sort of ‘okay’ from Lucius before finally relaxing into it.
As for Caspian, well no surprises… he just grunted, as was his way, making me wink up at him.
“So, how’s that soul of yours I own, big boy?” At this, Clay burst out laughing before telling me,
“Fuck me, little bird, but I knew why I liked you.”
“Yeah, and why’s that?” I asked, releasing them and taking a step back.
“Because shit was boring before you came along.” At this I burst out laughing too.
“Hey, badass, stab anybody lately?” I turned to the punk lad who looked more like a teenager and, as usual, was smirking down at the knife he had been tipping and swinging around his hand, as was his habit.
“No, but I died and then ate a Wraith Master’s heart, so does that count?” At this Ruto's eyes grew wide, making him nearly drop his blade before his gaze shot to Lucius, no doubt to see whether this was true or not.
“No, I was the one that did the stabbing… and Amelia…” Lucius spoke as he walked up next to me, before taking hold of the back of my neck. So, I tilted my head back, as he clearly wanted my attention, and said,
“Yeah, handsome?” At this, his lips twitched once at my use of his nickname, before he dipped his head lower and warned,
“That is the last time I hear you joke about your death… understood?” I swallowed hard as he tensed his fingers into my neck and I nodded, knowing he was serious, making him grant me a swift kiss before growling over my lips,
“Good girl.”
After this, he turned back to his men and said,
“It is good to see you, my counsel.” Lucius finished this by clasping Clay’s shoulder and nodding to the others.
“So, what are you guys doing here?” I asked, but it was Lucius who answered,
“I sent for them.”
“You did?” I asked, my tone questioning, then he told me,
“It is time to take you home, sweetheart.” As soon as he said this, my mouth dropped open in shock. We were going home. I knew then that our time in Hell had come to an end, and I couldn't say I was disappointed. But then realisation started to infiltrate, and I couldn't help but look towards the three McBain brothers, to see that one in particular looked pained by this information.
It was also in that moment that Lucius didn't need to guess what my thoughts were, as he turned to see who I was looking at. However, whatever his thoughts about this were I didn’t know as he said nothing of it, as really… what was there to say?
We all knew this time would come, as a goodbye between us was inevitable. Just as it had been with Vena, meaning again it pained me to realise that I might never see the three of them again. And Nero, who I wouldn’t just miss but who I would also miss saying my goodbyes to. Gods, but it had felt like I had spent an entire lifetime here, and it was one that had been filled with making friends along the way. But Lucius was right, we had been in Hell for far too long and it was time to go home. I then wondered if this meant another journey was on the horizon?
I was jerked out of my inner musings when Lucius nodded to Carn’reau, as if relaying to him some silent command, and before I had a chance to ask, Lucius was pulling me off to one side. Again, the soldiers parted to allow us through as he walked me towards one of the rock formations that rose up from the ground, like small islands that looked as if they were floating over an ocean of fog.
“Is this what you wanted to tell me, because you know I would agree with you, it is time for us to go home,” I said the moment we were alone, and some distance from the rest. But he tugged on my hand, making me sit down on one of the smaller boulders. As it was clear this was what he wanted me to do, once more acting methodical in his actions. Then he untied a small satchel that had been tied at his waist, before handing it to me, purposely ignoring my question as his next order was directed down at me.
“I want you to eat.”
“Lucius, I'm fine, I just want to know…” I started to say, only he took