Chapter Eighteen

Crickets filled the silence as Cortney lay there with her head on Draven’s shoulder. She could be wrong, but she thought a frog might have bumped against her leg. Every minute that passed had her heart squeezing tight, making it harder to suck a breath in, but she stayed where she was.

When—not if—he rose, she was going to be there. And the jerk was going to be in so much shit for putting her through all that. Once he’d made it up to her, she’d tell him that she would be his mate.

She pulled the blanket closer, fighting a losing battle against the chill that had seeped into her bones earlier that day. Her nose was like ice. Even cupping her fingers around her mouth and breathing warm air onto it did nothing to warm it. That was another thing he’d be paying for, making her freeze by herself all night when he should have been giving her his phoenix’s warmth. She closed her eyes, relieving the burning grittiness from too much crying and not enough fluids had caused. There wasn’t a chance in hell she would sleep, but it felt good to rest them.

Someone came by to check on her, but when Cortney didn’t open her eyes, they left again without saying a word. A deep voice mumbled something a distance away, and then they were gone.

Good. Cortney didn’t want to have to deal with sending anyone away again. She opened her eyes to a pink and orange tinted sky. She blinked, focusing her eyes.

Leaning over Cortney kissed his blue lips, and stroked his cheek. “When are you coming back? I could use a bathroom break,” she said even though she knew no one could hear. Sitting up, she rested her hand on his chest. At least she’s stopped shivering while she’d dozed.

She gasped and pressed her other hand to his skin. It wasn’t cold. It wasn’t all that warm, but it sure as hell wasn’t dead cold. And she knew from working at the hospital what that felt like.

Torn between running to get Ry and staying in case Draven rose, she just sat there with hot tears streaming down her face. She tried to call out for Trista, but her words came out in a husky whisper that sounded more like a croak that a yell.

“Come on. I’ve waited all night. It’s time for you to get back here,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair. She took a deep breath, then another. The heat radiating from his body rose quickly, warming her fingers.

She heard a door close a distance away, and whipped her head around. Trista walked toward her with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The look of pity on her face morphed to one of confusion when Cortney smiled at her.

“Where’s Ry? He has to come out.”

“He’s coming. Are you okay?” Trista asked tentatively.

“He’ll rise soon. Tell Ry to hurry, or else he’ll miss it,” she said as she brushed her hair out of her face. She must have looked less than sane, because Trista knelt next to her and pulled her into her arms.

Cortney pushed back. “I’m not crazy. He’s warm. Touch him. His skin is warm.”

Trista hesitated, but then did as she asked. Her eyes grew wide. “Holy shit.” She glanced over at her, then jumped to her feet and ran to where Ryland was already coming out his front door, but it was too late.

Bright yellow and orange flames exploded from Draven’s body, blinding her. Her hair blew away from her face with the force of the energy rushing past. Heat swept across her skin like a lover’s caress, soft, and titillating. She couldn’t see him, but she kept her hand on his chest, grounding herself in the storm blasting around her.

Her heart pounded, and she could hardly breathe, not in fear, but with the excitement of knowing that Draven was coming back to her.

The brightness of his flames dissipated much slower than Kirk’s had. Maybe it was because no one tried to absorb the energy for her as he had done at the hospital, or maybe it was because Draven’s phoenix was that much more powerful, but either way, she was glad to be at the center of it.

It wasn’t until the flames died out that his chest finally rose and fell as he gasped for air. He drew in a long breath, and his entire body stiffened.

Cortney leaned close and pressed her lips to his. “It’s about time you came back,” she said when he finally opened his eyes.

Ryland came running, falling to his knees next to his friend. He dropped his head into his hands and shook as silent sobs tore through him. Trista went to him, offering support even as her tears fell.

Draven opened his mouth to speak, and tried to lift his head from the ground, but all he managed was an agonized moan.

“Don’t talk. Everyone is okay,” Ryland said regaining his ability to speak.

Cortney’s teeth chattered and her whole body shook. All the fear and anguish inside her released at once and left her reeling. She reached over, stroked his lip with her finger. Pink. And warm. Finally. Her vision blurred, and the lump in her throat threatened to choke her. He’d made it back.

“Let’s get him inside,” Ry suggested once Draven was able to sit up. Another man, Cortney couldn’t even tell who, came to his side, and along with Ryland helped Draven stand. All she knew was that his blast had woken the Odyssey, and everyone was there to support him and welcome him back.

Cortney followed, her legs shaking so much she stumbled. She still didn’t have any damned shoes on. “Lexie owes me a pair of flip-flops,” she told Trista as her friend helped her stand again.

“You’re such a nerd,” she responded, with a watery laugh. “I’ll get you a hundred pair of flip flops if you want.”

The men half carried, half helped Draven walk up the stairs to his room. “Where’s Cortney?” she heard him ask as they sat him on the edge of the bed.

“I’m right here.” Placing her hands on his cheeks, she gave him a soft kiss. “And you’re a jerk for scaring me like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ry clapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll leave you to rest. Cortney hasn’t slept, and I’m sure you’re exhausted. We’ll talk about what happened tomorrow.”

Draven didn’t break eye contact with her as he nodded. “Thank you.”