The Death Kingdom

Chapter Eighteen

"Bloody Nyer, Saige, is that really you?" Fynn's voice is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

I crush him into a hug. "It is, Gods, Fynn it's good to see you. I was worried Atwood gave up on me."

Fynn chuckles into my shoulder. "Oh, he did. I had to beg him to let me come today and thank the gods I did. Akita has been so worried, I haven't known what to do with her. She came the past four weeks, she wouldn't let me go the hard ass. She doesn't even know I'm here today, as soon as I got the okay from Atwood I left."

I pull away from the embrace, my heart feeling full for the first time since I last saw Fynn. "I've missed you. Gods I miss Akita. You tell her I'm okay as soon as you get back. I know how she worries, I can't stand to think of her in that state."

Fynn nods his head and quickly checks our surroundings behind the food wagon. "I'll tell her everything, starting with where the hell have you been, Saige? What happened?"

I take a deep breath, leaning against the back of the wagon for support. "I don't even know where to start, Fynn. There's been so much. The attack, the two princes," I soften my voice, "I was hurt."

Fynn takes a step forward. "Don't tell me it was one of the creatures from the Misty Forest."

I give a small shrug. "I'm okay, I promise, I got the best care around," I reassure him.

"Bloody Nyer," he swears, running a hand through his hair. His eyes water as he stares at me, and that's when I remember his father was killed by a creature. My heart breaks in half, he could've lost someone else to a creature.

"I'm okay, I'm right here." My voice is gentle, coaxing. I place my hand on the back of his neck to get him to look at me, to see that I'm alright.

"Akita and I could've lost you," he whispers, a tightness to his voice.

I allow a small smile to spread. "I'm far too stubborn for that."

He lets out a soft laugh. "Of course you are."

We share a meaningful look. One of those where you study the other person, cementing the vision of them into memory so you can remember each other forever. It's beautiful to have moments just to check in and make sure we're both still here and still fighting.

I let out a breath, removing my hand from his neck. "I killed it, Fynn," I tell him. "I killed the beast."

His eyes widen. "You killed it? Holy shit. I knew you were a good fighter, but shit."

I rub my arms with my hands, the memory playing through my mind. "It killed so many people, by the time it got to me it was exhausted, I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't already injured." My breath shutters. "Fynn it was terrifying, I'm starting to have nightmares." I shut my mouth as my throat starts to close up, tears burning in my eyes.

I've been trying to deal with what happened to the best of my ability, but the only person I've been able to talk to is Nena, but it's few and far between. She's struggling with everything that happened too. I know she's having nightmares, she's been zoning out more throughout the day, and has been quieter. We're both haunted by the creature, and I don't know how to help us.

Fynn wraps me in another tight hug. "I wish I could've been here with you. We need to get you out, Saige, enough is enough. I'm going to tell Atwood it's gone on too long. It's far too dangerous."

I want to tell him no, that I haven't accomplished what I came here for, but the idea of going home is so appealing I want to cry with relief. I'm struggling, and I haven't been able to get any significant information anyway. Would another couple of weeks make a difference?