Page 104 of Feathers and Thorns

She wiped her eyes, recognizing the voice. “They are all dead,” Soren whispered. Her heart was cut into pieces so small she wasn’t sure they could be put back together.

She looked up, and her brows furrowed when she took in the sight of Luscinia. The ethereal woman was battered and bruised, and her silver hair was plastered with black and red blood.

“Luscinia,” she breathed, “what happened to you?”

“Nothing that cannot be undone with time. Come; allow me to help.” She gestured then kneeled to lift Rook’s body from Soren’s legs. Her thigh was on fire, but the rest of her felt cold, as if a mountain stream were trickling over her skin.

Luscinia took in the sight of her and reached forward, but Soren held up her hand.

“Him first,” was all she could manage as the adrenaline began to wear off and the pain filtered in.

“As you wish,” Luscinia replied, letting her hands drift over Rook’s body.

Soren was scared to ask, but she needed to know. “Is he alive?”

Luscinia nodded, her hands glowing lightly. “He is, but only just. It will take most of my energy to heal him.”

Soren’s heart slammed forward so hard it nearly knocked her over. Rook was alive. However, her happiness was short-lived when Luscinia’s words finally registered.

“You could die saving him,” she whispered.

“Yes, I might,” Luscinia replied matter-of-factly.

The selfish part of Soren wanted to sit back and let that happen. She wanted Rook alive, and breathing, and in her arms. She wanted to tell him all her secrets and protect all of his. She wanted to go on more walks and enjoy silent moments in the library by the fire. But most of all, she wanted to tell him what he meant to her.

War raged around them as Luscinia worked. From a distance, Soren could see Enara return to her position, hovering over Baztien like a mirror image of her and Rook moments ago.

Her eyes flicked to Baztien’s body before she pressed them shut, willing the image away. Her heart could bear no more pain, so she encased it in ice. It could break later. Her head swam, and black dotted her vision as another wave of pain threatened to knock her out.

“It is done,” Luscinia said, exhaustion clear on her face. It looked as though she had aged backward twenty years in but a few moments. The fine lines tracing the edges of her eyes were gone, and her skin held a youthful glow. “Give me a few moments, and I’ll see to that leg.”

“I’ll be fine,” Soren lied. “You said your abilities were finite. I will not ask any more of you.”

“It is mine to give to whom I wish,” Luscinia replied, her eyelids fluttering as though she were falling asleep.

“Rest,” Soren said just as Rook’s hand tightened in hers. She tried to keep her movements slow, not wanting to jostle her leg.

“Rook,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

He inhaled deeply, his chest expanding, and then he opened his mouth to speak. “Hello, little bird,” he said, opening his eyes and reaching a hand up to cup her cheek.

“You came back,” she cried quietly, nuzzling against his hand.

“I will always come back for you, little bird.” He sat up and inspected his chest through the torn material of his shirt and found that his injury had fully healed.

He folded Soren into his arms, minding her leg, and she ignored the dull ache that came from her shoulders.

“Baz is dead,” she choked out, sobbing against his chest.

He scanned the field to see Enara standing over Baz’s body. He knew no words would comfort her, so he settled for holding her tighter.

“Thank you,” he said to Luscinia, who was struggling to regain her energy.

“Keep her safe,” she replied before passing out.

“We need to protect her,” Soren said, pressing away and reaching for her mother’s friend. The dagger felt like a hot poker pressed to her thigh, and she bit back a cry, but her struggle did not go unnoticed.

“Let me look at you,” Rook said, crouching in front of her.

---