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                                                                        The world drooped and sagged around me. Commander Janson's voice echoed and pooled in my ears. I tried desperately to hold onto his words. I needed to know what was happening. I regretted wiggling imminently. Sharp pain cut through my wrists and arms. I'd forgotten about the boned binds securing me. I opened my eyes, seeing an upside-down world. Dark and blurred, I could only make out hooded figures and trees. I heard more voices, each sound growing clearer than the last.  "She's awake." Someone hissed. Janson came into view, frowning down at me. "She's dazed." Someone hidden muttered. "We'll be fine." 

"I'm not taking any chances." Janson growled, unscrewing a cap that I hadn't noticed he'd grabbed. 

"Don't." I managed to breath out. He knelt in front of me, one hand gripped my chin forcing my mouth wide open. I flailed, spikes digging into my arms. 

"I told you not to move! You're only making this harder for yourself!" A too sweet liquid was poured down into my mouth. I tried spitting it out, but the hand around my jaw moved to my nose, making me swallow. 

Things went blurrier and sound faded away again. Was this it? There was no escaping now. Not when I was in the blood queen's hands. I refused to become what Alistair said I would. But to get back to Casteel, my husband, I'd kill whoever I needed. I would move mountains and burn down the entire world to get back to him. I held onto my promise to myself as my eyes closed against my will and everything went dark. 

                                                               It felt like I'd blinked when someone nudged me. I opened my eyes, greeted once more by darkness and stars. A figure loomed over me. Tall and dark. A man, I think. His edges were blurred and smeared along with all the muted colors around us. His mouth moved and his voice was musical and airy. The meaning of what he said didn't register. Something warm touched me. A hand maybe. My eyes went wider when Kieran's face was inches from mine. He held my chin gently, staring into my eyes. His mouth moved again. "Arm and shirt?" I squinted, not understanding. Though my tongue felt tied, I spoke. 

"What?" He let out a heavy sigh, his warm breath fanning my face. He helped me sit up and sat behind me. I felt him tug and pull at the binds. 

When my hands were freed, I could barely recall how much time had gone by. But now a new voice opened my eyes that I hadn't realized I'd closed. My husband knelt before me. My now freed hands were in his. My heavy body fell into his and he caught me, both arms going around me. He hugged me tightly, talking lowly in my ear. I couldn't hear a word he said, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that he was here. He'd found me. I was safe and he and Kieran were alive. 

He held out a small container of water. I grabbed it and drank greedily until there was not a drop left. 

                                                                                                                      Kieran 

                                                              Poppy laid there on the wagon, lifeless. My heart nearly stopped, and it would have if I hadn't heard the steady beat from across the way.

Cas was angry. Ripping apart some bastard who'd decided Poppy was dangerous. Our Poppy. That thought made me laugh. Sure, she was dangerous. Well trained and strong for a mortal. But she... She was Poppy. Kind and sweet and caring. She could never destroy or whatever it was Alastair thought. 

I nudged her cool skin. "Poppy!" I nudged her again, making her groan. I saw the binds around her again. "Fuck." Bones of a deity. How long had these been here? I caught signs of scraps and scrapes across her body. Cas would not be happy. Her eyes fluttered open, and relief found me all to soon because she squinted at me. Pupils the size of the moon. "Poppy?" I said again. Nothing. Just a blank stare. Her soft exhale sent a wiff of a sickly-sweet smell my way. Jansen had drugged her. A lot given the state she was in. "Poppy." I said again. She muttered my name, just barely. "Are you hurt?" Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she muttered something I couldn't understand. I realized she wouldn't understand a word I said. I just had to remove the binds for now and figure out if she was hurt later. I pulled her up and sat behind her, yanking on the binds one by one while Delano and my father snarled in the background. 

                                                        She passed out once the binds were gone. I'd caught her, letting her lean into me until Cas stormed to us, wiping the blood that spattered across his face with his forearm. He knelt to us, eyes going to mine. "She's okay. I believe." 

"You believe?" He touched her cheek, making her stir. I watched her eyes flutter open again. 

"Princess?" He whispered. "Tell me you're alright?" She stared with a confused expression for a few moments and then lept forward. He caught her and held her. The moment sent tears to my eyes. She muttered something, a string of broken sentences, jumbled and mumbled. 

"She's been drugged." I rose. "I honestly doubt she has a clue what's happening right now. She didn't seem to understand me when I spoke." Cas nodded and kissed her hair. 

"Here." Ca's father reached us, holding out a small jug of water to Cas. He took it, handing it over to Poppy who chugged it down as if she'd never had a sip in her life. Cas's jaw tightened at that. Mine did as well. 

                                                                                                       Poppy 

                                                        I don't know how long I sat in Cas's arms. But my limbs started unlocking, my ears unclogging. I still felt floaty though. Light as air and tired. So tired. "Can you walk?" Cas's voice was husky in my ear as I felt him lift me up. 

"I'm good at walking." I muttered, hating feeling like I needed help. And I wanted to stand. I couldn't remember the last time I actually stood. How long had I been here? He set me down gently and held onto me as we walked forward. "Penelophe." A voice caught my attention. I let my head drift to the left to see Casteel's father standing there, Jasper in his wolven form beside him. "We didn't know. Eloana or I. We didn't know what Alistair was planning." 

"He was nice." I agreed. "He reminded me of Viktor." Casteel started walking, towing me along. 

"Come, Poppy. Let's get you somewhere safe." He said. 

                                                     I have no idea why I was sitting on this rock. Cas said something. I knew that much. "Why are we here?" I asked Kieran who let me lean on him, Cas's coat covering my body. "We're waiting for Cas and the others to retrieve the horses." Kieran said. "Like I told you before. Twice." 

I laughed. Unable to help myself. And then it stopped when I saw Delano shift and a lot of bare skin was on display. I looked down at my bare feet. "Sorry, Poppy. Can't help it." Delano called out. "Sure." I muttered into my hand. "You know what I think?" I turned to Kieran. "I think you all just like being naked." He snorted. Then I heard clips and clops and neighs. I looked up to see Cas guiding Setti toward me, his father pulled two other horses. Nail was already on top of one and held the reins to another. I waved at Setti. He bobbed his head, waving back. "Are you waving at your husband or the horse?" Kieran asked. 

"Both." I lied.

                                              "Wrong foot." Cas reached out and pulled my right foot out of the step thingy and poked my left. I did what he said and he lifted me up and onto Setti's back. 

                                      Everything seemed to fall apart again. The strings to my consciousness had been cut and reality shifted as exhaustion hit. "No. Stay awake." Cas nudged me. "We're almost to Jaspers. I want a healer to look at you. You have a few nasty bruises on your temple." 

"I'm tired." I mumbled, throwing my elbow back into his ribs. "And you can't tell me what to do." I cried. "I'm the wife. I'm in charge." 

Delano laughed beside us. "As right as that statement may be most of the time. Why don't I take in the reigns for now?" Cas said. "In the meantime, talk to me, tell me something I don't already know. Tell me of your and Tawny's adventures." 

I was about to when my stomach lurched. Bile crept up my throat. It came so suddenly the only thing I could do was move to the side and hope I didn't vomit on Casteel or Setti. My hair was pulled back and I felt Setting stop. "At least maybe she'll get the drug out and act normal." Kieran chimed in. I groaned, mouth tasting rancid. Feeling even worse, I leaned back into Cas's chest and huffed.  

Chapter Text

                                                               Casteel

                  Poppy had vomited twice on the way home. And though I was glad the drug Janson and Alistair had given her was making it's way out of her system, one way or the other, I however was concerned that it didn't seem to change the state of her foggy mind. She muttered that her head throbbed, along with a string of curses for not letting me sleep and a bunch of other nonsensical sentences I couldn't quite understand. Every time she began to doze, I tapped her cheek and asked her about her adventures with Tawny or what she used to do with her brother, Ian. Everyone was on edge. Kieran, who'd usually kept a bland, dry look about him. Was obviously concerned. Though, he wouldn't say out loud, I knew him well enough to know. He cared very much for Poppy, and it wasn't just because of the bond either. Delano, in his wolven form remained close, nudging her foot with nose when I didn't fully catch that she was drifting. I wondered if not letting her sleep was cruel when I planned on giving her my blood when we were in a safe, closed area. Away from prying eyes. But, I would take no chances with Poppy. My wife. Gods, she was my wife. She had been for only a little over a week now which made my blood boil all over again. The first week was supposed to be filled with bliss. I knew we weren't getting a proper honeymoon, not with everything happening. But I figured we'd hole up in my estate for a day or two to celebrate while I showed her Evemon. I told myself that we'd get that now. Once she was healed and well again. We'd have time together. I'd rip apart the world to ensure it. 

                                 It took longer than forever stretched on to reach Jasper's estate. Kieran hopped down his horse to help Poppy down. "Poppy. We're here. Do you think you can slide down Setti?" I asked. "Kieran will catch you." She lifted a leg and circled it around Setti's head, flicking his ear in the process. Nail chuckled behind us, Poppy sent him a glare. "I can get down by myself." She muttered and all but fell off Setti. Kieran, thankfully kept her from splattering on the ground. "See?" Poppy said. 

"Good job, Poppy." I jumped down and took Kieran's place. She let me pick her up and carry her down into the estate without fussing one bit. Which worried me. 

                                                          "Poppy, I know you're really out of it right now but tomorrow you're really going to appreciate that I'm filling a tub with hot water." I had her seated on the side of the tub, letting the hot water fill as I stood and peeled the torn up slip covering her body. She was filthy. Covered in dozens of bruises and scrapes where the bone bindings cut into her. I was almost afraid of sitting her in the steaming water. But she needed to get clean, and the soap would wash out the cuts. She hadn't paid much attention to me, droopy eyed and humming when I dropped her in the water. She sighed and leaned back, letting me wash her hair. I heard the front door open. "It's me." Kieran called. "I brought something to eat, some clothes and bandages." 

"Poppy. I'll be right back." I said. She looked at me, and she nodded. Thank the gods, she was at least somewhat coherent. I left, leaving the door open a crack to grab a night gown from Kieran. He had set a bowl of broth and bread by the bed. Once I got back in the bathing chamber, only seconds later, Poppy was sitting up, facing the faucet and playing with the handle. Wide eyed and focused. "Wow." She said and I laughed, pulling the drain and lifting her out of tub. I dried her off and eyed her body. 

The cuts weren't bad enough to warrant a bandage, so I rubbed a waxy antibiotic along them and slipped the nightgown over her head. Kieran was waiting in the bed chamber, facing away from the door. "How you feeling Poppy?" He asked as I set her down in bed. 

"She's in and out again. I think she's exhausted." I said quietly when she didn't respond to Kieran's question. I grabbed the bowl of broth and held it out, unsure of how she'd react. "No." She pushed it away and tried to lay down. 

"Poppy just a little bit." I pulled her back up. "Just get some in your stomach. Then I'll give you some blood to heal you. Then you can sleep." 

She groaned but complied. Sipping the broth for a minute or two before handing it back. "Want some bread?" I ripped of a piece and handed it to her. She ate it and then a few more pieces before her eyes closed again. Kieran stood, walking over to the bed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Kieran?" She mumbled with half opened eyes. 

"Poppy?" He smiled. 

"Question." 

"Okay." 

"Can I pet you when you're a wolfen?" I snorted at her pronunciation of wolven and Kieran was grinning broadly. 

"Yes, Poppy. You can." 

"You look soft." 

                          Kieran left shortly after that, taking the left over food and leaving to his own quarters. I pulled off my own shirt and bit into my wrist and held it out to her. Greedily and surprisingly, she accepted without complaint. I groaned as heat pulled around me and I hardened. I let her take in a handful of gulps before pulling away and lifted the blankets over her. I didn't have to compel her to sleep. Once she hit the pillow, she was out. I sighed in relief, stripping off the rest of my clothes and laying on the other side of her, watching her breath slowly until sleep finally found me. 

                                                            Poppy slept for nearly twelve hours. She was still droopy eyed when she woke but at least she was alert. "Casteel?" She rubbed her eyes. 

"I'm here." I said. "I haven't left your side." Saying that caused a sleepy, pretty smile on her face. We talked for a few minutes as I assessed my wife. 

"I don't really remember getting here." She yawned sitting up. "I remember seeing you all when you rescued me. And I remember riding Setti." She made a face. "I remember bits and pieces. But it's all so hazy. I feel like I may have dreamt a lot when I slept. Or maybe I'm just thinking of things that actually happened?" 

"I'll fill you in." I said. "Want breakfast?" 

"Please!" Her stomach growled and I laughed. I stood from the bed, pushing a glass of water on the nightstand for her. She gulped it down as I dressed. I stared at her, in awe. "Poppy." I said. "I love you." She nearly spewed water all over the bed and looked at me. "I've been wanting to tell you that for a long time. I should have said it once we married. I hate that it took me you getting taken for me to say it. But, I do, Poppy. I love you." 

She smiled. "I love you." She said back, taking me off guard. I leaned forward, kissing her sweetly. 

"We have a lot of time to make up for." She grinned against my mouth. 

                                               I went to fetch us some breakfast and once I came back with a large trey in hand, Poppy was in the bathing chamber. "Cas?" She called, awe mixing in her voice. "Yes?" I set the trey down and peeked through the crack in the door. She looked at me, hands twisting the knobs on the sink, back and forth. On and off. I grinned. "Welcome to land of hot water at your fingertips." 

She looked back at the running water. "I thought I was hallucinating." 

"I told you about running water, Princess." I reminded, turning the faucet off and pulling her out. "Eat first and play later. You'll need the strength for your first shower." 

"Will I?" She squeaked. I cocked my head back and flashed her a fang. 

                                               She asked a lot of questions during breakfast. A lot. Even for Poppy. Which was okay. I was glad she was up and coherent. Asking questions. 

After retelling the events and everything we'd discovered with Alistair and the unseen. Poppy looked up at me, red faced. "Did I? Did I say anything embarrassing last night?" 

"Not really." I said. "You really just mumbled a lot. Honestly, I think you may rate Setti higher than me though." She laughed. I returned the smile and bit my lip. 

"You did say one thing." 

"Oh no." 

"It was really nothing." 

"What was it?" I couldn't hold back the grin. "You asked Kieran if you could pet him in his wolven form. Well, actually you used the word 'wolfen'" I corrected. She gaped at me which caused me to laugh. She scowled and threw a pillow at me.  "I'm only answering your question!" I reminded. She crossed her arms, clearly not happy. I kissed her pretty pink cheek before guiding her off the bed. "Come. I promised you a shower last night."