Page 84 of Blood of Two Crowns

“Their souls must be here then… In one of Azrael’s realms?”

Nakoa’s words somehow brought both devastation and relief. “I do not think their souls would go to any hell realm, Mareina…”

I glanced to where Rumiel stood beside the mangled heap of Azrael’s body. If anyone will be able to find them, it’s him. “We’re taking him with us.”

My breathing ceased at the pull of the tether in my chest, yanking my gaze away from Azrael. I twist in Nakoa’s arms to find Ataraxus’s still form lying prone on the ground where Erius knelt, weeping beside him, along with countless other drakonati. A guttering spark of hope in my chest had mefoldingto Ataraxus’ side. As I laid tremulous hands upon his chest, that hope burst into a full-fledged fire in the gaping wound of my chest.

I could feel his soul still inside his corporeal body like I could feel the frantic drum of my own heart. Tears of relief peppered his face as I held his head almost in disbelief.

“He’s alive.”

Chapter

Fifty

MAREINA

The first place we returned to was Zurie’s palace. It still felt too surreal to call itmypalace or even Nakoa’s palace. All of the surviving drakonati had accompanied us. Pomona and Famei took the liberty of getting most of them settled in a distant wing of the palace. Roderick, Lokus, Rayne, Vesper, and Val had all also survived and escorted an unconscious Azrael, slung over Rumiel’s shoulder, to the dungeons.

It seemed impossible to me that Miroslav had apparently not survived. My mind seemed entirely unable to fathom such a possibility, and I could only attribute it to the fact that I couldn’t even begin to emotionally process it while I was mourning Malekai.

Asterion was nowhere to be found, something that I vowed to remedy. As soon as Azrael woke. I had hope that he’d survived, was safe and somewhere where he would find hissoulbound…and that one day I would be able to see my friend again.

Erius, joined by the alabaster female, stood beside Nakoa, and I, as Bohyun, our army’s best healer who had apparently been promoted to chief healer in my absence, examined Ataraxus.

“His body has recovered from whatever wounds he sustained, so I can’t say exactly why he hasn’t wakened. His lifeforce is there, but it remains…faint.”

I squeezed Ataraxus’ limp hand in mine as if doing so might push some of my own life force into him.

“But he’s not getting worse?”

Bohyun gave me a helpless shrug. “Not from what I can tell. Have you tried giving him some of your blood?”

I felt like a fucking idiot when the truth forced to replyno.Bohyun nodded, eyes drifting back to Erius. “Try… If the blood of even aminoriwielder can sustain a sanguinati, then surely the blood of a god would expedite a drakonati’s recovery... Not that I haveanyknowledge of the drakonati,” she adds pointedly. “Do you not have a healer?”

Erius frowned. “They did not survive.”

Bohyun’s expression softened as she heaved a sigh and returned her gaze to mine and Nakoa’s. “Considering the three of you aresoulbound,both of you need to give him blood. Even if it’s only a few drops… I’m guessing neither of you have fulfilled the bond either?”

I couldfeelthe way Nakoa held his breath before I answered. “No. I haven’t.” Bohyun’s gaze slid to Nakoa as he shook his head.

Bohyun looked annoyed by the answer, unable to hold back her commentary. “If I had found mysoulbound, I wouldn’t hesitate a single fucking moment.”

My eyes narrowed at the female I’d known for at least fifty years, but I couldn’t find fault in her words, even if they were insensitive. She turned to leave, parting on one final word,“Blood.”

Silence fell. Erius and his female left, followed by the other few drakonati after they each took turns whispering a short prayer in Vassileon and pressing their foreheads to Ataraxus’.

For several moments, Nakoa and I only stared down at Ataraxus’ ashen face. Now that we were alone, the emotion I’d been desperately holding back could finally be set free. Nakoa took me in his arms again as I maintained my grip on Atraxus. Nakoa’s hand found mine and to my surprise, wove his fingers with mineandAtaraxus’.

“You’re awfully calm about this…”

“Somnus came to me beforehand… And I can feel it too. The tether between us. I will not do to him what I did to you. And I vow to spend the rest of my days making up for the error of my ways.”

My lament swelled anew. “You went tohellto save me. Started awarfor me.You’ve made it up to me a thousandfold. If anything, Iowe you.And if I hadn’t…”

I couldn’t bring myself to utter the rest without another sob wracking my body. Nakoa’s hold tightens on me.“Shhhhh…There isn’t a thing in this world I wouldn’t do to save you,lohane thili.”

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