Page 136 of Burning Crowns

Tor hesitated. ‘But your magic … I thought …’

‘Please,’ said Wren, kneeling in the dirt. ‘Let me try.’

Tor surrendered his fear and did as he was asked, coming to his knees as he set the wolf down in front of Wren. Elske’s eyes flickered but Wren was not ready to let her go. She had lost too much on the battlefield. She couldn’t stand to let another life slip through her fingers.

She laid her hands on Elske’s stomach and closed her eyes, willing her magic to obey her. She could feel it blazing inside her, but she had never possessed a healing strand before. She didn’t know if she even possessed one now. But time was of the essence, and Wren had to try.

Please help me, she begged her magic.Let me heal this precious soul.

The world quietened around Wren, until there was only the weakened patter of Elske’s pulse beneath her fingers. In the blackness of her mind, Wren saw a silver thread. It was thin and fraying, the wolf’s life force slowly fading to nothing.

Wren reached out to grab it. Her magic lurched, crossing the bridge of their souls until it reached the ailing wolf. It went to work, Wren’s fingertips tingling as her magic flooded the gentle creature, knitting her internal wounds back together. Slowly, slowly, Elske’s pulse grew stronger. She began to breathe, slow and deep and steady, matching Wren’s rhythm.

Wren felt a faint pulling sensation inside her as her magic bottomed out. She began to sway, but steady hands came to her shoulders, holding her in place.

‘It’s working,’ whispered Alarik. ‘You’re healing her.’

Wren felt herself smile. She was so exhausted she could hardly think. She released the thread of Elske’s life and watched it glow, bright and sure in the darkness of her mind. Then she let go of her magic entirely and tumbled back into the real world.

Wren opened her eyes to find the wolf staring back at her. Elske blinked, awake, alert. Her tail thumped against the ground, wagging happily as she heaved herself back to her feet. She came to lick Wren’s cheek.

Wren giggled. ‘You’re welcome, sweetling.’

And then Tor was before her, smiling so broadly Wren could see all of his teeth. ‘You are a wonder, Wren,’ he said, pressing a kiss to her hand and then the other. ‘A beautiful, fearless wonder.’

‘Atiredwonder,’ said Wren, but despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t help revelling in her triumph. She was not just a witch but a healer. No longer broken or useless.

‘A wonder indeed,’ muttered Alarik, releasing her shoulders. He stood up, offering his hand to Wren. ‘If I may have a moment?’

As Tor scooped Elske into his arms and buried his face in her fur,Wren rolled to her feet and followed Alarik a short distance away. Looking at him now in the glow of the everlights, she realized he looked better than he had in weeks. The dark shadows had faded from underneath his eyes and his cheeks were no longer hollow.

His eyes were bright and searing, his wolfish smile coming easily to his face. ‘You’re staring at me again, Wren.’

‘I can’t help it,’ said Wren. ‘You look so …alive.’

He raised a brow. ‘It’s incredible what banishing an ancient corrosive blood curse will do for your self-esteem.’

‘And your ego.’

He barked a laugh. ‘Thank you, by the way. For taking care of our little problem.’

‘You’re welcome,’ said Wren. ‘Though I couldn’t have done it without your help.’

‘My tongue has always been sharper than my sword.’

‘Yet another thing we have in common.’

He hmm’d in agreement. ‘For better or for worse.’

‘This is better,’ said Wren. ‘We’re finally free.’

His gaze lingered on hers. ‘I suppose we are.’

‘What did you want to talk to me about?’ said Wren, even though she already had an inkling. Just because the curse between them was broken, didn’t mean there weren’t other things – other feelings – that needed to be addressed.

He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. ‘Well, I was actually thinking it might be fun to try a new blood spell together.’

Wren punched him in the shoulder. ‘That’s not funny.’

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