Abditory

𝓜𝔂𝓴𝓸𝓷𝓸𝓼

The damage done to the island had been incomprehensible. 

Debris, blood and weapons were scattered everywhere. It looked like a landfill to the untrained eye. 

I limped out of the church for the first time after winning the war. 

My eyes squinted against the harsh rays of the sun. 

The storm is over.

Ambrose had been bedridden for a little over a week. I had not left his side. 

"What are you doing baby?" a rough voice groaned behind me

A burst of warmth shot through me at the sound of his voice. 

I was so scared he was going to die. 

He was damaged beyond recognition and his heath was decreasing rapidly.

For the first few days, I refused to leave his side. But then eventually he came to. 

Now he's up and walking around. Not without assistance but it's still a feat. 

"What are you doing up, you're going to hurt yourself." I smiled.

Ambrose draped his muscular arm around me and pulled me close to his chest with a small groan. 

"I'm not an old man butterfly. I don't need a nurse." he rolled his eyes. 

I placed a light hand on his chest and moved my gaze up to his dark eyes.

"Don't be such a brute, take the help." 

My arms slithered around his waist and he kissed my head lightly. 

"Ok but I'll only take it from you. If Kallen tries to touch me ill gut him" 

I refrain from making a joke about his crankiness and just giggled.

His lips met mine and I could feel them forming a slight smile. 

"Do you wanna go for a walk?" I asked him sweetly. 

He squeezed my arm and let out a small breath. "I'd love to" 

He kept his arm draped around my steady body. 

Ambrose would excuse it as an act of love but I knew he needed the support. 

We didn't say anything as we walked through our recovering island. 

Though when we passed the place Durian had fallen, we held each other extra tight. 

It was a hot afternoon and everyone left was outside working together to clean up and recover the island. 

 Many eyes fell upon us as we walked slowly through the mainland. 

This area of the island seems to have recovered the most as the majority of the small booths and shops were back up. 

I spotted Kallen amongst the crowd and turned to Ambrose.  

"You wanna go see everyone?" I asked lightly. 

I would understand if talking to anyone right now was too hard for him. However, it could also help him get some closure.

"As long as I'm with you I'm ready for anything." 

My head flickered up to him. 

I found him looking down at me with his obsidian gaze. A small smile formed on my face at his words.

Ambrose had become more compassionate, at least to me after everything that happened. 

He holds me so tenderly at night, and when we kiss, it's like our last.

 "Kallen Tomas and Reign come into view as we reach our usual spot. 

They sit in front of a fire, laughing amongst themselves. 

A familiar warmth spread through me as I watched them. It was like the past month hadn't occurred.

Like everything was back to normal. Except it really wasn't. 

"Calenthe- Ambrose" Kallen gasped and threw himself at us.

I caught him in my arms before he could hurt Ambrose. 

He held onto me tight. I squeezed his waist trying not to tear up. 

"God I missed you" he breathed. 

"Not going soft on us are you Kallen?" Ambrose mused. 

Tomas and Reign chuckled as they approached. 

Kallen released me and I felt a small smile on my face. 

I had missed them more than they could know. They made me feel so loved. 

I hugged Reign and Tomas as Kallen caught up with Ambrose.

"How is he?" they asked. 

I leaned in close so that the others couldn't hear me. 

"I think he's doing better, but I doubt he'd tell me if he wasn't"  

They chuckled and told me how relieved they were to see me. 

As I discussed the progress of the island with them, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. 

"You're not done with me yet Cal" Kallen mused, placing a big wet kiss on my head. 

"Watch it" Ambrose warned jokingly. 

My shoulders slackened as I came to a realization. 

"How's Lilabeth?" I asked softly. 

The sun was starting to move west and the air was sweet with the smells of food being prepared for tonight. 

kallen tensed. 

"she hasn't been out yet. I've been checking on her and it seems like she just needed to be alone." 

I sighed. My heart hurt for her. She and Durian clearly had something, I couldn't imagine how she would be feeling right now.

I moved out of Kallen's arms and faced the group. 

"I'm gonna go see her" I whispered. 

I desperately needed to see her.

Ambrose limped over to me and cradled my chin in his hand. 

"Be safe butterfly" he whispered over my lips with a kiss.

 I turned and marched my way over to her cabin. 

It took me a second to go in but I walked up her steps and knocked lightly on her door. 

"Lilabeth, it's me". I called. 

I heard a thud and a light shuffle across the floor before she unlocked the door. 

We both didn't say a word. I stared at her thin pale figure and she preview mine. 

She let out a strangled sob and lept into my arms. 

I held her close to me as we wept quietly in each other's arms.  

I could feel the raw emotion pooling out of her as she shivered. 

"Oh Lila I'm so sorry." I cooed. 

She looked at me with tear-stained cheeks and smiled. 

"I'm ok, I've come to terms with it. It just all came back seeing you Cal. I'm so glad you're ok" she laughed. 

I laughed along with her as we slumped down on her porch. 

"You gonna come out tonight?" I asked her. 

She sighed and turned to me. 

"I think I might." she answered. 

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. 

"I need you there Lila." I smiled. 

She linked her arm through mine. 

"Is everything ok?" she asked.

 "It couldn't be better."