Her answer was more for me than anyone else.
I swallowed hard, doing my best to believe it.
The woman studied us another moment before nodding and glancing at the pilot, sharing whatever conversation they had on a different radio channel. Finally, she turned back toward us. “We’re flying you to the nearest hospital. We’ll drop you off for assessment, and law enforcement will pay you a visit for your statement.”
My hackles rose.
My thighs bunched to stand.
But Gemma curled her fingers deeper into my leg, holding me down as she nodded with a gracious smile. “Sounds good.” With a warning look at me, she laid her head on my shoulder and kept her hand on my body.
It was enough.
Having her lean against me, trusting me, touching me, was enough to keep my mind with her and not unravel into chaos.
Even the ghosts of my past and horrors I’d endured stayed silent as we flew farther and farther from my valley, freeing me once and for all from Fables.
* * * * *
“Kas, you have to relax. It’s fine.”
I glanced over at Gem, where she sat in a matching chair in the hospital room where we’d been taken. It’d been a mess of landing, being shuffled from the helicopter, and ferried into a giant building that smelled like bleach, blinded with far too many lights, and had an aura of sickness and death.
I’d allowed my mind to shut down, permitting us to be guided down long corridors, letting Gemma speak on my behalf, finally breathing when we were left alone after a nurse barked off questions, noted Gem’s answers onto her notepad, and then darted from the room.
I wouldn’t lie and say any of this shit was easy.
I was one trigger away from a full-blown attack.
But Gemma never stopped touching me. Each time she glanced my way, she noticed the frantic edge I hovered over. If I wasn’t already head over fucking heels in love with her, I would’ve fallen just for her kindness and understanding.
I had no doubt that if it wasn’t for her, I would have blood on my hands already.
I would’ve killed the orderly who escorted us to this room.
I would’ve strangled the nurse who tried to take our temperature.
I would’ve murdered anyone and everyone who dared look at me.
My mind and its open doors full of memories was more crowded than ever. The past mingled with the present, making me sweat and tremble.
“Kas...stop working yourself up.” Gem came toward me, squatting down in front of me with her small, strong hands resting on my knees. “Just focus on me, okay? I know this is a massive adjustment for you and I can’t begin to imagine how overwhelming this all is, but I give you my word, no one, and I mean no one, will hurt you. I give you my absolute vow on that. These men and women...they’re not like the ones you grew up with. These are kind-hearted carers, not abusive rapists, alright?”
My teeth ground together.
A wash of sickness sent acid up my throat.
Her hand landed on my cheek, settling my rabid heartbeat. “Kas, please...trust me. I will keep you safe. You don’t have to be afraid.”
I shuddered and placed my hand over hers, pressing my cheek into her palm. “I’m not afraid.”
“You’re white.”
“I’m afraid of what I might do if they look at you wrong. If they move too fast. If they trigger a memory that I have no control over.”
“I’ll be there.” She turned her head and kissed my wrist. “I’ll stop you from doing something that might get you into trouble.” Her eyes flashed. “And I’ll also stop anyone doing anything that you’re not comfortable with, okay? You just have to trust me.”
I searched her gaze for any lies or uncertainty.
This was her world.
I was a complete stranger here. I might look and speak like the people in this place but thanks to my seclusion, I wasn’t like them. I was different. I was fucked up. I was a menace even when I didn’t want to be.
Gem rose and kissed my lips, distracting me.
A ragged breath escaped me. For the first time since Jareth set the fire, a cloak of calmness descended, and I kissed her back. I let myself sink into her, to forget, just for a second, that I was no longer in my valley and that my entire existence was now in question.
She kissed me slowly, longingly. Her tongue slipped into my mouth, successfully switching my heart rate from manic to wanting.
My shoulders relaxed, my muscles stopped bunching, and I pulled away, resting my forehead on hers. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“We’re together, Kas. Just because we’re no longer just the two of us, we’re still together. That hasn’t changed. That will never change.”
I nodded, breathing her in. “I love you.”
She blushed and pulled away. “And I love you.” Tucking my wild, smoke-laced hair behind my ear, she stood and returned to her chair.