Toy Soldier {ManxManxMan}

CHAPTER 8

Evidently me being cautious meant falling asleep on the roof next to the guy I barely knew and waking up in my bed the next morning. It was nice of Beckett to carry me into my room so I didn't catch pneumonia from the freezing night air, but if he touched me again I was gonna cut his hands off, and I told him so when I saw him in the hall. He just arched an eyebrow at me looking way to amused.

"Good morning Dakota," Arthur greeted me, and I turned away from glaring at Beckett so I could focus on Arthur, who was standing with Raiden propped onto his hip, Malachi behind him.

"Hey. How's Demi?"

"Better," Arthur said with a soft smile, "You?"

I scratched my neck, "I'm fine."

"Kailas wanted you to rest longer."

"Too much to do," I argued, "If I start hurting I'll just sit down, promise."

"Mhm," Arthur arched his eyebrow skeptically, "Because you keep that promise all the time. You're worse than Cass is."

"That guy...," I heard Beckett murmur, and looked over my shoulder to see him peering off to the side with narrowed eyes.

"I'll be fine," I argued again, "Wasn't Kailas going to assign roles for these idiots while they were here?"

"Yes, but... he hasn't been doing too well, you know that. He refuses to leave Demi's side, and no one has the heart to try and make him. We're just going to leave them both until Demi starts to wake up. Till then, Kailas is in no position to lead."

I felt pain ache in my chest and dropped my head, chewing on my lip, "I'm sorry," I said, "I... knew he'd be a mess if I didn't get Demi out, but he's a mess anyway. Did I do the right thing?"

My eyes lifted when Arthur put a hand on my shoulder, giving me a gentle smile, "You did good, Dakota. I'm sure Kailas has told you before to trust your instincts? Never doubt yourself, you're a smart kid, you did what you could do, so you shouldn't feel guilty or regretful. You saved his life."

I nodded slowly in agreement, but it didn't feel very genuine. Technically Carter was the one who saved us, all I did was get myself recaptured and assaulted. I was just another broken heart because of this. God, if Demi didn't wake up at all, I don't know what I'd do, and who knows how Kailas would react to it?

"Come on," Arthur chided, walking past me, "For now Cass is in charge. He talked with Kailas and Malachi last night and decided on a few things."

When I turned, I was shocked to see Beckett still standing there, watching me with an unreadable expression. He turned before I could speak, and I narrowed my eyes as I followed after him. We followed Arthur to the meeting room where Cass, Gale, Ian, Maggie, Logan, Orion, and Carina were already occupying seats around the table, and I dragged my feet as I entered, tensing when Gale saw me and scurried over to hug me tightly.

"He missed you," Arthur explained with a laugh, "He was really worried about both of you."

"Yea," I murmured, leaning my head up a little and petting Gale's back as he nuzzled against me, "Has he seen Demi yet?"

"Yep, he started to cry," Cass said, standing with his hands leaning against the table, smiling over at me, "Everyone's beyond relieved you both are back."

"Somehow Gale knew everything would be okay," Arthur hummed, sitting down on the other side of Cass, "Though he was still really worried."

"Let go," I muttered, trying to pry Gale off me as I made my way over to the table, sitting down next to Ian with Gale perched in the next seat over and scooting closer so he could cling to my arm, frowning at the five newcomers across from us.