Laurel

3:05 Laurel

"Brydel, Auris, Delia, I'm going to go check on Sky, could you go meet with the scribes or whatever they are and let them know about the Sunless. We need to start preparing." Everything was happening so quickly now. I didn't feel lost, not anymore. I knew what was coming and what I had to do. I just had to stay strong enough to see it through to the end.

Ever observant and so sensitive to moods Delia noticed I had drifted off on my thoughts asking gently if I was ok as I reached for the same door Sky had walked through a moment ago. "I'm Ok, I promise. We'll spend some real time together soon," I smiled back over my shoulder before ducking out into the hall away. We would need to spend time together, my energy levels were lower than they had been in ages, and I had so much to get done.

I hastily flicked a tear from the corner of my eye before it could trace down my cheek. I bit my tongue to distract my mind away from the sadness threatening to creep in and overwhelm me. I had so much I had to do, and so many things I wanted to do. All I truly wanted was to take all my mates back to bed and lock us in there until the end of time.

I sighed, focusing on Sky, trying to find him. He was so much taller than I was a single stride for him was easily equal to three for me. He had only a moment's head start but he was moving quickly. I followed him as he meandered through the twisting halls. As I turned down the fifth hallway I realized he didn't know where he was going either, his thoughts were such a jumble and his feelings were a mess. The overwhelming guilt I could feel through him was the most upsetting.

I could sense Brydel getting annoyed, Auris was curious and Delia was trying to manage others emotions while she herself bounced between annoyed, curious and sharp spikes of fear. I hoped the meeting with the scribes was going better than their emotions were making me think it was. They were safe, and reasonably untroubled, they would be ok without me. Sky needed me right now.

I kept following the trail he was leaving, and realized I had gotten turned around and we were closer to our private wing now, and that Sky was no longer moving forward. He had finally stopped somewhere. I thought he was in our bedchamber, but instead I followed my heart to the still unused playroom. I opened the door slowly, "Sky?" I called out, keeping my voice soft and quiet. Knowing he would hear me.

"I'm in here." He was sat against a wall under a display of various whips and floggers, he looked up and my heart broke anew when his violet eyes met mine. Tears rolling down his cheeks before he buried his face in his hands and sobbed. I fell to my knees and wrapped my arms around him, he didn't move to hold me in his arms. He didn't move at all. He stayed still in my arms as he cried. I was making soothing sounds, and running my fingers through his impossibly soft locks, trying to figure out what he needed, how I could help.

I let Sky cry, nothing I said seemed to matter or reach him, but his heart rate was slowing down as I sat with him. Finally, he spoke, very softly. "I doomed everyone."

"Shhhhhh, no you didn't Sky. None of this is your fault." I said, not understanding how he could be blaming himself. If anything it was all my fault, everything had been pulled out of line when my parents and Gotha changed my fate.

"The Sunless are going to emerge in Fortuna's territory, all those people, all the civilizations she has saved throughout time will be pillaged, Lady Amalthea and her lands will be despoiled. They came looking for me, and because of me so many are going to suffer!" He had stopped crying; the guilt in his heart was crystalizing into something hard. I had to change tactics, I had to get through to him, I didn't want this to be what turned his loving heart hard.

"Do you also blame Brydel for Pestilence being on our doorstep? She has already made it clear she wants her toy back. Should we blame Brydel for our first fight being against her and her army?" I hated how cold my voice was, I hated twisting his emotions like this. Sky wouldn't see reason, he would blame himself until he turned in on himself and away from us. I needed to show him the folly in the intrusive thoughts he was lost in right now. I needed my mates with me.