Marin was shaking when she finally came up for air and Thom wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest, willing that shaking to ease and knowing that he wouldn’t let her go until it did. “We’re okay,” he murmured into her hair. “We’re okay, Mar. We’re here and we’re together and it’s all going to be okay.”
His stomach twisted at the words that might have been a lie for all he knew. That didn’t matter, though. Somehow, some way, he’d make everything be okay.
“Something’s out there,” she whispered into his shoulder. “Something got the better of Cariocecus and we don’t know what or who it was. He collapsed before he could tell us. I was so worried about you, Thom. I was scared whatever it was might have come after you guys while you were out there alone.”
I should have been here. We shouldn’t have gone. His arms tightened around her. “Everyone else is okay?”
She nodded, her forehead pressed against his jaw. “Everyone else is fine. It was just him. But there was—”
“More?” He felt sick. How the hell could there be more? “I don’t know that I want to know this right now.”
She laughed weakly and held him a little tighter. “I’m sorry. Let me go get some hot water. You need to get cleaned up.”
Thom stroked her hair and kissed her ear. “I love you, Mar.”
“I know.” She kissed his cheek and gently disentangled herself from his embrace. “Stay put. I’ll be back.”
Thom nodded and stayed where he was sitting for a long moment after watching her go, his throat tight.
Never again. I’m not going to do this without her ever again. Either we both go, or we both stay—this doesn’t happen ever again.
He would let himself believe that lie. It was easier that way.
