Chapter 16

Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN 

GAGE'S POV

I moved towards Indigo, my chest tight as I watched her struggle to steady herself.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close, feeling the rapid beat of her heart against my chest.

“Are you okay?” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. She nodded, but her eyes were glassy, distant, as if she were still fighting to hold back the tears.

Valtor and Lariq joined us, each one wearing a look of quiet concern. Lariq’s usual calm composure had faded, lines of worry took over, obviously struggling to still keep his cool. I guessed he did care more than he’d ever admit. Valtor rested a hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady, grounding.

Winter suddenly let out a weak groan, clutching her side as she tried to sit up. Indigo’s composure broke as she looked at her friend, her face crumpling with guilt and pain.

“I…I couldn’t protect them,” she choked out, tears spilling down her cheeks finally. “I thought I could handle it, but they were too strong. I wasn’t strong enough…”

I tightened my hold on her, my heart aching at the vulnerability in her voice. “Indigo, you were incredible. You held them off long enough for us to get here. Without you, things could have been so much worse.”

Lariq nodded, his voice soft, lacking its usual edge. “You’re stronger than you think. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Valtor’s gaze softened, his hand moving to gently wipe away a tear from her cheek. “We’re here for you, Indigo. You’re not alone in this.”

She looked at each of us, her expression a mix of gratitude and something deeper, something raw and real that words couldn’t quite capture. 

For the first time since the ceremony, I felt the weight of the bond between us—all of us, a connection that went beyond anything I’d ever felt.

Together, the four of us held her.

After we returned to the Academy, I kept my distance, letting Indigo settle in. She’d been through a lot tonight, fighting off those shadowy figures…whatever they actually were. 

Dealing with her friends’ injuries—and on top of it, being confronted by her three mates in the middle of it all. Now, as she walked quietly back to her quarters, I could see she was calmer, but there was a shadow in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. I couldn’t help but worry about her.

We ensured Winter got special attention from the top healers at the Academy, she needed more time but the rest of her friends were able to get checked on and leave for the night. They wanted to stay back but it was advised to let the professionals have their space.

I followed Indigo to the edge of her room. She paused, hand on the doorframe, and I took the moment to finally close the gap.

“Hey,” I said gently, leaning in just enough to meet her gaze. “You did everything you could for Winter tonight. For all of them. I know it feels like it wasn’t enough, but trust me, you gave them a fighting chance.”

She sighed, her fingers tracing the wood of the frame. “Maybe… but I still can’t shake it. I could’ve lost her, Gage. If I’d been just a little late or even a little slower…” Her voice trailed off, the words catching in her throat.

I moved closer, reaching out to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Listen, Indigo. I know things have been complicated lately. I won’t pretend I know exactly how you’re feeling—being bonded to the three of us, dealing with this prophecy on top of it… it’s a lot. And you didn’t ask for any of it.”

She looked up, her gaze softening as she met my eyes. I could see a flicker of understanding there.

“Here’s the thing,” I continued. “We may not always see eye to eye—the three of us definitely don’t—but you don’t have to face this alone. Not with them, not with us. Lariq, Valtor… they’re as stubborn as they come, but I felt it tonight. When you were in trouble, when they heard you calling, they dropped everything to come to you.”

A faint smile tugged at her lips, but she looked away, as if unsure of what to do with it. “I don’t know, Gage. It’s like I’m supposed to trust this bond, but part of me… part of me feels like I barely know you guys. And how do I know what’s real?”

I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Honestly? I can’t promise that all of this will make sense right away. But what I do know is that you mean something to us, to me. I care about you, Indigo. And I’m not the only one. You just… you have to give us a chance to show it. We’re all here for a reason, even if it’s hard to understand right now.”

She nodded, her expression softening even more, the tension in her shoulders easing as she absorbed my words. “I’ll… I’ll think about it,” she said quietly.

“But Gage, tonight... It made me realize that I can’t afford to be reckless. I don’t know if I’m ready for this, for any of it, but I’m going to try.”

“That’s all I could ever ask,” I said, giving her shoulder a light squeeze. “Whatever you need, we’re here. All three of us.”

She gave a small nod and opened her door, the glow of her room spilling out around her. “Goodnight, Gage,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Goodnight, Indigo,” I replied, watching as she slipped inside, the door clicking softly behind her.

As I walked back down the hall, the quiet enveloped me, but my heart felt lighter somehow. 

We might not have all the answers yet, and hell, maybe I didn’t either—but tonight was a start. And I’d be there, every step of the way, no matter how long it took for her to find her way forward.

Now for other matters…