Chapter 43 - Fractured

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Now that they have rescued Darish, Elissa feels the adrenaline seeping out of her body. She had been so incredibly angry that the flames of her ire had burnt through her dress. So angry that the dark power had risen up like flood water and broken through her defences.

As Antares carries them away, her mind whirls and she absentmindedly picks away at the hem of the tent-like shirt. That is until a huge, warm hand engulfs hers and stills her restless fingers.

She flushes slightly. Kai had stripped off his shirt and given it to her to cover herself. A gallant move, though it means that he is now sat bare-chested, only a foot or so behind her. All of a sudden, she becomes hyper-aware of the heat radiating from him.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking," she mumbles.

"Elissa, you may have the shirt from my back any time."

Uncertain of his mood, she twists in her seat and risks a peek up at his face. "Was that a joke?"

The corner of his mouth lifts, and even that smallest hint of a smile transforms his face.

"What has your mind so restless?" he asks, a slight frown creasing his brow.

"Darish. I hate to think what he went through. If only I had acted sooner."

"Nero is a despicable excuse for a being, who has not a single shred of honour." Kai levels her with a very stern look. "You cannot take any blame for his heinous acts."

If it had been Zane, she would have saluted and responded with 'yes dad." However, she feels more inhibited around Kai and merely bites her lip.

His expression softens. "Soon we will stop for the night and you can attend to your friend."

True to his word, less than an hour later they are sat around a fire having made camp in an idyllic spot by a river and at the edge of a forest. Elissa smiles as she watches the dragons gambolling in the water.

There is a cheer from the twins as Dawn hands out glasses of firewater, while they wait for dinner to roast on a spit over the fire.

Darish takes his drink and hunkers down on the ground, refusing to meet anyone's eye. Dusk crouches beside him and places a hand on his back but whips it back when his lover flinches.

Dawn's face takes on a pinched look, but she tries to keep her voice bright. "So where are we going next? To Darish's forest? We left your lover boy there, Elissa."

Guilt stirs in Elissa for just upping and leaving Aren behind, but she couldn't let him near Corinth for a third time. I hope he'll forgive me.

"Oh, he is not there. He left with that stuck up female. You know, Drake's sister," Zane announces.

Belinda! Elissa feels a little sick about the thought of that woman getting her manipulative claws into Aren. But right now, Darish has to be her priority.

She kneels before her friend and softly asks, "Darish, where do you want to go?"

Darish looks up at her. "I want to go home." The way he says it makes her feel like he is asking for permission.

"You want to see your parents?" she seeks clarification.

Darish's pale complexion takes on a slightly green tinge and he shakes his head. "I mean Avalon. If there is a place for me." He hangs his head again.

Her heart warms that he considers Avalon home, but she is anguished too. His physical wounds she can heal, but the mental ones are not so easy to fix.

She flings her arms around him. "Oh Darish, there is always a place for you."

"I am so very tired. May I retire for the night?"

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