Page 63 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

Closing my eyes, I inhale deep, hold it then force my right arm to obey. The pain is sharp and instant, but the arm responds. I get a grip on the edge. Acting quickly, I get my left hand onto it too. Then I’m able to climb over and into the tunnel.

Climbing to my feet, I glance back. My people are fighting. Fighting for me, but more than that, they are fighting for themselves. The crowd disperses, leaving the three guards dazed on the ground, while those who attacked them rush away to anonymity.

I stumble down the tunnel, reaching over my shoulder as I do. My searching fingers find the hilt of a blade buried close to the shoulder blade. I could remove it, but that might be worse. I have no way to stop the bleeding that is sure to ensue.

Gritting my teeth, I break into a run. Every jarring step hurts worse, but my only hope is to get back to the Zmaj compound.

I am coming Saylor. I will not die this day.

44

SAYLOR

Sek’su has grown paler and weaker. We thought he was recovering. It seemed like he was, but apparently that was only a resurgence. Tsi’tel and Addison have both been in and out, but nothing they have done has made any difference. It’s been about an hour since he slipped into a coma.

Sitting next to Wren, I have no words. Her despair is palpable, though she isn’t crying or saying anything. Silent and staring, because what else can we do? Tsi’tel walks into the room. The soft rustling sound of the leather dragging on stone pulls my attention to the door. The slightest ray of hope that maybe it’s Khiara returning. My stomach drops when I see it’s not.

He shuffles across the room, moving as if the weight of the world is on his hunched shoulders, and causing the bow of his head. I’m sure, to one degree or another, that it is. Several people suffered wounds during the quake, Rosalind and her new baby, and Sek’su is dying. There is no denying that is what’s happening, despite the fact that it causes a chill to cover my body and makes me shiver.

Tsi’tel presses his hand against Sek’su’s face and chest. He lifts the bandage and inspects the wound, then replaces it. He doesn’t say anything as he turns and heads for the door.

“Well?” Wren asks, her voice cracking.

Tsi’tel stops in his tracks but doesn’t turn around. He’s staring at the ground and somehow, he manages to sink his head even lower until his chin must be on his chest.

“Tajss provides,” he says, his voice husky and tight.

“What does that even mean?” Wren asks, rising to her feet even as her voice goes up in pitch.

Her hands are balled into tight fists, and she is shaking. I stand too, putting a hand on her arm, but she jerks away with a slashing motion. Tsi’tel turns slowly. He meets her anger with a calm, quiet demeanor that makes it clear that he is defeated. Not by her, by any means, but by the poison pulsing through Sek’su.

“I have done all I can,” he says.

Wren shakes her head.

“No.” Tsi’tel doesn’t respond. What is there to say? He’s said it all. Wren’s anger vibrates from her in a way I’ve never seen. It comes off in waves as she trembles, trying to contain it. “No. Fix this. You’re the healer. You will fix this.”

Tsi’tel raises his hands then drops them to his sides. He shakes his head slowly, then turns and walks out the door.

“Gah!” Wren screeches, throwing her fists into the air she drops to her knees and breaks down.

I go to her side and pull her into an embrace. It’s ineffective, almost pointless, but it’s all that I can do.

Where are you, Khiara? Please hurry. Please be okay.

“Shhh,” I make the soothing sound to try and calm her but how can she be calm? Her mate, her one true love lies dying a few feet away and there isn’t a damn thing either of us can do. “Shhhh.”

She sobs violently. I squeeze tighter, wishing I had the strength to squeeze this pain away. That there was something, anything I could do to make it better. This sense of helplessness that fills my guts is awful.

I don’t know how long we’re on the floor together. Time has lost all meaning. Wren is losing her soulmate and for all I know I’ve already lost mine too. I don’t even try to hold back my tears.

“Move!”

I jerk back, every muscle stiffening at the sound of the familiar voice. Is it real? Did I imagine it? Wren and I shift together so that we’re facing the leather of the door. My vision is blurry with tears. The leather pulls to one side, a shadow looms in the door, then steps inside.

“I am here,” Khiara says, stumbling forward.

I don’t cross the space between us, one moment I’m beside Wren, the next I am in his arms. My lips on his. My arms around his neck. His weight pressing down and onto me.

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