Page 229 of Caged

Everything stops. Then relief slams into me punching the air out of my lungs.

I swear to the Fates I’m lightheaded.

“They found you.” I breathe, cradling her hands in mine, bringing them to my chest. “Oh, thank fuck, I thought your father came back. Or decided to take you with him. I tried to tell them that you were upstairs.”

I have to pause to swallow down the lump of fear in my throat. “You were right fucking there, Idril. And I couldn’t talk. Couldn’t tell them.”

The words just keep falling out, running into each other, frantic and full of residual fear and an overwhelming gratitude for my pack.

“Dax and Vae showed up right before I passed out. Does that mean one of the others found you?”

Fuck, please just put me out of my misery and tell me what happened. Make me stop talking.

“Yes,” she swallows thickly, and her voice is so soft I have to strain to hear her. “Gavran and Silas found me, and brought me to your home.”

Idril’s expression is strained. Like she’s trying to smile, but her face forgot how. This is…

Something isn’t right. Something still isn’t right. I’m fucking missing something.

She’s not looking at me, now. Her eyes bore into the grass, lashes casting shadows that fan across her cheekbones. I tip her chin up gently, silently begging her to look me in the eyes, but she pulls back.

“Idril,” I hedge, fear starting to override my confusion. “What aren’t you telling me?”

That soft, sad smile reappears. More tears fill her eyes and spill over.

“Nothing.” She says, then clears her throat and finally meets my eyes. “They have you in a coma so that you can heal faster,” she winces. “At least, that’s what I’ve heard. Everyone has been—” Her voice cracks. My hands tighten around hers involuntarily. “Everyone has been very worried about you.”

I shake my head. Dread coils in my stomach, then winds its way up my chest like smoke, until it fills my head. No. This isn’t right.

I can feel it. Not just in my gut, but in our Bond.

She isn’t lying to me, but she’s not telling me the truth, either.

“Sweetheart,” I lean forward, press my forehead to hers. “Tell me, please. Tell me what you’re holding back.”

She bites her bottom lip, but her chin is trembling, like she’s trying not to sob.

My brave girl. Doesn’t she know I’d take on anything for her?

“They think—” she sniffs, lifting her shoulder to wipe away tears on her cheeks. I still have her hands in mine, and I refuse to let go.

Not now. Not ever.

“They think I set you up.”

The words don’t make sense at first. My brain refuses to process them. Refuses to believe they’re real. When they finally penetrate, something inside of me tears open, the pain worse than any silver could ever be.

I know my brothers. Dax was already suspicious of her. He made no secret of his opinions. And why wouldn’t he believe Idril was somehow involved? Especially after the shit her father said.

Dax’s words come back to me, now. A legitimate threat. A godsdamned vow.

“If you’re wrong, then I’ll kill the girl myself. Because you’re my brother… and there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”

No. Oh gods… no.

“Your friends. All of them, they…” she trails off, glancing down at our hands like she can’t handle seeing my reaction.

I tighten my grip and wait for her to continue. The truth is, I’m trying not to throw up. I know what she’s going to say; I know how my brothers deal with traitors.