Lungs burning, body aching with the pain of soldering itself back together, eyes blinded by brilliant white, Cadence opened her mouth and sucked in air for the first time in as long as she could remember. Her legs still felt like they were on fire, like she’d been running for hours, but as she tipped her head back and began to cough the memories of what had happened to her, how she’d killed Daunator and then found herself in the air with no ground beneath her boots, flooded her mind, and every trace of memory about why she felt like she’d been running fled her mind.
“Cadence? Cadence!”
Aaron was there. She could feel his hands on her, even though she couldn’t open her eyes to look at him yet. Her throat burned as she continued to sputter, coughing and choking on the air she so desperately wanted in her lungs. How long had she gone without taking a breath? Why did her heart feel like a jackhammer, her chest muscles sore from the exertion of each reverberation?
“Thank God.... Thank the good Lord.” Elliott’s voice was distant, but even over her coughs, she heard the relief in his voice.
Her eyes came open just a slit as another cough, though not as violent, shook loose. Aaron had his hands on her shoulders, his face awash with alleviation, though cautionary.
The fire in her lungs was out now, her legs no longer aching, and even her throat felt much better as she settled back against the ground, listening to the sound of her own heart beat quiet and the whoosh of air as it came in and out of her body. As her husband’s face came completely into focus, the only thing Cadence could think to say was, “I’m sorry.” It was a hoarse whisper, but he heard it just the same, and his head was shaking before she even finished.
“Oh, no, Cadence. Baby, don’t be sorry. We’re just happy you’re okay. You feel okay, don’t you?”
She nodded and then realized Jamie’s hands were on her. It was difficult to pull her eyes off of Aaron, but she met the Healer’s face and noticed tears in his eyes, his forehead dotted with perspiration, and wondered how long he’d been at work. She’d have to ask later. “Thanks, Jamie.”
“Does anything hurt? I’m not sure how much blood you lost, but I think it was a lot. The back of your head—does it feel all right?”
“Nothing hurts,” she said, slipping on a smile she hoped was convincing. The statement was true. She was just too tired to try any harder than that. “I think you fixed everything.”
“Good. Okay....” Jamie seemed unsure of what to do with himself, so he scooted out of the way, and then Cassidy was next to her, and Cadence could see instantly that she’d been crying and still was a little. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her nose was drippy.
Cadence reached her right arm up to her sister, but Aaron’s hands were on her, not letting her sit up yet, and that seemed like a good idea because the world was unusually spinny. Cassidy lowered herself down and carefully laid her head on her sister’s shoulder. “Oh, Cadence. I was so worried. I couldn’t get you for so long. It was like... it was like... you were gone.”
“Well, I’m here now,” Cadence assured her sister, stroking her hair as best she could without moving too much. “I’m okay.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t catch you. I wanted to. I turned to, but... but it all happened so fast. By the time I got my hand up to lower you, you’d already slipped below the ledge, and I couldn’t grab you.”
“You don’t need to be sorry.” Cadence patted her back. “It’s not your fault. I should’ve realized Daunator was trying to lure me in so that I’d fall. The first grenade had likely done the trick, and the second one was just a device to take me with him.”
“Asshole,” Cassidy mumbled before Cadence’s attention was demanded elsewhere.
“All right, all right. My turn.” Elliott’s big head was suddenly hovering over hers as he dropped to his knees next to Aaron. “Hi there, kid. How’s it goin’? You feelin’ all right?”
“Never better.” A giggle escaped her lips, followed by another, until Cadence was afraid she might not be able to breathe again. “Being dead isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Then you shouldn’t do that anymore,” he said, leaning down and kissing her cheek. In her ear, he whispered, “Thanks for comin’ back.”
Cadence smiled as he bounded up and scooted out of the way, though he didn’t go too far. There were lots of other people standing around, and she desperately wanted to see all of them. She had no idea how much time had passed, but it seemed like eons. “Do you think I can sit up?” she asked Aaron, who deferred the question to Jamie.
“Carefully,” the doctor said.
Cassidy moved out of the way, and Aaron and Jamie each took her by the arm, their other hands on her shoulders, and carefully tilted her up. The noise Aaron made when he saw what had been beneath her was enough to make Cadence gag a little herself, but she couldn’t really think about that. She’d just have to hope she had a shampoo strong enough to take out all the blood she felt matting the hair on the back of her head.
It was easy to focus on something else. Everyone who’d come with them was standing nearby. Some of the faces she didn’t know well, but she smiled at each of them, thanking everyone for their concern. Aurora looked as if she’d cried herself senseless. Her face was pale and her eyes were bloodshot. Hannah’s friendly smile made Cadence feel all warm inside. Cale looked relieved. Even Eliza had a friendly look on her face. Margie, always as tough as nails, gave her a thumbs up and a wink.
And then Christian stepped in front of all of them so he was blocking her line of sight almost completely.
He cleared his throat. “I, uh, I’m sorry about all of that, Cadence. That was my fault. All of it. If I hadn’t come here on my own, then you would’ve been better prepared. If my grenade would’ve worked better the first time.... If I had went in for the kill instead of letting you.... If... I hadn’t ever brought the monster back in the first place.... I’m sorry.”
Cadence heard plenty of people questioning that last statement, but she didn’t pause to answer them. Instead, she shook her head and said, “Christian, that wasn’t your fault. I mean, yes, you did something really stupid and reckless to get us in this position, but it wasn’t your fault I fell. It’s all right. You don’t need to beat yourself up about it.”
