“Did you find my dead, decaying body rotting in the dungeon after months of capture, beatings, and torture?” Elora whispered.

“No.”

“Then that is how I think three days is quick.”

Cassie gave a quick nod. “Okay, I see your point.”

“Honestly, El, it was all way too easy. Well, at first all the ways into the dark-elf realm seemed to be blocked to Trik. Then we tried to go in through his cabin, but we couldn’t get more than twenty feet away and we started going in circles. Finally, Syndra told us to try Sanctuary. It was one of those moments when you’re like damn why didn’t I think of that.”

“Hate those,” Elora quipped.

“I know, right?” Cassie crouched down and Elora lowered herself as well, balancing against the slick walls.

“So then Trik just walked through a mirror into Sanctuary and we walked straight here. He knocked out a few dark elves along the way, and then bam, we were standing in front of your cell.”

“You’re right; something is not kosher with this rescue mission. Ours didn’t go nearly as smooth.”

“Really?” Cassie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Cause I thought the whole getting caught thing must have been part of your plan.”

Elora narrowed her eyes. “Who flipped your bitch switch?”

Cassie quickly covered her mouth before the laugh could escape. “I like that one,” she whispered.

Elora rolled her eyes. “You’re still easily amused I see.”

Lisa stepped up beside them just then and leaned forward into their space. “What’s so funny?”

“Bitch switch,” Elora answered dryly which brought another laugh from Cassie.

Suddenly a big body was looming over them, and all three turned their heads upward from where they were crouched.

“Would you all like to just send the dark elves a text to let them know exactly where we are?” Cush ground out through clenched teeth.

Elora stood slowly and Lisa and Cassie followed her up. When she reached her full five foot seven inches, she met Cush’s icy gaze and smiled as she spoke, “I was thinking engraved invitations.” Elora ignored her mother’s dropped jaw and her best friend's snickers as she stepped around Cush, being extra careful not to touch him.

Trik stepped around the corner and motioned for them to follow. “Coast is clear; let’s get a move on people.”

Cassie hurried up to Trik’s side and he took her hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles gently.

“You doing alright?” he asked her as he moved so quickly and quietly that it was eerie.

“Yeah, I’m good. A little unnerved as to why this is going so―”

Cassie’s words were caught in her throat as a loud boom rattled through her ears and down her chest sending her body flying backwards through the air. She was only briefly alone as Trik’s arms were instantly around her cushioning their landing with his body.

Stone and dirt swam in the air and rained down on the group as they all crashed to the tunnel floor. A few shrieks from the girls and groans from the guys and then all were silent.

Cush blinked a few times, attempting to gather his faculties. His ears were ringing from the blast and he found it hard to get air into his lungs from all the dust settling in the thick, damp air. As soon as his mind was clear, his thoughts jumped to Elora. Where had she been when the explosion happened? She had walked past him and around Sidhion and Tamsin and then he hadn’t been able to see her. He jumped to his feet nimbly pushing rocks from his legs and began to survey the damage. Already nearly all of the elves were on their feet. Tamsin was pulling Lisa up, and there several feet in front of them, he saw dark hair with red streaks spread across the rubble. He was moving before he thought, maneuvering across the fallen stone with ease, and then he was kneeling beside her.

Her eyes were closed and blood trickled down from a cut on her forehead. He leaned forward, laying his ear just inches above her mouth and felt warm breath against it. He squeezed his eyes closed tight against the emotion welling in his chest. Alive, he told himself, she was alive.

“Is she alright?” He heard Lisa’s voice behind him.

“She’s breathing but not conscious,” he told her gruffly. He didn’t move aside. Maybe he should have, Lisa was Elora’s mother after all. But she was his―his mind froze on that thought. His what? What did he think she was? His heart knew, but his mind wasn’t ready to accept it, would never be ready to accept it.

His hand cupped her cheek as he leaned close to her ear. “Wake up, Little Raven.” He looked down at her and waited, willing her eyes to open. Another blast rocked the tunnels and Cush covered Elora’s body with his own. The ground trembled beneath them and the ceiling above them rumbled under the stress of the eruption. He waited until the dust settled before raising himself back up. He glanced over her to make sure no rocks or stones had landed on her and then looked back at her face. He stilled as his eyes collided with hers.

“Most guys ask me on a date before trying for third base,” she told him with a smirk.

Cush sighed inwardly, relieved that she was conscious.

“Can you move?” he asked ignoring her comment.

“I believe I could if you would get off of me.”

He stared at her, confused by her surly tone. He had just protected her from possible death and she was practically growling at him. He didn’t realize his hand was once again on the side of her face, cradling it gently, not until her voice filled his mind.