Corbin tried to put more distance between her and them, but she rejected his intervention. Pushing him away with shocking strength, she moved back toward the cage, while Corbin landed on his back, grunting and gasping as he tried to get up.
“Valaine, don’t… You have no control over yourself. Stop!” he shouted.
She wouldn’t listen. Instead, she intensified her influence over the Darklings, causing them more pain and bleeding through the eyes and nose as she spoke to them. “Tell the truth. Tell us where Zoltan is. Tell us why you want me dead.”
“You’re a danger to us all!” one of the Darklings managed. “You have to die!”
Corbin attempted another interruption, but it seemed Valaine no longer recognized him as her father. She waved him away with a mere flick of her wrist. He ended up on the ground again, soldiers gathering around, each of them equally befuddled and scared. No one knew what to do.
She’d gone past her limits, and she’d almost hurt Corbin in the process. The Darklings were about to cave in, but I worried they’d die if she didn’t take a break from this mental, supernatural torture. I got off my horse and simply took her in my arms, holding her close and whispering in her ear.
Her body relaxed against mine. “It’s okay, Valaine. You’ve done enough. Breathe, my darling… breathe,” I said, my lips brushing over her ears.
She shivered in my embrace, arms snaking around my waist. Her heart thundered into mine, and I could feel her coming down from that elevated darkness. I could feel her coming back to me, every line and curve of her body perfectly matching mine—like two pieces of the same puzzle. The universe had made us so far apart from one another, but it had brought us together, nonetheless.
Valaine breathed out, resting her head on my chest for a moment.
The Darklings were safe, for now. One of the guards gave them some cloths to wipe the blood from their noses. Two of the prisoners were still crying, nestled into one another like scared little children. What an ironic sight, I thought, since they had once been the kind to come after Valaine, eager to kill her. They’d been reduced to mere shadows of the fearsome Darklings they’d once been, and I had a feeling they would crack sooner, rather than later, thanks to her.
“You’re okay,” I said to Valaine, sensing that she was coming back to me. I had a hard time explaining this to myself, but I allowed my instincts to guide me, as far as she was concerned. Having her in my arms made my pulse twitch, but I relished every reaction she caused within me. “You’re okay, Valaine. It’s all good.”
“Thank you, Tristan,” she mumbled, raising her head to look at me. There was something in the smoldering blackness of her eyes… something that I could easily interpret as affection. Our hearts were beating together, our bodies and souls thrilled by our vicinity to one another.
“No, it’s not all good,” Corbin grumbled, dusting himself off. “If I can’t stop you, it’s a problem!”
Valaine pulled herself away from me, and for the briefest of moments, I felt naked and vulnerable, incomplete without her in my arms. But reality quickly regained its dominance. Corbin seemed genuinely concerned and upset. “Father, I—”
“Not another word! If I can’t stop you, the guards will have to. You know how this just invites mindless violence,” Corbin replied. “Let me do the talking with the prisoners. I allowed you a whim earlier, but this has to stop before it’s out of control.”
“I brought her back,” I said, but Corbin raised a hand to silence me.
“Don’t. What will happen if you’re not around? Huh? You didn’t think of that! Once you open this door, it’s damn near impossible to shut it again. I know! I’ve seen this before!” he snarled, and motioned for us to get moving again. “Everyone, back to your posts! We must keep going! Tussla is just a mile ahead. We might have more Darklings there.”
Valaine and I watched him head back to his Vision at the front of the caravan, while the soldiers resumed their places and positions. Some minutes passed in silence. Valaine and I stole glances at one another, trying to think of the right thing to say.
My mind lingered on that embrace, my soul already yearning for more. She’d certainly left an impression on me, and every atom inside me was responding.
“I’m sorry about my father,” Valaine eventually