Page 10 of Her Immortal Mate

I watch in horror as one of the remaining elves slashes across Eike's back, his blade leaving a deep gash. The other elf hurlsanother spell that sends Eike staggering. His wings droop, blood matting the metallic feathers.

My body moves before my mind catches up. I dart forward, snatching up the crystalline blade from the first fallen elf. The weapon hums in my grip, lighter than it looks.

"Hey!" I shout, drawing one elf's attention away from Eike.

The elf's violet eyes narrow. "Stupid human."

He raises his hands, magic crackling between his fingers. But I've spent months watching these battles, learning their patterns. I duck under his spell and drive the blade up through his chest. His eyes go wide with shock – a dark elf, killed by a mere human.

I yank the sword free as he crumples. Behind me, Eike dispatches the final elf with brutal efficiency, snapping his neck in one fluid motion.

Then his knees give out. He catches himself with one hand, wings splayed across the forest floor. Blood pools beneath him from dozens of wounds.

"Eike!" I rush to his side, my hands hovering over his injuries. "Let me help-"

"Stay back." His voice is ragged. He tries to push himself up but falters.

"You're bleeding out." I tear strips from my shirt. "I'm a healer, remember? Let me do my job."

His silver eyes lock onto mine. "Mae-"

"Shut up and let me help you." I press fabric against the worst gash across his ribs. "I didn't just kill my first dark elf to watch you bleed to death."

He makes a sound that might be a laugh or a groan. "Impressive, by the way."

"Less talking, more healing." I work quickly, using what's left of my shirt to bind the wounds I can reach. "But you need blood. Soon."

"I know." His breathing is labored. "Just... give me a minute."

"There's a cave nearby." Eike's voice is strained as he leans heavily against a tree. "Used it before. Defensible."

"Can you make it?" Blood seeps through my makeshift bandages faster than I'd like.

He grits his teeth, pushing off the tree. "Follow me."

I slip under his arm, bracing his weight. His wing curves around me instinctively, creating a dark canopy overhead. The cave entrance is barely visible, tucked between moss-covered rocks.

"Here." I help him inside, grateful for the shallow slope. "Sit before you fall."

He slides down the cave wall, wings dragging. The last rays of sunlight catch the blood matting the membrane. I kneel beside him, pulling supplies from my satchel.

"Take this off," I murmur, mixing herbs with water from my waterskin. His eyebrows raise. "The shirt. I need to see the wound underneath."

He complies with careful movements, revealing deep gashes across his torso. I clean each one methodically, trying to ignore how his muscles tense under my touch.

"The magic burns are worse," I say, dabbing moonvein sap on the angry red marks. "They're not healing like they should."

"Low on blood." His voice is rough. "Everything's... slower."

I press fresh bandages against his ribs, hyper-aware of how close we are. "When's the last time you fed properly?"

"Weeks." His silver eyes fix on me. "Supply lines are cut. Dark elves are burning and killing everything they can't use. Especially if we can."

My hands still on his chest. "You need blood."

"I know what you're offering." His jaw clenches. "Don't."

"You'll die."

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