kent told us.

"But I didn't finish-" I started to protest, but Caspian cut me off.

"I did. Don't worry," he told me in a soft voice.

The soft voice was nice, but it set me on alert. I focused on the buzz of emotions in the room. Wow. I had to take a couple of deep breaths to calm myself. None of them were doing well right now. Some were faking it better than others, but everyone had been shaken by recent events.

"Okay," I replied slowly, before taking another bite of the sandwich.

I couldn't help but notice how everyone's eyes seemed to track the motion of the food. I could do this. If eating this and resting put them at ease, I could do that. Even though I wanted to get up and do something to make sure this could never happen again. I fingered my protection necklace briefly, an idea flashing in my mind. I turned to Zeke.

"Would your mother be against making one of these for everyone?" I asked. His eyes widened before he tilted his head, looking conflicted.

"I don't think she would mind," he started, and I could feel the 'but' coming. "But it isn't customary for Kustos to have protection amulets."

"What about when a Pravus or the Tenebris tries to corrupt you?" I asked, placing my sandwich down. This was not what I expected, but I was beginning to expect the worst of this society when it came to anything to do with Kustos.

"They normally target Probus," Kent stated.

"Obviously not anymore," I snapped, motioning to Isaac. Zeke stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I will ask her." I nodded, appeased at the moment. I would feel better if they had protection of their own.

The guys steered the conversation to more light-hearted topics, and it wasn't too much longer until the soup and sandwiches were gone. Taking in Isaac's drooping eyelids, I couldn't help but feel the same way. I felt like I could sleep for a full twenty-four hours and still be tired. But I looked back over all the guys. I couldn't pass out just yet.

"You guys need to eat and get some rest yourself," I told them, trying to put some force into my words. "We're okay, and we'll be leaving for Domu tomorrow. Everyone needs to get some rest."

Thankfully, most of them acknowledged my words. Each one stopped by the bed, offering a hand squeeze or a few sweet words before heading out the door.

Isaac and I eased back under the covers. I sighed as my muscles relaxed into the soft mattress.

"It'll get better," he told me, his eyes already closing.

"What?"

"The soreness," he explained. "The more you use you powers, the less of an effect it will have on you." Made sense, but there was something that was bothering me.

"Why didn't I feel this way after I healed Finn?" His eyes opened reluctantly and looked down at me.

"I don't know for sure, but I have a guess," he started. "Healing is a more innate power, if that makes sense. You control it, and Finn wasn't fighting against you. But pushing the darkness away like you did required more effort because it was fighting back."

I let his words sink in. It made sense and thankfully wasn't so complicated that I couldn't wrap my head around it. I took his hand back in mine. Turning onto my side, I faced him, pulling his hand to my chest. I was not usually this touchy-feely, but just for tonight, I needed to know he was safe. I needed to know he was still right beside me, even if I didn't open my eyes.

"Thank you," his low murmured voice had me opening my eyes back up. I went to respond, but before I could his breaths had evened out. I stared at him for a moment, cherishing the fact that he was okay.

A wave of anger hit me as I thought about whoever had the nerve to not only attack me in my dreams, but to attack Isaac as well. Plans began to form in my head. I would work out this new 'muscle' until it was ready to annihilate that darkness the moment it tried to do something like this again. Squeezing Isaac's hand, I closed my eyes.

I would protect him. I would protect all of them.