24 | ACCOMIDATIONS

I haven’t felt so spooked since last year. As Zoe and I run out of Port Greene, neither of us slowing until we’re safely in Azure territory, the coldness of Mrs. Cai’s words don’t leave me. The second we hit Azure territory, my knees buckle and I find myself on all fours, gasping for air. Panic’s captured the muscles of my body, tensing and contracting them in terror, making my gasps become more ragged and shallow. My heart racing in my chest and pounding painfully against my ribcage, each *whoosh* of blood pumping throughout my body winding me tighter and tighter until I think I’m about to implode.

“Breathe, Scarlett,” Zoe’s voice encourages from somewhere to my right. I look over to see the vampire crouched beside a tall pine, her frost bitten arm clutched to her chest, and a deeper parlor to her skin. I try to follow her words, but the panic doesn’t fade. If anything, seeing the injured vampire seems to amp up the anxiety restricting my chest.

My vision starts to blur, and for a second, I think I’m going to pass out as my body screams at me for oxygen. And then something warm wraps around me. Suddenly, I find myself slumping against something - some*one*.

*“It’s okay, Red.”* Blue’s voice coaxes in the back of my mind - and aloud. His gentle voice quiet in my ear as the heat from his body and sure strength of his arms applies just enough pressure to ground me. But the knowledge that I’m away from the powerful and terrifying Elementals doesn’t provide me with enough reassurance. It’s not until I realize Blue’s really here - holding onto me - the mental connection embracing me - that the chill starts to really disperse. The second the coldness and anxiety are gone, I begin to shake, harsh sounds bursting from my lungs as I drag in air. “Hey, it’s okay,” Blue murmurs, tightening his arms around my shoulders and burying his face against my neck. His familiar scent of fresh parchment and pine comforting me and coaxing the terror-stricken Wolven side of me into relaxing. “*You’re* okay.” That does it.

The contact and warmth break something inside of me. Heat blazes behind my eyes and my throat tightens as my vision blurs and sobs begin to pour from me. I turn in Blue’s arms and wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to him as the force of everything that’s happened over the last few days finally hits me. Memories begin to replay in the back of my mind, little snippets of conversation, and I know Blue sees them - hears them - with me. The mental wall between us has become that one-way mirror again, thin enough I know it’s probably more like a sieve than a wall. Something keeping me out - but allowing certain things in from his side.

I’m too relieved that he’s here to give a shit at the moment, not even the recollection that he’s still blocking me can dampen the all-encompassing *rightness* burning between us.

Bits of his own concern and fear mix with mine - but it’s not as all-consuming as it had been when the connection had first allowed me to experience what he was feeling last year. This time, I can separate where he ends and I begin. I know what’s me and what’s him. Even when I examine and feel his emotions myself, they don’t boost mine or influence mine. They just are.

“We’re going to get through this,” Blue murmurs into my ear, stroking my hair as I continue to take unsteady breaths. “The future’s not set in stone,” He reminds me, using a phrase Mom had told me last year when everything had begun. The words provide as much comfort now as they had then, and I let out a snort of humor, nuzzling my cheek against his. There’s a soft scrape of stubble against my softer skin, the rasp reminding me of one of the visions we’d experienced last year, too.

“Feels like another lifetime,” I breathe, knowing Blue’s following my line of thought as I recall a few of those visions and how we’d avoided letting the worst of them come to pass…and the ensuing fallout.

“We’re going to get through this.” Blue repeats more firmly, the conviction in his tone leaving no room for negotiation or protest. I smile, unable to help but feel reassured at the same time. There’s a beat of silence before his grip on me starts to loosen. A surge of panic hits me.

“Wait. Just a little longer.” I tell him, my arms tightening around his neck. As if I could stay here, in this moment, forever.

“Red-” He begins, trying to pull away again. I’m not having it though. I wouldn’t say it aloud, but I missed him. As odd as it seems, what with everything going on and the incredible weight of this mess bearing down on me, I’ve actually *felt* the void his constant presence would fill.

“Just a little longer,” I try to negotiate, wondering if I can bottle up this feeling of wholeness or use him like the sun to metaphorically recharge and fill the empty within. “Don’t go just yet-” I try not to sound like I’m begging when he cuts me off.

“Red, babe,” Blue’s voice is softer, though he tries to smother a chuckle as he gently pulls my arms from around his neck and moves back just enough so that there’s a foot of space between us. He only pauses long enough to reach between us and wipe away the remnants of tears from my face. “We’ve got an audience.” Blue nods at the pine tree a couple of yards away…where my vampire companion has been sitting and silently watching.

“It’s fine.” Zoe protests, waving a tired hand at us - her uninjured hand - a look of amusement in her dark eyes. “You guys were having a moment. Don’t let little ‘ol me stop you.” She winks at me, adding in a suggestive quirk of her perfect eyebrows as I blush. Right.

And then I recall why we’re both here in the first place. *Fuck*.

“I’m so sorry-” I begin, looking at Zoe’s still discolored arm. There’s no visible sign of frost on the slightly purplish-blue limb, if anything, it seems to be healing - regaining a little rosy coloration as the seconds tick by.

“Not your fault, princess,” Zoe sighs, looking mournfully at her arm - still cradled to her chest. Her face’s still unnaturally pale, and there’s a slight sheen to her forehead - as if she’s sweating. “We couldn’t have predicted exactly the kind of things we’d be facing.”

“What happened?” Blue frowns, looking between me and the vampire. There’s a light curiosity to his eyes, but his tone is grim.

“Elementals,” I start slowly, watching his face for a reaction. On cue, Blue’s face goes blank and pales a little. *So he knows, interesting*… I can’t help but think, a spike of annoyance and accusation stinging through me.

“Nikki mentioned a very general outline of the types of supernaturals we’d be dealing with,” Blue explains, his eyes going back to Zoe’s arm with a deep wariness in his silvery eyes. “I heard they were testy but-” He stops him self, gritting his teeth and turning to examine me. Before he can ask, I shake my head.

“I’m fine.” I mutter to him, still not one-hundred-percent happy with him at the moment, but wanting to soothe him anyway. Blue searches my eyes for a moments, his mental touch sorting through the last few hours. His silvery eyes darken down to a duller grey as his anger ignites and a coldness clings to him.

“They will pay for that-” Blue begins, but I shake my head.

“No, her reaction was understandable. We…” I look at Zoe again, my mouth twisting ruefully. “*I*…didn’t exactly explain to Mrs. Cai why we were there. I think she was just being a protective mother.” I say, pretty much thinking aloud.

“Still-”

“It’s not like there’ll be permanent damage,” I tell Blue, glancing at Zoe for confirmation. Zoe nods, flexing her fingers, her arm already turning from the necrotic looking hue into a more bruised-greenish color. “I’ll go alone-”

“No.” Blue cuts me off before I can continue, a look of absolute concern clouding his normally expressionless face.

“She may have thought we were threatening her by going together-”

“No.” Blue repeats, his voice dipping into a much firmer and Alpha-like tone. I narrow my eyes at him, meeting his pleading gaze with my own unwavering one. My chest aches as I think f how we last left things. The warning I gave him.

“You can’t stop me,” I tell him, my voice horribly cold. Blue’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t argue with me. Progress. After another beat of tense silence he lets out a heavy sigh and presses the heels of his palms into his eyes. It’s only then I really look at him.

The confident, calm, and collected guy I know is a mess. There’re heavy circles under his eyes, slightly discolored spots over his neck in a vaguely familiar pattern, his t-shirt and jeans are caked with dirt and ripped in some places, a dark stain over the right part of the hem. I little sniff lets me know it’s motor oil.

“Are you-” I begin to ask if he’s *okay* but stop myself. He’s obviously not.

“There’s still a little tension left over in the Pack,” Blue admits, dropping his hands from his eyes and looking at me a with a grim smile. “I’m fine.” He insists when I give him a dubious look. “Yuri and Cole have been helping settle things, but…” He lets out another sigh and glances at Zoe.

“None of my business.” Zoe shrugs, busying herself by examining the nails of her uninjured hand with exaggerated interest.

“I’m dealing with it.” Blue mutters to me, eyes still narrowed at the vampire. I frown at that, not really sure I believe him, but know there’s not much I can do. I’m not part of his Pack.

“And I’m dealing with *this*.” I state, again more in a ‘me-thinking-aloud’.

“Take a flame thrower or something if you’re going alone.” Blue grumbles after a beat and I smirk at him, quirking an eyebrow. “If their element is along the lines of cold, you can hurt them with heat.” He explains and I gape at him.

“Uh…no,” I say slowly, my nose wrinkling as I imagine frying Mrs. Cai to a crisp. “Just…no.” A slight queasiness settles in my gut at the thought of hurting anyone right now. I feel like I’ve seen enough conflict for a lifetime. I don’t want to start something with the Elementals. “I’ll go alone tomorrow.” I tell him. “If I get in a bind…” I shrug, holding up a hand as Blue opens his mouth to argue with me. “I’ll just try to talk to them. If things look bad, I’ll leave.” It didn’t seem like Mrs. Cai was going for deadly attacks and I know from experience that I heal quickly.

“If you get into *any* trouble,” Blue locks eyes with me, the hypnotic silvery-grey swirl making my stomach flip as his concern shudders through the bond. “Call me.” By the way he says it, I know he doesn’t mean it literally and he taps his temple. “Call me.” He repeats. “I’ll hear you.” He adds when I frown at him. “No matter how far, I’ll hear.”

“Fine.” I mutter after a second. I know he could just follow me - and I probably wouldn’t know. I decide, for once, to put more faith and trust in him.