Chapter 33

"To sever them is not fatal, but it is... highly humiliating."

"Good," Severus stated as he followed Nimue.

"You say that with concerning sincerity." Magdalena gave the Potion master a sidelong glance.

"I have very few charitable thoughts regarding those who abduct my husband."

"Fair," Nimue said. "Extremely fair, actually."

"Indeed." Magdalena agreed. "I would probably do the same if my hubby were abducted as well."

Magdalena slowed as they approached the mouth of the cave. Beyond it, the land changed. Severus could smell ash before he saw the exit. It was not unpleasant per se, but it sat heavily in the lungs.

The forest gave way to dark red soil, and further ahead, black cliffs rose in jagged tiers. The outer gates of Hephaera's domain could be seen in the distance.

"Home sweet home," Severus heard Magdalena sigh. "It truly hasn't changed."

Severus squinted as he looked further. There, near the gates, stood two figures. One was clearly Harry in chains, and the other, holding a chained leash, was very likely Oberon. 'That cur had the fucking gall to chain his husband!' Severus seethed as his eyes narrowed.

Harry looked worse than he had imagined, and Severus had imagined horrors. His robes were torn and dirt-streaked. Blood darkened the corners of his mouth, and bruises bloomed along his jaw and throat.

But the worst of it was his eyes. Harry's eyes were open, but not focused.

Oberon had noticed the trio, mainly because when Nimue stepped out of the cave, she did nothing to hide her raw magic. The displeasure of seeing her favorite mortal so damaged caused the water to rise from the earth in a shocking display of power.

Oberon turned, and his face was filled with triumph. "Ah. There you lot are. I wondered how long it would take before the lake witch dragged herself from whatever puddle she..."

Nimue hit him. There was no warning. No dramatic declaration. No clever retort. The water nymph crossed the distance between them in a blur and drove her fist into Oberon's face with enough force to send the fae prince skidding backward across the red soil.

Oberon crashed into a black stone outcrop. The rock cracked behind him, and for a moment, everyone stared. Then Nimue cracked her knuckles and smiled. "Hello, Oberon," she said evenly.

Oberon pushed himself upright as his eyes blazed with fury. "That," he snarled, "was unspeakably rude."

"You were monologuing."

"I had barely begun!" Oberon shot back.

"Exactly."

"You do not interrupt a declaration of vengeance!"

Nimue tilted her head. "I do when it is boring."

Oberon screamed and lunged when she said that. Fire roared from Oberon's hands. It struck Nimue's shield of water, which she had conjured, with a hiss.

Severus moved the moment Oberon's attention left Harry.

Magdalena rushed with him down the slope. Severus reached Harry and called out to him while placing his hands as gently as he could on his husband's cheeks.

Harry did not look at Severus. His gaze remained fixed on nothing. His pupils were too wide, and his breathing was shallow.

"Harry," Severus uttered, but Harry did not look at him. His gaze remained fixed on nothing. His pupils were too wide and his breathing shallow and frantic.

"Don't leave me," Harry murmured. "Please. Severus. Please don't leave me."

The Potion master's chest tightened upon hearing that. "I am here," he said, while gripping Harry's face carefully between both hands. "Harry. Look at me, please."

Harry flinched, and that hurt worse than any curse.

"Harry, it's me." He tried again.

"You left," Harry uttered while trembling and clinging to Severus.

"I did not."

"They said I was alone," Harry mumbled.

"Whoever said that lied," Severus stated.

"It was your voice." Harry choked out. Severus closed his eyes for half a second upon hearing that. When he opened them, the rage in him had gone very quiet.

"I am going to kill him, them, fuck, I am going to set fire to this whole bloody forest!" the Potion master uttered when he realized what was manipulating his husband.

Harry's fingers twitched weakly and tightened against Severus's sleeve. "Don't leave me, please."

"I am not leaving you," Severus uttered as he took in his husband's battered body. "Never again. Do you understand me? I am here. I have you."

Behind them, Nimue and Oberon's battle continued. A wall of fire surged forward, but Nimue split it apart with a sweep of both hands. She turned the flame into steam, and then the steam turned into shards of ice that she flung back at Oberon. He shattered them with a snarl.

The water nymph took the opening her attack created and kicked Oberon in the chest. "You fight like a rejected opera villain!" she taunted.

Oberon staggered back. "You fight like a tavern brawler!"

"Thank you!"

"That was not praise!" Oberon angrily growled.

Magdalena dropped to her knees beside Harry and seized the chains that had been discarded on the ground when Oberon had gone on the defensive.

"Can you break them?" Severus asked.

"Yes," she said, "But this will not be gentle." Severus nodded, and Harry whimpered, causing Severus to gather him closer immediately.

"Look at me," Severus said softly. "Only me, please." Harry's unfocused gaze shifted slightly.

"Stay with me, please," Severus murmured as Magdalena worked on the chains.

"I tried," Harry whispered while gazing at the Potion master with glazed eyes. "I tried not to listen."

"I know."

"I saw Ron die." Severus's jaw tightened upon hearing that.

"I couldn't stop it."

"That was not your fault."

"I should have..."

"No." Severus's voice interrupted. "Listen to me. Harry. You are injured. You are exhausted. You are poisoned by this realm, and you will not use what little strength you have left to blame yourself for Oberon's cruelty."

Magdalena's hand flashed with violet light, and Harry screamed as the chains burned.

He arched in Severus's arms as the fae metal turned hot. The Potion master held his husband through it with one arm locked around Harry's back, while the other cradled the back of his head.

"Almost got it," Magdalena hissed. Moments later, the chains cracked.

Harry's head lolled against Severus' shoulder.

"Don't leave me." He said, barely audible.

Severus pressed his mouth to Harry's hair. "Never," the usually dour man whispered back.

Magdalena glanced toward Nimue as she rose. The water nymph was laughing now. That was either very good or very bad if Severus had to guess by watching the other fae's expression.

Oberon hurled a spear of blue fire toward her. Nimue caught it in both hands, spun with it, and flung it back. Oberon barely dodged it. It sheared past his cheek and struck the ground behind him.

"You stole my hostage," Oberon snarled when he noticed that his sister of all people had been breaking his chains.

"You were distracted," Nimue stated calmly for someone in the midst of battle.

The temperature climbed around the Potion Master as Oberon's gaze snapped to Severus.

"Filthy human." Oberon's eyes narrowed as he said that.

"Overcompensating peacock," Severus returned coldly.

Magdalena made a strangled sound that might have been horror or a laugh. Nimue, however, cackled as Oberon's face went utterly still. For half a heartbeat, even the wind seemed to stop moving across the red soil. Then Oberon's magic exploded outward.

Several fireballs were hurled toward Severus. Magdalena threw both hands forward and created a shield. The fire struck the shield, though due to her condition, it shattered upon the fourth fireball hitting it. Harry whimpered and clutched his husband as they ducked to avoid the rest of the attack.

"Enough." Severus's jaw clenched, but Magdalena seized his sleeve and warned. "Do not engage him."

"He threatened my husband."

"He will do much worse if you give him the chance."

"And I will return the favor."

"Severus," she snapped, "Harry needs to leave this realm now. His bracelet."

That reached the Potion master. Severus looked at Harry, whose gaze was unfocused. His fingers clung weakly to Severus's robes while he muttered, "Don't leave me."

"I have you," Severus murmured as his gaze softened. "I am right here."

Oberon laughed mockingly. "How touching. The mortal thinks devotion can save him."

It was then that Nimue appeared in front of him. She drove her knee into his stomach, which caused Oberon to fold with a sharp gasp.

"You," Nimue said, grabbing him by the front of his robes and slamming him to the ground, "talk far too much."

Oberon snarled and brought his hand up. Fire burst from his palm at point-blank range, but Nimue turned to mist.

"What, no! That's impossible!" Oberon screamed.

Magdalena's eyes also widened when her friend pulled that trick. Then Nimue reappeared before her. "Go!" Nimue said with authority. "Harry won't survive much longer in this realm. Maggie, take them and go. I will handle this cretin."

"Who are you calling a cretin?!" Oberon roared, but Nimue's focus was on Maggie and her mortal friends

Magdalena did not hesitate. She shoved Severus and Harry toward the cave mouth. "Move," she ordered.