Rescuing Red (Sci-Fi Fairytale Fusions #1)

Epilogue

Ursuli

He swallowed the waves of panic still coursing through his body, letting his form drift back to smoke. Blaide’s arrival had unsettled him more than he’d like to admit, and performing again left him covered in a cold sweat. If it hadn’t been something simple, he would have continued to refuse since it wouldn’t have been safe for his friend.

Images of blood pooling on a metal table flashed through his head, the ocean’s waves unable to drown out the buzz of power tools playing in his ears. Body rippling with the struggle, Ursuli turned away from where his friend had just disappeared with his new mate.

The thought of the tiny female steadied him, so he latched onto it. She was a petite little thing, with red skin and three slim tails waving high behind her.

Blaide was the youngest of their unit and the last Ursuli would have expected to settle down, but Ursuli was glad for his friend. The female grounded Blaide, their affection so obvious Ursuli could see it in the way they touched and looked at one another.

Longing filled him before he could squash it. He’d never admit how lonely he was living in such seclusion. After all, that was why he’d moved to this backwater planet with such a tiny population.

To be alone with his failure.

Turning away from the insistent memories clawing for purchase in his mind, Ursuli plunged into the frigid waters of the ocean. The push and pull of the currents reminded him of how the torn parts of him fought for control, and the icy darkness helped him forget the world above.

The harsh conditions made it easier to forget the people he’d failed, the ones he’d killed, and the gaping hole inside him.

Striking out in a new direction, he pushed himself deeper, hoping to get lost and perhaps find himself again. He knew Blaide had already seen how frayed he was, but Ursuli couldn’t have the others of their close-knit group noticing. If he showed up for the coronation in his current state, they’d lock him away and pry his worries out of his mouth, and as much as he loved his brothers, he couldn’t have them carrying his burden.

Releasing the tight control he kept on himself, he cried out into the dark waters. He knew he needed to forgive himself and move on, but it was a monumental task he wasn’t sure he could even begin.

If only he could forget.