Page 118 of Tangled Hearts

“Gray,” I said, trying not to panic, pushing his hair out of his face.

Another surge of magic slashed through the air as I hunched over Gray protectively.

He’s been infected with Kark. Soren softly said. We all have.

I looked up at Soren. His eyes were red, his skin was pasty, and blood coated his shoulder and thigh.

He needs you to heal him. Ryder said. He was infected first.

I looked over my shoulder to see Taylin looking down on Laima, arguing. While they were distracted, I could heal them. I whispered my incantation, slowly letting my power release. Kark was eating him alive. My power was slowly repairing all of the cellular damage. It had infected everything it had touched, but I worked to push the sickness back, giving Gray a chance to live another day.

I was yanked back suddenly, yelling out in pain as a sickening crunch happened when I was knocked into a wall. I was lifted up; I shook my head to dispel some of the spots in my vision. My arms were radiating pain as I noticed Taylin behind her looking motionless.

“Here’s what is going to happen.” Laima brought my attention back to her, but I growled at her. “You will willingly make Oria for me and heal anyone I tell you to. You will do anything I ask for and when I need you to, you will heal the army we’ve been making for the war.”

“No.” I said with conviction. “I will not help you and I will not be in a stupid tower for the rest of my life.”

“Oh, darling, you say that like you have a choice,” she laughed.

“I won’t?—”

“You will do it or else they die,” she snarled. “I hear Kark is an awful way to die.”

I looked over to my mates, my fear spiked exponentially.

“Don’t do it,” Ryder shook his head.

“The only way you keep them alive is by making the vials of your power,” she said, walking towards me. “If you refuse, I’ll leave you in the room with them until they die slowly one by one.”

“Let me heal them, and you let them go,” I said, looking back at the woman who I thought was my mother for so long. “If you do that, I agree to your terms and I will never leave.”

“No!” Soren snarled. “Don’t do this.”

“We are not worth it, Heaven,” Ryder said.

“Let them go so they can look for you?” she scoffed. “Take my deal.”

“Then they stay with me,” I said quickly.

Laima looked at me and then the guys.

“If you keep me away from my mates. I’ll go through withdrawals and that will hinder my ability to make Oria,” I said, grasping for anything.

She looked back at Taylin as if she were confirming what I just said. He nodded.

“If you do anything, Oria, I mean, step out of line once,” she said, grabbing my throat and pushing me against the wall. “I will kill all of them and I’ll find a way to keep you working even if I have to ask the Master.”

Addie said once they have you, that’s it. Soren's soft voice was barely audible.

I’m sorry, but you said let the world burn and that goes both ways. I’m already caught and it’s only a matter of time before she figures out a way to force me to do it.

I nodded to her terms.

“You have some catching up to do and I need healing.” She grabbed my arm.

I took one look back at them.

This isn’t the end. I love you.

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