I open my eyes to find myself in a dimly lit room. My body is weak, my mouth dry, and one of my legs is numb. I try moving one of my feet, but it doesn’t budge.
My eyes shift to the right when I hear rustling, and I spot Caz adjusting himself on a two-seater sofa in the corner. He’s shirtless, his pants low on his hips. I try calling his name, but it comes out in a croak. He rapidly swings his gaze to me and rushes my way.
“Willow?” He sits on the edge of the bed, stroking his thumb across my forehead. “Nice to see those beautiful brown eyes.” He smiles, and I can’t help smiling with him. “How do you feel?”
I shake my head. It’s the most I can manage at the moment.
“Tell me through here.” He taps two fingers against his right temple.
It feels like something’s been lodged down my throat, my mouth is dry, and my whole body is sore.
I’m sorry to hear that. Want some water? Caz starts to stand, but I tap his hand, rapidly shaking my head.
I don’t think I can drink right now even if I wanted to.
Yeah,” he murmurs. “The nurse said you might wake and that your body will still be going through the effects of the purging elixir. Give it another couple of hours and you’ll be all better.” He cradles one side of my face, and the comforting silence lingers. I hear the sounds of the ocean, the waves crashing to shore, and everything rushes back. The fall through the portal, the women on horses, the bronze, goddess-like woman with multi-colored eyes.
Where are we? I wonder.
“Kessel,” he responds in a low voice. I peer up at the skylight in the ceiling. The sky is like a velvety indigo blanket with bold stars threaded throughout. Light from the full moon pours onto the gold and white quilt on top of me.
“I’m going to kill Garrett,” Caz says after a while.
I look up, eyes stretching. Is he not already dead?
“No. They have him in a prisoner’s cell. They’re trying to rid his body of Decius’ energy, which is why it was nearly impossible to kill him, but they say it’ll be a while. I told them it’ll be better if I just end it all by slitting his damn throat.”
I sigh. He didn’t ask to be Decius’ vessel.
“He still smashed into your car on Earth. And I don’t even know how many times this makes that he’s hurt you. Plus, he’s in Vakeeli now. No one will ever find the body, so they’ll never be able to trace it back to you.”
I roll my eyes even though it hurts and brings on a headache.
“He stabbed you, Willow. All I keep thinking is I should’ve left him back there with Korah. She could’ve handled herself, I’m sure. If I hadn’t pushed him into the portal with us, it never would’ve have happened, and you wouldn’t even be in this situation.” He grabs my hand, clinging to it with desperation. “Imagine if Hassha and her tribe hadn’t found us in time. I don’t think I’d have been able to save you. I had nothing.” With a long pause and eyes filled to the brim with torment, he says, “He almost took you from me.”
I grip his hand, bringing it to my chest. But he didn’t.
“I don’t care,” he grumbles. “He still needs to die. He’s had too many chances.”
Caz.
“No. I’m sick of being the better person when it comes to him, Willow. He has to die.” He looks away, avoiding my eyes, jaw ticking. I hear him thinking about all the ways he can kill Garrett. He’ll take his gun back from Hassha, and if he can’t do that, he’ll find a spear and lodge it through Garrett’s eye socket. He’ll wrap his hands around his throat and choke him so hard his eyes turn red. His mind is venturing into dark places, and I don’t like it.
“Caz,” I say out loud this time. My voice is raspier than usual, and he drops his eyes to mine again. The anger melts off of him when our gazes connect.
Sometimes vengeance isn’t the answer. Not for people like Garrett. Send him back to Earth. Let him suffer. Who cares? We’ll never have to deal with him again anyway, so long as we’re in Vakeeli.
His eyes light up. “Does that mean…”
I smile, listening to his thoughts now reveling in the idea of us making a life together in Vakeeli.
“Does that mean you’ll stay?” he asks, still smiling.
Only if you promise to behave.
A smirk rides his lips and he leans forward, planting a kiss on my forehead. “Sure. I suppose we can discuss that later. For now, get some more rest, Willow Woman.”
I sink deeper into the plush pillows as Caz brings the quilt up to my chin. He stays at my side, stroking my cheek as he looks out the window facing the ocean. It’s peaceful like this, with him at my side, his gentle caresses, the warmth of his breath on my skin, and the sound of gently crashing ocean waves.
I’m not sure if it’s all in my head, or perhaps the elixir is causing me to conjure up ideas just for the hell of it, but after another forehead kiss from Caz and before I’ve completely fallen asleep, I swear I hear him whisper, “I love you more than anything.”
