Evocation

(CLEAN) Chapter 24- Promises

*This is the cleaner version of Chapter 24. You do not need to read them both.*

Echo:

I climb back up the shaky rope, my wet fingers clutching onto the scratchy material. When I make it to the top, Daegan is waiting for me with an expression I've never seen before. He grabs my shoulders hard and pulls me into him.

"I'm wet," I tell him.

"You're safe." He squeezes me so hard it hurts.

In the next moment, Hadrien is pulling Daegan off of me and pulling me into his arms. His hands are all over me, enveloping me. "Don't you ever fucking do that to me," he cries, touching my flesh everywhere, as if not believing I'm real.

"Let's get her dry," Arlo says. Him and Fenix approach, wrapping me up in a warm towel. Arlo reaches around me to hand Dean a towel as well.

"Get another," I tell them, knowing that Lorcan is behind us. Arlo's aged face flashes anger for a second before he leaves to retrieve a third towel.

The other crew members approach to hug and hold me. When Lorcan pulls himself over the side of the boat, they all back away suddenly, glaring at him.

I turn to Robby and Frank. "Get his cot and move it to my room," I order. They leave immediately without question. Arlo comes back with a new towel, gaze averted from his old friend. I take the towel from him and hand it to Lorcan. "Dry off in my quarters." Lorcan holds the towel and silently walks towards my room. Lastly, I turn to Hadrien. "I need to speak with Captain Bradley. Watch Lorcan please."

"I can't promise he'll be alive when you get back," Hadrien says seriously.

"Promise me he will," I reply.

Hadrien hesitates before he nods his head. "I promise."

I walk with the crew downstairs, helping them settle back into their beds for the night. I stop in Fenix and Daegan's cabin. They both stand from their cots and pull me into a hug.

"You asshole," Fenix says. "You didn't tell us it would be tonight."

I hold them both tighter. "I still love you. I meant that."

Deagan pulls me into him. Fenix releases us so we can have a moment. I breathe Daegan in, savoring his warm, dry skin. He guides my mouth to his and suddenly it's as if I'm kissing him for the first time again. I feel his jaw move under my fingertips as his tongue dances along mine, breathing life back into me once more. Fenix's hands float around my hip and lower back like he's too afraid to lose my touch for even a moment or I might slip away again.

Daegan breaks our kiss as he speaks. "I need some sleep," he says in my ear. "You'll be awake tomorrow? For sure?"

"Yes, I promise. I'm not going anywhere now." I say.

Daegan kisses me hard, biting and pulling on my lip with desperate fervor. Fenix pulls me, spinning me towards him and takes his time kissing me gently, like he's afraid he'll break me if he holds me any tighter. His breath is hot against me, his skin soft.

"Get some sleep." I tell them, tucking them into their beds.

I visit Arlo and Dean's room next. They're both laying down in their cots, Arlo on the top bunk. Dean looks exhausted, the coal around his eyes bleeding down his cheeks from the water.

"Can we talk tomorrow?" I ask Dean. He nods, but otherwise doesn't speak. "Thank you both for your help today," I tell them. "Sleep well."

I knock on Captain Bradley's door next. He answers quickly, handing me a small silver key. "What is this?" I ask.