Page 73 of Beastkin
Atlas studied my face for a long moment, then nodded. “It’s the room three doors from the second hall on the right. Caden’s been keeping watch, but he’ll give you privacy.”
I didn’t wait to hear more. I practically ran down the hallway, my heart hammering against my ribs. Three days. I’d wasted three fucking days wallowing in self-pity while Phoenix lay unconscious, possibly slipping further away from me with each passing hour.
The door to his room was slightly ajar, and I could hear the soft murmur of Caden’s voice from within. I knocked gently, not wanting to startle him.
“Come in,” Caden called softly.
I pushed the door open and immediately froze. Phoenix lay in the center of a massive four-poster bed, looking impossibly small and fragile against the dark wood and rich fabrics. His skin was pale, almost translucent, with a faint golden glow that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his breathing. His dark hair was spread across the pillow like spilled ink, and his eyes were closed, long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks.
“He’s beautiful,” I breathed, not realizing I’d spoken aloud until Caden smiled sadly.
“He is,” the blonde witch agreed, rising from his chair beside the bed. “And he’s been asking for you.”
My eyes snapped to his face. “Asking? But I thought he was unconscious.”
“He is, mostly. But he talks in his sleep sometimes. Your name, mostly.” Caden moved toward the door, pausing to place a gentle hand on my shoulder. “His magic is still very active. I think part of him knows you’re not here.”
The guilt hit me like a physical blow. While I’d been nursing myown wounds and fears, Phoenix had been calling for me, and I hadn’t been there.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Caden said quietly, gathering his supplies from the bedside table. “The bond between you is strong, Karrick. Trust in that.”
I barely heard him leave, my entire focus consumed by the figure on the bed. Phoenix looked so peaceful, so vulnerable, that it made my chest ache. I approached slowly, afraid that any sudden movement might somehow disturb whatever healing process was taking place within him.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, settling carefully on the edge of the mattress. “I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t here sooner.” My voice broke on the words, three days of suppressed emotion finally spilling over. “I was scared, Phoenix. Terrified that I’d somehow make things worse by being here. Terrified that I’d have to see you slip away…”
His breathing remained steady, but I could swear I saw his eyelids flutter slightly at the sound of my voice. Hope flared in my chest, fragile but persistent.
I reached out with trembling fingers, gently brushing a strand of dark hair away from his forehead. His skin was warm to the touch, that golden glow seeming to intensify where we made contact. Through our bond, I felt the faintest whisper of recognition, like an echo of his consciousness reaching out to mine.
“That’s it,” I murmured, my voice steadier now. “I’m here, pup. I’m not going anywhere ever again.”
Carefully, so carefully, I shifted onto the bed beside him, lying on top of the covers so I wouldn’t disturb his rest. I turned on my side, studying every detail of his face as if I could memorize it completely. The gentle curve of his lips, the way his lashes cast shadows on his cheeks, the almost imperceptible rise and fall of his chest.
“You saved me,” I told him, my voice barely above a whisper. “You saved me and then you nearly died doing it, you beautiful, reckless, incredible man.” I felt tears threaten again, but this time I didn’ttry to stop them. “I need you to come back to me, Phoenix. I need you to wake up so I can tell you how much I love you, how proud I am of you, how sorry I am for not being strong enough to protect you in the first place.”
The golden glow around his skin pulsed brighter for a moment, and through our bond, I felt something shift. It was like watching sunrise break through storm clouds, gradually, but unmistakably there.
I settled in beside him, one hand resting gently on his chest where I could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady beneath my palm. Whatever was happening to him, whatever transformation Caden had spoken of, I would be here for it. I would anchor him to this world, to me, to us.
“Take all the time you need,” I whispered against his temple, pressing the softest kiss to his skin. “But remember that I’m waiting for you. We have a whole life to build together, you and me.”
I must have dozed off at some point, because the next thing I knew, I was being gently shaken awake by a familiar hand on my shoulder.
“Karrick,” the familiar voice was soft but urgent. “Karrick, are you awake?”
I must’ve been dreaming. I had to be, right? The voice… it couldn’t be who I thought it was.
I blinked my eyes open, certain I was still dreaming. But there he was. Phoenix, propped up on one elbow, gazing down at me with those orange-amber eyes that seemed to glow even brighter than before.
“Phoenix?” I whispered, afraid that speaking too loudly might shatter this beautiful illusion.
His lips curved into a smile that made my heart stutter in my chest. “Hey, big guy.”
I sat up so quickly I nearly knocked heads with him. My hands hovered uncertainly between us, desperate to touch him but terrified he might disappear if I did. “You’re awake. You’re really awake!”
“Iam,” he said softly, reaching out to take my trembling hand in his. The warmth of his skin against mine was like a jolt of electricity through our bond, suddenly vibrant and alive again. “Thanks to you.”
“Me?” I choked out a laugh that was half sob. “Phoenix, I didn’t do anything. You saved me. You nearly killed yourself saving me.”