Page 49 of Tethered Thrones

“Tsuki. I see...”

I turned my face toward him, my nose pressing into his silky hair.

“We should go find the others, I'm guessing,” he said.

I forced a nod even though I had no interest in releasing him. This was the first time I had felt like this; like Sun was all mine. It was just us in this underground world. How often did I have him all to myself? The others were normally a stone’s throw away.

“Hadi,” he whispered softly and suddenly his hands were weaving into my hair. “I'm okay. I promise. Don't worry.”

“You nearly weren't,” I informed him.

“I had no idea you cared so much,” he mused.

I felt a rare blush heat my cheeks and was grateful that the dark was there to hide it.

“Come on, then,” I said. “Let us continue to the end of the tunnel.”

I released him, perhaps a little bit too quickly because he hissed in pain as his feet touched the ground and he reached out blindly, steadying himself on my arms.

I held him, regretting letting embarrassment control me.

“It's not your fault,” Sun said, as though I'd said it aloud. “You're not used to having emotions, I know.”

I didn't bother arguing.

“Can you walk?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, but as soon as we had taken two steps, I heard him stumble.

“Get on my back,” I ordered, but when he attempted to hoist himself up, he cried out and ended up on the ground taking short, sharp breaths.

“I thought you said that Tsuki healed me,” he gritted out.

“She did her best with what energy she had left, I suppose,” I said, crouching down to find Sun on the ground.

“Gentle!” he hissed as I lifted him.

“Sorry,” I said, holding him still.

He didn't move for a long time, still trying to regain his breath.

“Wow,” he finally breathed. “I've been stabbed before, but never into the ribs, I guess.”

His voice trembled nearly as hard as the hands clinging to me.

“You need to rest,” I decided.

He started to argue, but I cut him off.

“There is no point rushing. No one knows we're here aside from Kiar, Bracken, and Clem, and I imagine they will not rest until they find us.”

That seemed to calm Sun at once and despite myself, it stung. I was here, but I was not enough. I should not have been jealous, I knew we were all one, but I had never really been one of the group. Not properly. I had always been on the outside, first, a shadow, then an enemy, then a grudging ally.

I tried to push the feeling down, but I could not help but want more.

“Let me take care of you,” I whispered and before Sun could argue, the way he clearly wanted to, I threw my web up to the ceiling, creating something of a hammock before carefully lifting him into it.

He didn't say anything for a moment and then chuckled softly.