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“I did,” Erix replied, tone careful. He took his place on the other side of Duncan’s bed, his demeanour taut as if every muscle he had was hard as stone. “Because of you.”

Duncan’s weak smile tugged the corners of his cracked lips. “You took your… time.”

Erix cleared his throat before continuing. “Can I ask why you orchestrated my visit,Duwar?”

Duncan winced at the name. “Thepoweris resting… you’re speaking to me. And to answer your… your question, I brought you here because Robinneedsyou. For that, I need you.”

“No.” Erix sucked in a sharp breath. “Robin needs you to get better, that is all.”

“Wait,” I said, snatching a broken shard of glass and lifting it before Duncan’s face. Tears welled in my eyes when I saw the reflection of the man I loved so terribly that I’d give my own life for him. “It’s really you.”

“Yes, darling.” Duncan’s words were slurred, and yet unmistakably his. “It is me… for now.”

I leaned over him, back hunched as adrenaline flooded out of me.

“Erix,” Duncan rasped, “you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Not a ghost, Duncan. Just you. I must say you’ve looked better, friend.” Erix scoffed an awkward laugh, but his face was void of any humour or happiness. Seeing Duncan in his state had shaken him deeply, only adding to my guilt.

“I’ve felt… better too.” Duncan extended a weak, shaking hand toward Erix, who took it without question. “I must speak with you, Erix. There isn’t time to… waste.”

Erix glanced cautiously at me, almost searching for permission. I didn’t need to give it, but I nodded anyway as I smoothed down Duncan’s greasy hair with a shaking hand.

Slowly, Erix approached. His pace was slow with trepidation, his hand never straying from his sword. Although I knew he’d never use it against Duncan, a feeling I didn’t need to be confirmed with words.

“Do I… really look that bad, Erix?”

Erix’s face screwed up, lips pouting in contemplation. “You certainly are still the handsome man I first met, Duncan,” Erix said as he stepped to the bed’s side. I admired his awkward attempt to soften reality, but it barely met its intended mark. “It brings me no comfort to see you like this.”

“Try being… in my position, friend.” Duncan smiled weakly. “Listen to me.” He reached for Erix and wrapped trembling fingers around his wrist. It was so sudden, so full of panic, which reflected in Duncan’s unblinking stare. “Robin… needs you. No matter what… whatever Robin says… I ask that you don’t leave his side again.”

My breath caught in my throat, tears finally falling in rivulets down my cheeks.

Erix spared me a glance. “As much as I agree, I can’t force him to do anything. You know this–”

“You would both refuse a man in such a dire state?” Duncan rolled his head and faced me, the inner pain painted in his exhaustion and colourless cheeks. “I made Erix come… for you. Because if I can’t protect you from yourself, he can.”

“Duncan, you must rest,” I began.

“And you must listen,” Duncan gasped, struggling to force out the words. “I know Erix will lay his life down for you… and that is all I can ask for.”

There was no stopping the sob that broke out of me. I clapped a hand over my mouth a moment too late. Erix noticed but didn’t take his eyes off Duncan. The intensity between them was thick. So overbearing I found my knees trembling beneath it.

Erix didn’t shy away from the demand. Instead, he knelt at the bedside, clasped Duncan’s hand and held it firm. “You need to continue fighting Duwar. Do it for Robin, promise me that and I, in turn, will promise to stay with him.”

“I’m so tired… so very tired.” Duncan closed his eyes, exhaling a breath through ruined lips. I waited for him to open them again, but he didn’t. His breathing evened, his grasp on Erix loosened. And in the wake of the last few minutes, we were left in a gaping void of silence that had the power to undo every fibre of my being.

Time moved strangely. Erix had come round to my side of the bed without me noticing. I could barely think straight, couldn’t form a thought long enough before my mind crumbled.

“How about we clean this mess up,” Erix suggested softly. “Then you need to rest too.”

I looked down, seeing what he pointed at. The glass was everywhere, but I didn’t care. None of it mattered, not as Duncan’s weak request echoed in my mind.

“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted. If it wasn’t for Erix embracing me, I would’ve fallen to the ground and stayed there. “I can’t – Idon’tknow how to fix this.”

“Shh,” Erix hushed, laying his chin on top of my head, wings folding around me until I was entirely encased. I allowed this moment of connection, because Duncan had been clear in his intention in bringing Erix here. “I am here now and I am not going anywhere. I have new orders to follow now, and I vow to do so until my last breath.”

Duncan’s orders, that was what he referred to.