Page 59 of Visions & Shadows

“Be gentle with my charge,” Raighne snaps angrily.

“I had to put her dislocated shoulder back in place,” a man mutters. “It would be better if you waited outside.”

“Not happening,” Raighne growls.

I pry my eyes open and see a man wearing a white coat getting an injection ready.

“This will help with the pain,” he says.

When he brings the needle to my arm, I turn my head, and my sight falls on Raighne, who’s standing next to the bed, looking like he’s a second away from killing the healer.

I become aware of Raighne’s hand gripping mine tightly, and when our eyes meet, his features soften a little.

With his other hand, he brushes his palm over my forehead. “It will be over soon.”

God. I hope so.

My eyes fall shut, and as I drift in and out of consciousness, terrifying flashes of torture fill my mind until it feels like I’m sucked into the pits of hell itself.

I stare at a woman and watch as her face begins to change. It’s subtle at first, then thorn-like bumps form on her forehead.

Shit.

I can only stare in horror as small spikes appear on her ears and black veins run along her lips, creeping over the rest of her face.

Bile rises in my throat as I realize I have a front-row seat to the unveiling of the monster that wants to end all of humanity, and the odds are good I’m going to die now.

God.

As I begin to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be getting out of this hell alive, I slip up and think of Raighne.

Warmth immediately floods my chest, and it’s so comforting to feel him, I almost let out a sob.

For the first time since I was captured, I lower my head so they can’t see my eyes because I don’t want them to know Raighne’s able to sense what’s happening.

“Ares,” the woman hisses, “make her understand!”

A hand closes around my throat, and I wait for him to start squeezing, expecting to be suffocated. Instead of having my air supply cut off, an awful burning sensation starts at my feet, making its way slowly up my legs.

It feels as if my flesh is being scorched from my body, and I can’t keep the screams from tearing loose. I writhe in agony, the burn increasing as it crawls up my body.

By the time it reaches my thighs, it feels like I’m on fire, burning from the inside out.

“Stop!” I scream, my voice hoarse. “Please.”

I’m weeping from the unbearable pain, but there are no tears left to cool my face.

The man just stares at me, his eyes dead and merciless.

When I feel Raighne stirring in me, as if he’s trying to pass some of his strength into my body, I sob out loud.

I want to push him away because I don’t want him feeling any of this pain. Unable to stop Raighne, he flows through my mind, and as he floods my body, his warmth battles the fire, easing some of the blistering pain.

“Raighne,”I groan internally.“I don’t want you here. Leave.”

“Never.”His voice is clear in my mind.“I’ll find you. Don’t give up.”

My whole body slumps, and totally exhausted, I just soak in Raighne’s comforting presence.

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