Orynn had raced back to the cells as quickly as he could, fully aware that Aoife could be in desperate need of assistance. If something went wrong, he refused to be responsible for her second death.
By the time he arrived however, it was all already over. Allen and Greyson were in the process of unlocking Ximena's cell and Aoife was huddled sleepily in the corner.
He chirruped in alarm as he rushed over to her, deftly collecting her in his arms as she smiled up at him sleepily.
"It's okay Orynn, it all worked out." she murmured as she lay her head against his shoulder.
"You both did amazingly well organizing this." Ximena stated proudly as she stepped from her cell, casting a worried glance towards Aoife, "I took a little too much from her I'm afraid. She's going to need to spend a lot of time resting in order to recover quickly. Once we're out of here I can help with some tonics to help her regain her strength."
Orynn rumbled gratefully as he gestured towards the stairs with a jerk of his head, setting off quickly without waiting for them to respond.
"Orynn is going to drop me off with Bella, just in case there are any unexpected surprises waiting for us. We have no idea where Narcissa's brother is and if we run into him I'm only going to be a hindrance." Aoife called softly over his shoulder.
"But what about Lexi? The longer she's left with that bastard…" Greyson huffed in frustration but stopped short when he felt Ximena's furious glare on him.
"If it hadn't been for both Orynn and Aoife, none of us would even be out of the cells right now and there would be no saving of my daughter at all. Have a little respect and a little patience and let's get Aoife to safety first."
Greyson grumbled unhappily but said no more, waiting at the top of the staircase that Orynn disappeared down briefly, before he re-emerged a few moments later but this time without Aoife cradled in his arms.
He chirruped softly and waved for them to follow him as he set off at a brisk pace, ensuring that they weren't lagging behind as they weaved their way through the caverns and corridors..
"How much fucking longer until we get there?" Greyson muttered under his breath as he felt the unsettling grip of anxiety and restlessness tighten around his stomach.
Orynn rumbled in response at the same time as a ripple of unhinged laughter drifted down the corridors towards them.
The sound chilled them all to the core and almost as if they had read each other's minds, they increased their pace, practically running now through the corridor as they sought out the location of the owner of that laugh.
"You don't think…" Allen began but Greyson shushed him impatiently.
"Don't even say it." He snarled, refusing to acknowledge the same terror that was spreading through his body, "She'll be fine. We just need to get to her."
"She still hasn't learned to control it has she?" Ximena observed grimly as they raced through the twisting caverns.
"No," Allen confirmed gruffly, "Lord Brarthroroz explained the reasoning for two mates when we struggled to accept it. Two souls and two mates to help soothe and control them when they are at odds with each other."
Ximena swore under her breath as Orynn slowed his pace, rumbling seriously as he gestured to the large doors before them.
"She's in here?" Ximena asked, as she stepped towards the doors..
Orynn nodded hesitantly as he stepped forward, throwing them a questioning glance as the sound of Lexi singing to herself drifted out from behind the heavy doors.
"It reeks of blood…" Greyson murmured as he and Allen shifted in preparation to face whatever lay beyond the doors.
"Open them." Ximena commanded, bracing herself for a sight she had hoped she would never have to witness.
As Orynn and Greyson put their weight behind the doors and they swung slowly inwards, the rivulets of blood that ran through the cracks of the floor only deepened their unease.
Lexi's song had ended abruptly and now all they could hear was the soft sounds of her sobbing quietly.
They moved carefully through the living area, coming to a stop in front of the doors that the blood trickled out from underneath.
Carefully, Ximena stepped forwards, pushing the door gently and as it swung open, the sight that greeted her shattered her heart into a million pieces.
There, sat cross legged on the floor, completely naked and cradling Eromaug's severed head in her lap was a blood soaked Lexi, sobbing quietly to herself.
"Lexi…" Ximena breathed,her voice catching in her throat as she stepped forward tentatively, not knowing how she could ever make this right for her daughter.
Lexi lifted her head slowly at the sound of Ximena's voice, the despair in her gaze almost taking her mothers breath away as Lexi's face crumpled and she reached for as she had done many years ago as a child.
"Mama! I- I didn't mean to…I didn't want to do this…I had no choice..." she sobbed with tears streaming down her face as her body was wracked with sobs, "I'm sorry…I'm so so sorry."
"Hush Lexi," Ximena soothed as she hurried over to her, wrapping her arms around her and holding her close as she rocked her gently in her arms, "It's okay. It's over. You're safe now. We're all safe. I'm so sorry we weren't here sooner."
Allen and Greyson watched helplessly as Lexi clung to her mother as if her life depended on it.
In that moment, the two of them knew that they had failed Lexi miserably as her mates and protectors. Neither of them knew if they would ever be able to make it up to her, nor how they could ever look her in the face again knowing what she had given up to save them.