Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter 24

Douxie paused, finger hovering over the map they had spread out on the deck. He felt a tug at his soul, something desperate in it.

"Douxie?" Jim nudged him. "Are you okay?"

Douxie shook himself off. "Yeah, I'm fi—"

I want you back with me.

Carter. He needed Douxie. The wizard could feel it now. The anger, pain, and sorrow filtering into his senses from Carter. Carter needed him.

"I... need to go check on Carter," he said hurriedly, shooting to his feet. He didn't spare anyone else a glance as he raced down the stairs and yanked the door to the captain's quarters opened.

Fenris turned when he saw him, Carter half-buried into his big fluffy shoulder. "Oh good. I was wondering when you were going to show up."

Douxie ignored his sass, much more concerned about Carter's pain than his own. "Fen, can you give us a minute?"

Fenris looked hesitant, but began to move. Douxie replaced him as Carter's emotional anchor, waiting for the Wolf to leave before he spoke.

"Carter," Douxie said softly, kneeling by the chair he was sitting in, gently combing his fingers through his hair. "My love, what's wrong?"

Carter took in a shaking breath, blinking tears out of his eyes. He shook his head, unwilling or unable to communicate his thoughts at the moment.

"Here, come here." Douxie instructed, gently pulling Carter onto the floor with him. Carter didn't fight his efforts, and that was something Douxie was grateful for. He was scared of the space Carter had put between them, scared what it meant. He was happy Carter was letting him close right now. They sat together on the floor, legs tangled together. Douxie didn't pull Carter against him yet though, wanting to really look at him for a moment. "Are you okay?"

Rendered mute from his injury, and very clearly in a bad head space, Carter just shook his head again.

Douxie pursed his lips, gently cupping Carter's cheek, rubbing his thumb over his skin gently. His gaze caught on the fresh scar on Carter's throat. It was an eyesore, not healed fully even after Olivia's magic had gone over it. Very slowly, very gently, Douxie ran the pad of his thumb against that scar, pausing when Carter visibly flinched.

"Does it hurt?" He asked, resting his hand against the side of Carter's neck.

Carter just looked at him, brows pinched together. He hadn't pulled himself out of Douxie's grip yet.

With a little shaking breath, Douxie pulled his hands back, vambrace lighting up. He wordlessly passed a spell to his right hand, letting the magic wash over his fingers and up his arm. His skin tingled with coolness, and he pressed his palm against the scar again, watching the visible relief wash over Carter's face.

The half-blood closed his eyes, Adam's apple bobbing against Douxie's palm as he sunk into the alleviation the spell provided. Douxie pressed his lips together, holding his hand still for Carter. He couldn't even begin to imagine the amount of pain he was in right now.

Carter shuddered out a pitiful little breath, dropping his head into the crook of Douxie's neck. His nose ticked Douxie's skin, breath ghosting over his collarbone, but still Douxie didn't move.

"You're alright, my love." Douxie murmured, finally beginning to believe that was true again. "I'm right here, you're okay."

He pressed a kiss against Carter's hair, closing his eyes, pouring more magic into his hand. Carter's throat vibrated in what was almost a moan. Was Douxie imagining him pulling himself closer?