by Dyan Chick
The next thing I knew, the Evil was gone. I dropped the dagger and collapsed to my knees, feeling exhausted. How I'd even been moving was a mystery.
Brenon was at my side in a heartbeat, scooping me up in his arms. "Are you hurt?"
I leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes. "I don't think so."
He kissed my forehead. "Rest."
I woke up in the pink bedroom at my aunt's house. Sunlight was pouring in through the sheer curtains. Turning over, I let out a groan. Every inch of my body hurt. Even my skin hurt.
Covering my face with my hands, I took a moment to reflect on how I'd gotten here. The last thing I remembered was Brenon holding me.
I dropped my hands. Had I actually opened the gates? I'd broken the curse, then I'd opened the gates. Now, I was in the pink room at my aunt's house.
Forcing my legs over the edge of the bed, I made my way to standing and stumbled to the door. "Hello? Aunt Kay? Joe? Brenon? Anyone?"
Joe's face appeared at the base of the steps. "Ara! Don't move. I'll help you down."
He ran up the stairs, then wrapped an arm around my waist. "Careful, careful."
"Hey, you were all tied up last I saw you," I said. "Should you be helping me?"
"That was a week ago, I've had time to heal."
"I've been out for a week?" I said.
"Iron poisoning," Aunt Kay said. She stood in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in hand. She set it on the table, then pulled out a chair. "Sit."
Joe helped me settle into the seat, and I pulled the cup closer to me. "Where is everyone? What happened after I opened the gates?"
Aunt Kay sat down next to me. "The Fae were able to go home. We've sealed them for now so they have time to clean up their realm. It could take a while before it's safe to open them."
They were gone. Just like that. A pang of sadness filled my chest. Brenon hadn't even said goodbye. I never got to have that talk with Tristan.
I took a sip of coffee to try to mask the tears that were welling up.
"Of course, you wake up after Kay forced me to take a shower."
My heart leaped. I knew that voice. It was etched into my soul. There was no stopping the tears as I jumped from the chair. Brenon's arms pulled me in close. He smelled like the overly-perfumed soap my aunt kept in her shower.
"You're still here," I said, stepping back so I could see his face. "I thought the Fae left."
"They did," he said.
"I don't understand." His face was blurred through my tears.
"Evangeline can handle things on that end. There was no way I was going to leave you." He pulled me in close again. It felt like home.