The FlameKeeper - Kaz Brekker

CH.06 - the bottom of the Djan

(GIF ISN'T MINE, CREDITS TO THE MAKER!)

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'I was wondering when you'd finally wake up,' a voice spoke softly. Sabo squinted at the bright light before it dimmed. As her vision cleared, she saw Wylan placing the curtains before the windows.

Sabo looked to her left and saw Jesper.

'Where are we?' Sabo rasped as she tried sitting up.

Jesper gently pushed her down. 'We're in a hotel.' Jesper spoke before doubting. 'Or a small motel?' Jesper asked as he looked at Wylan.

'Bed and breakfast,' Wylan contradicted.

'An old lady runs this place, I'm convinced it's haunted.' Jesper joked as he observed Sabo.

Sabo could barely look at him without feeling guilty. They were all here because of her.

'You look awful.' Jesper spoke.

Sabo observed herself in the small mirror that hung before the bed. Someone had braided her hair and stitched up the wound on her jaw. She tried to fight the urge to touch it.

'Yeah,' Sabo replied. 'But I still look better than you.'

Jesper smiled. 'If you're joking with me already, that means you are officially back.'

'Is everyone safe?' Sabo asked as she tried to ignore her pounding headache. Sabo ran her hand over her face before she touched the stitches on her jaw.

'Careful,' Jesper spoke as he took her hand away from her face. 'We're fine. We all look better than you do right now.'

Sabo gave him a weak smile as she sat up again and hit away Jesper's hand. 'Who's we?'

She needed to know who was there, she needed to know who she needed to protect.

'Well,' Jesper shared a concerned look with Wylan. 'Your father and sister, Najla and Lorelai, and - of course - the six of us.'

Sabo made a list in her head of the people who risked their lives for her. 'Wait,' Sabo said confused. 'My father, my sister, and Matthias are here?'

'Yes,' Wylan replied as he too sat down beside Sabo's bed. 'Everyone is all right.'

'Speaking about Matthias... I've been going through your bag, and I found this,' Jesper said as he held up an engagement ring. 'Is this the ring Matthias proposed with?'

Sabo looked at the ring before looking at Wylan who was sitting in the chair on Sabo's side. 'You told him?'

'Wylan told everyone,' Jesper said as he playfully wiggled his eyebrows. 'He's a bigger gossip than me.'

Wylan's mouth fell open. 'That's not how it went.'

Jesper let out a quiet chuckle before he winked at Wylan. 'You tell yourself that.'

Sabo knew what Jesper was trying to do, he was trying to lift her mood.

'Who is everyone?' Sabo asked as she looked at Wylan.

'We'll tell you if you tell us everything,' Jesper spoke as he planted himself beside her on the bed.

Sabo smiled as she let her head lean on his shoulder. Jesper could see that she was falling asleep again.

'Wait,' Sabo said. 'You went through my bag? I don't have a bag with me.'

'Kaz had a bag with your things.' Jesper replied. 'Probably from your apartment back in Ketterdam.'