"I want to know why you do it."
"Why I do what." he asked, stripping off his overcoat.
He flung it over the back of the couch without much thought as he began unbuttoning his shirt.
"Why you always save me. Every time I'm in trouble you always come...
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Being ripped from a comfortable dog pile was not my favorite way to wake up. The motion startling me out of sleep, a scream lodging in my throat as I struggled to comprehend what was happening only to be crushed against a firm chest. The fur lining the collar of his coat was soft, and the cardamom and bergamot scent soaked into it gave away who held me without me needing to look.
"I'm never leaving you again." Jongho promised, voice strained as he tightened his grip around my waist.
I hugged him, wrapping my arms around him as tightly as I could, happy to have him back. His presence broke me down, a loud sob pouring out of me as I collapse into him, thick tears rolling down my cheeks. Everything that had happened came crashing back down. The attack, the pain, the realization that I came so close to death's door. All of it escaping me in harsh cries as Jongho held me. He lowered the two of us to the ground, tucking me into him snugly as he let me cry. He attempted to soothe me. One hand gingerly holding the back of my head, fingers gently working their way through my hair hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure of his movements, but felt like I needed something more.
My tears turned to hiccups, my soft sniffling the only sound now that I had started to calm down. I tucked my legs underneath me, burying my face into Jongho's collar, unwilling to let him go just yet. I peeked out at the feeling of someone draping San's coat over me again. Wooyoung smiling sadly as he made sure it covered me completely. It was cold in the clearing again now that the fire had died out. The mist coating the ground too thick to let in the struggling rays of sunlight from the morning's sunrise. But enough of it poured through the make it obvious daylight was coming. Too much had happened in such a short amount of time. And I was scared to delve too much into it. I gripped Jongho's coat, my knuckles turning white. I couldn't let him go. I couldn't let any of them go.
"The others?" I jolted at the sound of Yeosang's voice, my head tilting up to find him.
He stood only a couple of feet behind Jongho, eyes trained on San as the latter forced himself up from the forest floor. Yeosang glanced down at me long enough to give me a soft smile, his hand reaching out to pet the top of my head comfortingly as he spoke with San and Wooyoung.
"They should be back soon. Yunho said they were due to be back before daybreak. I haven't been able to reach Mingi or Hongjoong. I assume they're still in Kriton."
Mingi and Hongjoong. I wondered what exactly happened after we left. Were they okay? Was my mom alright? Had she been attacked too? My anxiety didn't help when Jongho was trying to ease my nerves.
"They're aware we're in Merene. Our best bet is to wait for them in the castle."
Yeosang kneeled behind Jongho, his palm cupping my chin to guide me to look at him again.
"Are you well enough to fly?"
I nodded, already dreading the implication of having to be by myself on one of them. Even though I'd be right there riding them, it wouldn't be enough. I needed their reassurance. Their presence wrapped around mine. I needed them close. I never considered myself to be a fragile person. I spent the last several months being the strong one for my mother. But being at the mercy of my attacker made me realize just how breakable I was. My strength nothing compared to his. I very nearly crumbled under it. If Seonghwa hadn't chosen that moment to save me, I may not have had the willpower to save myself. The thought was depressing.
