King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(154)

Listening at Ezra’s door, I heard no other heartbeats except for one slow cadence, so I turned the knob and gradually swung the door open, and just as gently shut it behind me. Then I turned to face the music. He was there. Lying on a bed of black satin, bare from the looks of it, under the thin sheet that had been pulled up to directly under his arms. The sheet clung to him because of the sweat pouring off his skin, which was his body’s natural process of trying to rid itself of the toxic silver. But no amount of sweating would help.

Walking forward into the room, which was only lit by two lamps at each side of the bed, I could see that his mocha skin was turning ashen and that his body was slightly trembling from the poison. The Mage had said he wasn’t in any pain, and I could only pray that was true. Feeling tears slip down my cheeks, I didn’t bother wiping them away.

My heart was crushed so badly I could barely breathe, my pants coming in great gulps as I carefully climbed onto the nearest side of the bed. Setting my items aside, a soft whimper escaped as I crawled to him. Normally this close I could feel his heat. But as I lay on my side directly beside him, I actually felt a chill coming from his body, instead of a Com-like fever when diseases hit. Death was approaching.

Resting on one elbow, I bent my face over his. His eyes didn’t move beneath their lids as some do in sleep. Instead, they were peaceful. His face glistened with his cold sweat, his lips dry and cracked, and his pallor hideous. My tears fell upon his face and he didn’t stir.

Leaning down, I swallowed through the blockage in my throat that physically hurt and began placing light kisses on his face. His forehead. His eyebrows. His eyelids. His cheeks. The tip of his nose. His chin. Staring at his lips, I brushed them with mine, the barest touch.

Pulling back, I lifted one of his heavy arms and placed its slack weight over my shoulder, resting against his side and lying my head on his shoulder. As I intertwined his fingers with mine, my eyes burned fiercely as our ruling rings sparkled in the lamplight.

As he lay dying, I held him, letting my tears fall as they may.

Voice hoarse and trembling as badly as he was, I began explaining, “So, I have a plan.” I sniffed hard, which didn’t help much as I still couldn’t breathe. “I think sometimes we’re all dumbasses. And Antonio has to live with us. Deal with us.” I rubbed my thumb slowly back and forth over his. “And he knows the future. But what would you do if you knew the future? You certainly couldn’t tell anyone because that might alter it, but that’s not to say you can’t give hints and pray that the dumbasses around you would understand.”

Rubbing my cheek against his cooling flesh, I stopped when another sob racked my body until I was able to pull myself together. Pushing my face closer to his neck, I kissed his jaw gently. “He said, she travels the journey alone.” I kissed his jaw again. “He never once glanced at you. If someone was going to die, if it was someone’s time, others would normally say goodbye, even if it was secretive. He never did for you.”

I nuzzled my face against his neck. “Which means you’re going to live.” Gently, I sat up, his arm sliding down and catching on my hip. Staring down at his face, I ran my fingers over his cheek. “And it means my journey isn’t done yet.” Placing one last kiss on his mouth, staying there against the lips and skin and scent, which were him but also not, I wept. I only pulled away when I was afraid he couldn’t breathe. Resting my hand on his cheek, I whispered, “You made the call to say goodbye, and now I’m doing the same, because I have no clue what I’m getting myself into.” I echoed his previous words. “I love you. Just remember that.”

Staring down at him, I took a fortifying breath before rolling away. I had to talk to a Mage. Grabbing my case and gun off the bed, I took one last look before exiting the room just as quietly as I had entered. And stopped dead in my tracks.

Bindi was still in the other room, but Cahal wasn’t with her anymore. I knew this because he was standing with his back against the wall beside Ezra’s door, hands clasped in front of him, head bowed. His eyes weren’t closed, but he never once glanced at me even though I stood less than a foot from him. And I knew without a doubt that his hearing could have picked up whatever I had said inside the room for however long he had been standing there for. And I didn’t really have time to deal with his intellectual questioning.

I waited for his fury at my intrusion, but he said nothing and moved not at all.

Maneuvering around him, not turning my back on him, I crept across the room. Unlocking the door swiftly, I slipped outside before he came back from his grief to delay my quest. Bonnie was standing there silently. I had no clue where she came from, but I motioned for her to follow as I began racing down the twisting hallways.

Everyone moved for me, all Mys alike, getting the hell out of my way without me having to say a word or glance in their direction. I ran with purpose until I stopped in front of Antonio’s office door. I debated a polite gesture, but then just barged in. Eyes scanning the room, I saw that it was empty.

Shouting in frustration, I stalked the room, wondering where the hell I could find him because I didn’t know where his suite was. He could possibly be in the dining hall or a conference room or in the pools. Any was a strong possibility. Or, unfortunately, he might not be at King Cave at all, doing God knows what.

I stopped and rubbed my face. I needed him. I needed another damn hint to keep me sane.