Page 71 of These Deadly Dreams

Connor practically shoves me toward the window, and I pass Sterling off to Cade before climbing out. We run to the ward, and stop, waiting for Connor to get us through. I watch behind us, waiting for a sign of pursuit, but there is none. Motion catches my attention, and a black crow flies from a different window and takes off toward the direction of the Hummer.

Ellis’s anxiety fuels my own. My foot taps the ground as I watch for Sam or another doped up mage. Ellis’s pulse rattles in her wrist where my thumb rests against the thin skin there. My own heart echoes hers. It’s almost painful how fast and hard it’s beating.

“Go,” Connor rasps, waving us forward.

I take one last glance behind us before dashing through the ward. Sam is standing in the window, slumped over, a hand pressing against a bleeding wound. With my supernatural sight, I can see the fury in his eyes. But he doesn’t chase us. Something about that raises my hackles. It’s like he knows he’ll have another chance.

“Hurry up,” I say, dragging Ellis toward the alley where the Hummer is parked. “Let’s get Sterling back to the cabin.”

31. Ellis

In the back of the hummer with Sterling’s head on my lap and his legs on Connor’s, I try my hardest to control my breathing. Kai is driving us back to the cabin, and the last thing I want is for my emotions to spill over to him while he’s driving. It’s hard though.

I can’t stop looking at Sterling. His matted silver hair stained red. The cuts, bruises, and burns. His chest rises and falls so shallowly, there are times I think he stops breathing entirely. The heat radiating off of him soaks through my clothing, and I know every second that ticks by is one second closer to him not surviving.

My chest hurts. Every beat of my heart spreads paralyzing terror through my body. What if I lose him? What if we never get to really know each other? Despair climbs up my throat and I clutch my chest, unable to hold back the gasping sound that escapes. Cade turns back to look at me, but I hunch over Sterling’s body, like I can keep his soul inside by sheer force of will.

“Hold on, Sterling,” I whisper. “Please, hold on.”

Drew flaps his wings on the floor by my feet. I meet his beady black gaze, and I swear I see sadness reflected in their dark depths. I’m not the only one at risk of losing someone important to them. Sterling has friends and family who need him. He can’t die.

When Kai turns off the road, the Hummer bounces and jolts as he drives up the mountain. It’s not as bad as in the Charger, but it’s still a rough ride. Sterling doesn’t even make a sound. I press my hand to his chest and hold my breath. His heartbeat is so faint and uneven, skipping beats entirely.

“Hurry, Kai,” I croak, even though I know he’s driving as fast as he possibly can.

When we finally reach the cabin, Kai is out of the driver’s seat faster than I can blink. My door opens and he hauls Sterling into his arms. I jump out and head for the door, where Allie is already standing with it wide open. The warm lights from the inside spill out onto the porch, and the soft glow is reflected in the grass from the windows.

“On the couch,” Cade commands.

Kai lays Sterling on the couch, and I try to go to him, but Kai stops me. “Let Cade do his thing.”

With Kai’s arms around me, I watch, breath held, as Cade kneels on the floor and places his hands on Sterling’s chest. Violet light spreads through his body, growing brighter and brighter each second. I blink against the brilliance. Sterling’s body isn’t even visible anymore in the glow. Cade’s breathing grows more labored but he keeps pumping his magic into Sterling.

Cade wobbles, and Kai jumps in to hold him up. “Cade, stop.”

He shakes his head. “Not enough.” His words are a wet rasp in his chest, and the violet light grows even brighter. Cade grunts.

“Cade, that’s enough,” Kai says urgently.

“A little … more.”

Cade’s light flares one more time before flickering, then disappearing entirely. His body slumps to the side and Kai catches him. I rush forward to Sterling and place my hand on his chest. His heart thumps steady and strong, but his skin is still too hot under my touch.

“He’s still feverish,” I say, looking at Kai.

Cade is unconscious in his arms, and hopelessness grows inside me. “Allie, can you do anything to help with the fever?” He hefts Cade higher, and stands. “I’m going to take Cade to the bed, then I’ll come back for Sterling.”

“I’ll give him something for infection, and some advil.” Allie digs through her bag, but looks up before pulling anything out. “I’ll do it in the bedroom, where there’s more room.”

I nod distantly, and brush silver hair from his forehead, the heat searing my skin. “It’s going to be okay, Sterling,” I whisper in his ear. “I won’t settle for anything less.”

Kai’s heavy footsteps sound on the stairs as he comes back down. I look up at him, and his shoulders sag when he meets my gaze. He says nothing, but he squeezes my shoulder before scooping Sterling into his arms. Allie and I follow him. Each step I take is like trudging through quicksand. I’m exhausted, terrified, desperate. So many different emotions, I don’t know which one to focus on or how to fight them all.

In the bedroom, Kai lays Sterling next to Cade on the bed, and the sight of two of my Shields laying motionless side by side sends anxious energy through me. My fingertips tingle and I look down to see golden flames sparking to life.

“Kai,” I whisper, his name tumbling from my trembling lips.

He turns to me, and his eyes widen. “Allie, can you take care of Sterling?” She must agree, I don’t hear anything, but Kai approaches me and frames my face in both of his hands. “Ellis, you have to trust everything will work out. Cade healed him. Allie will make sure the infection doesn’t spread. Everything will be okay. And when Cade wakes up, he can do more.” He pulls me to his chest and wraps his arms around me, careless of the flames that are threatening to engulf me.

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