I went to my knees as I stared at the pile of cloth, then around at the various rifts that began to close with a soft pop as each one’s magic failed. I reached for one, thinking I might still find Silas, but fell short as a callused hand caught my wrist. I tried to shake him off, staggering to my feet. “We have to find Silas.”
“We found him,” a quiet voice said, and my chest nearly caved in to hear Henry’s voice. “He’s…mostly fine.”
I couldn’t look at him. My throat closed and I tried to pull away. “Nola—”
“She’s alive,” he said. Henry drew me closer, reeling me in like an unruly fish. “Stunned. Maybe a little lost in her wolf half, but we can work with that. Are you okay?”
I shook my head as my whole body started shaking. I felt too hot and clammy cold at the same time, and I wanted to throw up and cry and laugh until maybe he’d lock me in the loony bin. “I don’t know what I am.”
“You’re my mate,” he said carefully, distinctly. Tasting each word on its own. “And you’re a badass who fights sorcerers. There’s a nickname in there somewhere, I promise.”
It helped me feel better that he too shook just a little. I finally leaned into him, let him draw me close, and I tried to breathe normally even as tears spilled down my cheeks and I flirted with hyperventilation. I squeezed my eyes shut. “You’re naked.”
“I know,” he said. Henry’s arms tightened around me. “Don’t get any ideas about taking advantage of me, witch. We’re in public.”
I laughed and cried at the same time, leaning against him. My knees wobbled as I struggled to comprehend what happened. We confronted Rocko and he still managed to slip away, despite my binding him, but I survived. I wasn’t tied to the sorcerer. Maybe I’d finally broken free. I exhaled and pressed my cheek against Henry’s chest.
I was finally free.
