Page 26 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Erik crossed his arms and lowered his chin at Gray. "You broke your arm when you were fourteen, trying to scale the wall outside your room. You’ve watched that woman in your arms for years, loving her so much you stayed away because you thought it was best for her. One time, I shaved your eyebrows off in your sleep after you embarrassed me in the sparring ring. Your father killed my mother."

Gray’s mouth went dry. He could count on one hand how many people knew that information.

"It’s us, Gray. No tricks. It’s real."

As the shadows around them receded, Gray dropped his sword. Lea sagged in his arms as he moved, her head lolling to the side as sleep claimed her once again. She’d done nothing but fade in and out for almost two full days, coughing and crying out as her black wounds had spread. Gray had healed her constantly, his magic weakening to a dangerous level as he’d poured every bit of his power into her, but as soon as he would see her sores scabbing over and beginning to heal, they would open again with a vengeance, weeping and oozing thick, clotted blood.

Gray was glad she had slept, that she wasn’t aware of what was happening to her frail human body. He’d been so certain that he could heal her. With the mate bond, he should have been able to, but as her body grew weaker, it became obvious that time was working against them. Lea had begun to mumble nonsense words in her dreams, delirious and confused—a sign of the final stages of the Lonely Death. She was dying, and so he had left, needing to find someone—anyone—who would help them.

"How did you find us? It should have been impossible." Gray had been terrified since the moment he noticed the first wound on Lea’s freckled skin. His chest was so full of dread that it climbed into his throat and choked him. But somehow, another sliver of panic worked its way in between his ribs. If they could find him, even through the wards he had placed, then so could his father.

"Emma sensed that Lea was hurt and insisted we turn back. The closer we got, the more she could feel. It’s the Lonely Death… isn't it?" Erik’s face was pale, his hands shaking slightly.

Gray didn’t need to confirm his friend’s suspicions. It was obvious by the look on his face that he was completely aware of the danger of what was happening.

"Noah is gifted in tracking. He was able to bring us this far, but you’ve been hidden behind your enchantments."

"They were too strong for my magic to get through." Noah said, his eyes as big as saucers in his young face as he focused on Lea’s oozing, open sores. "I’m sorry, Commander. I’ve been trying—"

Emma interrupted, speaking for the first time. Her voice was soft but firm, calm and urgent all at once. "We need to hurry, Erik. She’s barely hanging on." Emma walked closer, but Erik placed his hand behind him, stopping her.

"You can’t get near her, Emma. You have magic," he warned.

"I’ll risk it." Emma swung her head to face Erik as if daring him to challenge her. "I see her spirit severing from her mortal body. We haveminutes."

As if a spell was suddenly lifted, Gray’s eyes widened in determination. Erik was here, a length of rope hanging from his sword belt. He’d known exactly what needed to happen. Had come prepared. They could save her. Gray turned to run, Erik fast on his heels. They’d planned for this years ago. If Lea were to ever contract the Lonely Death, there would be only one way to save her.

"You willnotrisk it," Gray shouted over his shoulder at Emma as he reluctantly placed Lea down on the cold, hard ground. Throwing up a shield, he made his shadows thick and firm, blocking the other’s access into the clearing. He’d be damned if he allowed the Lonely Death to take one more person Lea cared about.

"We need to heal her enough to wake her, enough that she knows what's happening." Erik said as he wrapped Lea’s necklace back around her neck, fastening the clasp. Gray gave him a murderous look as Erik’s fingers touched Lea’s skin. "Focus, Gray." Erik snapped. "She’s going to be in pain as she wakes. You need to stay calm."

"Iamfucking calm," he snapped.

Erik and Gray knelt beside Lea, both of them placing their hands on her swollen, red skin. They pushed their energy into her body, healing her as much as they could. They pulled the fatigue from her sluggish heart and pushed in light to warm her and darkness to chase away the disease. Lea stirred, moaning in pain as a strangled cry left her mouth.

"I’m here, Little Flower. Stay with me. I know it hurts." Gray laid a hand against her cheek, reaching toward their mate bond. The pain on her face shredded his insides, crushing his lungs and causing searing agony to pound in his skull.

"It’s okay," Gray soothed, sweating from the effort of healing her. New sores opened along her arms, and Gray roared in frustration.

Lea cried harder, now fully awake. "It hurts. Make it stop, please."

"We have to do this now, Lea. The pain will go away. Listen." Gray gently turned her face to allow their eyes to meet. "Marry me.Please."

"What?" she croaked, trying to open her eyes.

"Marry me, Azalea. Here, now," Gray rasped.

Lea nodded, a pained smile tipping her lips up as she attempted to lift her arm to cup his face.

Thank gods, Gray said to himself as he gathered her into his lap. "Erik is going to perform the handfasting ceremony. We will be married, and you’ll be safe."

Nodding, Lea curled herself into him. A trickle of blood ran from her ears, and panic swelled in Gray’s chest.

Lea must have sensed his worry because she forced herself to speak. "This wasn’t," her breath rattled, "how I pictured," gasp, "becoming your wife."

She’s trying to joke, at a time like this?"Save your energy for our vows, Azalea." He kissed her brow and grabbed her hand, threading his fingers between hers. "Erik? Hurry."

Erik pulled the rope from his belt and wrapped it around Lea and Gray’s wrists, tying a firm knot.

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