Page 56 of Dragon Heir

Chapter Thirty-One

A strangled cry came from Raines. His chest jerked upward and his body snapped as stiff as a board. The boils spread up his arms and blood poured from the wounds.

Enna screamed and tossed the Tenky back into the glass jar. The tiny man shuddered and convulsed as his body, too, was becoming reinfected.

Will whipped his head about to face me. “Now! Your light!”

I shut my eyes and clasped my hands together in silent prayer. The familiar warmth of my magic blasted out of me and enveloped the room in its soft brilliance. I opened my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Raines’ clear arms.

That’s when the exhaustion flowed over me. I crumpled to the floor beside Raines.

Will’s terrified voice rang in my ears. “Rose!”

His strong, warm arms wrapped around me and drew me against his muscled chest. My eyelids were so heavy but I forced them open and found myself staring up into Will’s face. His features were etched with worry and his eyes darted over me.

“Are you alright?” he asked me.

I managed a shaky smile. “Y-yeah, just a little tired.”

Allard appeared in my field of vision and inspected me. “Your pulse is fast but I see no signs other worrisome signs.”

Will pursed his lips. “We asked too much of you.”

I turned my head to Raines who stirred. “It was worth it.”

Raines’ eyes opened and he blinked against the remnants of my bright light before he fixed his gaze on Will and me. His voice was hoarse and as tired as I felt. “What has happened? Have I cast the spell? Did it work?”

Will nodded. “It did, but if you attempt another such feat I will fire you.”

Raines shifted his body and winced. “I would rather not make another such attempt, My Lord.”

I tried to remove myself from Will’s grasp but he held tightly to me. I smiled and patted his arm. “I can sit up.” Will reluctantly helped me do so but his hands still gripped me tight.

“The Tenky is waking up!” Vargas shouted.

Raines struggled to his feet and Will helped me to mine, and together we moved over to the crowded table. The little guy’s eyes fluttered open and he blinked up at us. “Where am I?”

“In my home,” Will spoke up.

The Tenky cocked his head to one side. “How did I get here? The last I remember I was in the woods to the southwest following some strange trail-” He stiffened and his breath caught in his throat. “Something came out of the woods! It bit me!”

Vargas held up her tweezers with the bit of snakeskin pinched between the arms. “Did this belong to it?”

The Tenky leaned toward the skin and squinted. After a moment’s rumination, he pursed his lips and shook his head. “I. . .I don’t know. I remember picking that up on the trail before something snuck up behind me and bit me in the backside.”

“Turn around,” Enna commanded him.

Our little guest glared at her. “What for?”

She rolled her eyes. “So we can see what bit you, now turn around.”

The Tenky grabbed the waistband of his trousers and glared at her. “I’m not letting you see it.”

“Then allow us,” Allard offered.

The wounded tiny man grasped his pants even tighter. “Nobody’s going to be looking at my backside!”

“Oh, for gold’s sake,” Enna snapped before she grabbed the back of the Tenky’s collar. She lifted him out of the glass jar and held him in front of her.

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