Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,176

before gliding over. I flinched when his hand touched my wrist just above my fetter—the source of all this trauma. Before, it was just an accessory. It wasn't until I felt the pain it could inflict that I realized how dangerous it really was.

Maverick pulled back, obviously distraught by my reaction to him. I wanted to reassure him. Explain myself and fall into his arms, but it all still hurt .

As if the spell of my arrival was broken by my flinch, immediately questions were thrown around like grenades.

"When did she wake up? You promised to come get us!" Cyler shouted before walking over to me. He leaned forward so that I could look up into his dark eyes, but my neck hurt from the strain.

"Can I sit?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Cyler gently picked me up and cradled me in his arms before gently lowering himself into a chair while holding me close. He began petting my hair, as if trying to convince himself that I was really there. Admittedly, it wasn't the most comfortable position, but I traded comfort for safety. I needed to feel safe, and Cyler was the embodiment of that feeling.

"I brought her because she should probably be a part of this conversation."

"That's not for you to decide, Jules," Maverick growled. His expression was unsettled, feral almost.

"Of course it's for me to decide! I've been on the receiving end of your decision-making skills, Mav. I won't stand by while you push people away and do something stupid, claiming it's for the greater good."

"We have to do something , I mean look at her," Cyler said. I closed my eyes, blocking out his broken stare and the bright light.

"Tell me," I whispered softly.

For a while, no one spoke. I felt a hand grip my ankle, and I was drawn back to my memories of the grove in Dormas and Huxley's tentative touch.

"Hux?" I asked.

"I'm here," he replied, confirming what I already knew. When did I become so attuned to them?

"Tell her," Jules said in a steadfast tone, but still no one spoke. The silence was deafening.

Cyler stroked my hair as Huxley trailed his fingers along my ankle. The loud sound of a smack on skin vibrated over the room, making me jump and then wince from the movement .

"You tell her right now, Maverick Black. Tell her how you're going to risk your life. You always do this!" she screamed out in frustration. "Just do what you always do: bulldoze through your hero complex without a care for who you hurt. You've been the martyr for so long you don't know any better. Figure it out, Mav. Find a better way because you're going to get yourself killed."

Silence.

No one spoke after that. I mentally high-fived Jules for telling Maverick off. He did have a problem with assuming responsibility for too much. Sometimes people are evil. Sometimes the world ends. We can’t wear everyone’s burdens like a too-tight winter coat.

"Can I hold her, please?" Patrick asked tentatively, and I felt another hand stroke my forehead. Cyler pulled me tighter against him for a brief moment before ever-so-slowly lifting me and passing me to Patrick. His shirt was soft against my cheek as I nuzzled closer.

"Ash," he whispered my name over and over while sitting down at one of the couches. His lips touched my cheek lightly as we lay there. I felt the couch dip and a hand resting on my knee.

"Love, do you need anything?" Kemper's voice asked. He too whispered. It was like they were afraid to break me. I wanted to smile at the new nickname but couldn't.

"Water," I whispered. Soon, the sound of footsteps approached, and Jacob knelt beside me. I opened my eyes and winced at first before looking into his pure, adoring eyes. As I sipped water, they all watched quietly, waiting for someone to say something. It was Maverick that finally broke.

I kept my eyes open, the light not as bad, and the headache gradually fading. Maverick brought over two white pills, handing them out to me without saying a word before strolling back to the other side of the room. I took them and tried not to cry at his distance. I needed him. I needed all of them.

"Maverick," I said softly while sitting. Patrick placed a palm on my back, guiding me up. "What's going on?"

"I'm going to fix the fetter situation with you and Jules. "

Jules scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"What?" Maverick asked. I sensed that