Page 33 of Broken Lands

I reached her side as the elderly fae stood up to leave. She offered me a soft smile as she walked away, empty glass in hand. Plopping into her vacated seat, I turned my attention to Amy. She looked at me, an elated grin splitting across her face as she realized I was there.

“Riley! Come here,” she yelled, her arms held out wide as she pulled me in for a hug. “Are you okay? By the gods, you were incredible! I’ve never seen such raw power! Where did it come from? How did you do it?” She barely took a breath as she spoke, holding me in front of her as she examined me for injuries. She was no longer deathly pale, a soft flush coloring her cheeks and her eyes sparkling with good health. She looked great, radiant, so far removed from how she was the last time I’d seen her.

I had no idea what she was talking about, or why she was so worried I might be hurt. “Me? Are you alright? Your leg—there was so much blood. I was worried you weren’t… that you were… that you wouldn’t…” I trailed off, tears stinging my eyes as I looked away from her.

She grabbed my hand with both of hers, the smile dropping and her face turning serious as she stared at me. “I’m fine, Riley. Completely healed. I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for you. Thank you.”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything. I was trying to stop the bleeding, but there was so much—”

“Riley,” Amy said, her voice firm. “You saved me. I don’t know how you did, but you did. I remember the creature biting my leg, the pain of all those teeth puncturing my flesh, the burn of its poison as it seeped inside my skin and began to spread. Then nothing. It was dark, a darkness that was thick and cloying and terrifying. And then it was gone, light flooding everything, a brilliant white light that almost blinded me. I struggled to open my eyes against the brightness of it, but I did. And it was coming from you.”

What was she saying? Had I healed her? I knew the fae had some healing powers. Colin had healed me on the journey from Sommers to Danann. But I did not know how they used them, how they differed from their elemental powers. Only that it was different. Stefan had mentioned that type of magic coming from the Origin.

“I… It wasn’t me.” I muttered, unable to believe I was capable of that kind of magic, that kind of power.

“It was,” Colin barked. He’d followed me over and stationed himself right beside the chair. “It was you. I watched it all. I reached the fight just as you knelt at Amy’s side. I saw the wound on her leg, the blood pooling around her. If I hadn’t, I might not have believed they had injured her at all. You are a powerful creature, Riley. No other fae here has shown the ability to heal from the poison the void creatures possess. None. Ever.” He said it so matter-of-factly, there was no space to argue with him. I had healed Amy. Me. Riley.

“But how? How can I have done something like that? I don’t know how to heal someone. I wasn’t trying to. I just wanted her to survive. I had no idea that’s what I was doing.” I couldn’t really argue against the evidence. Amy was alive and well. Right here in front of me. I must have healed her, saved her life. There was no other explanation for it. I couldn’t keep denying what they were telling me. I looked down at my hands gathered in my lap, turning them over as I examined them.

I was beginning to scare myself.

How was I so powerful?

What was I?

Where did I fit in?

I wished James was here to reassure me, to tell me everything would work out in the end. He always knew the right thing to say; he’d always been so kind and supportive. I needed my big brother.

I looked back up at Amy to find her staring at me, concern etched across her features.

“I’m glad you’re okay, that I was able to help you.” Switching my gaze to Colin, still standing stiffly beside me, shadows dancing across his face and his rage still palpable. I dropped my eyes, looking at my hands again. “I’d like to go back to the Academy. I’m tired.”

“King Ronan has sent extra carriages and guards to transport those who fought today back for rest or further treatment. I’ll escort you.” He held out a hand to help me stand, and I took it, the contact sparking between us. I quickly dropped it once I was steady on my feet. I’m too tired to play this game tonight. Too tired to examine why he was so angry with me or why he’d taken a step back again.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Amy said, smiling at me gently. She was trying and failing to hide her concern. “Let me know when you venture into the city next. Maybe we can go for coffee.”

“Sounds great,” I said, smiling for the first time since I awoke. I offered her a small wave as I gathered my things from beside the bed I’d been in, and Colin led me out of the tent.

A small gasp escaped me as I took in the damage outside. Some of the tents in the small encampment were completely destroyed, others covered in scorch marks. The surrounding fence had been knocked down in places, the ground muddy, small tunnels where those monsters had dug through.

“Where is Lori?” I asked as Colin stomped through the base ahead of me. I almost had to jog to keep up with him. “I didn’t see her in the tent?” She’d made it inside the guard tower with me during the fight, but I’d been so focused on Amy that I didn’t know if she had followed me back out or stayed in safety. I hoped it was the latter.

“She’s fine.” Colin grunted, not even turning to look back at me. Anger flared inside of me, my hands clenched into fists at my side. His attitude was exhausting. He’d gone full blown General on me since I woke in the tent. Earlier today, he’d been so kind, so gentle. Like we were two regular people getting to know each other. I’d been starting to think that whatever was between us might actually work, that we might be able to pursue whatever it was that had been drawing us together. I wasn’t going to stand by and take this treatment from him. I didn’t have to. I had Bee and Stefan—if the asshole ever apologized. And I already had a date for the dance this weekend. I didn’t need Colin and his drama.

“I’ve got it from here. You can get back to your duties. I won’t inconvenience you any further.” I gritted through my teeth. Picking up my pace and storming right past him, I gave him a wide enough berth so that he couldn’t get in my way. I headed directly for the gates at the front of the base, where I assumed the carriages would be waiting.

“Riley, wait.” I heard him call, but I didn’t stop. Exhaustion had seeped into my bones. I couldn’t deal with this tonight. I just wanted to get back to the academy, take a long hot shower and forget this evening had ever even happened.

Chapter eighteen

Riley

Apartfromsomehushedwhispering and not-so-subtle glances in my direction, the carriage ride back to Danann was uneventful. Most of the passengers were guards who had fought hard. Their exhaustion was written clearly on their faces, in the dark purple bags under their eyes. So, I let them whisper and steal glances my way, choosing to ignore them and instead stared blindly out at the scenery as we passed the dead forest and barren fields.

The carriage dropped me off just outside the academy grounds, having already let off a couple of guards at the stable. The rest would go into the center of Danann. The gates recognized me, opening as I approached and closing again as I made my way down the path into the academy grounds. It was a strange feeling to know they read my magical signature. Magic I hadn’t known I possessed until a few days ago. Magic that I didn’t understand, but which felt wholly like a part of me that had always been there.

The frigid night air pressed against me, and I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself in an attempt to keep warm. I was wearing only a crop top and my skirt, having used my shirt in my attempt to save Amy, my bare skin offering no resistance to the chill of the night air.

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