Page 80 of Blooms of Darkness

Inhaling sharply, I winced as pain lanced from my side through my body.

“You’re going to be okay. Lan, we’re going to make sure you’re all right,” Ian reassured, stroking my head.

Storm bellowed from beyond our shadows and fire. There were still dark ones attacking and no one to help him.

“Help him,” I managed to hiss.

The heat from Storm’s flames were unbearable and there wasn’t much time. They needed to be safe, too. I needed to know they would all be safe.

“Go. Take her now and get back to the damned palace. Storm and I will stall for you,” Kade said, as his shadows continued toflow from his body, unending, growing darker by the second. A scowl covered his face as rage radiated from him.

“There’s so many—” Ian started, but then he glanced at me again and nodded. “We will meet you there. Get back as soon as you can. Stay with her while I grab a horse.”

Ian left and Kade turned back to me. “No,” I whimpered. “No, too many. You can’t.” Suddenly, an all-consuming fear forced me to fight harder.

Not for myself. Not because of this wound, which would surely kill me.

But for him.

“You can’t fight them all,” I said, a tear falling down my cheek.

“Are you worried for me?” Kade’s calloused hand cupped my cheek, and his thumb brushed away the stray tear.

A horse neighed.

Before Kade rose, he leaned down, kissing my forehead before pressing his own to mine. “Don’t you dare die on me yet, Little Rebel. We’re not nearly finished with this thing between us.”

He disappeared from my vision as Ian grabbed me, jostling the wound as I cried in his arms at the shot of pain, despite attempting to fight it. He threw me onto the horse, and Storm’s flames receded as we left its enclosure. It hurt so much, and my vision filled with black spots. I couldn’t be certain how much longer I would stay conscious, the dark spots growing larger. As though Kade’s shadows were entering my very mind.

I watched Kade and Storm battling the remaining Fae, outnumbered and alone. My tears fell freely now. I couldn’t stop them.

“They’re going to be okay, Lan. You need to focus on staying awake. I can’t lose you. Do you hear me?” Ian spokereassurances and curses at me as he galloped harder than ever from the battle toward home.

I jostled again, my head too heavy to hold up on my own. Ian held me firmly in place.

The next time my body shifted, I didn’t think I felt as much blood coming from my wound. Did I have any left? Perhaps it slowed somehow?

Those were my last thoughts before I lost consciousness completely, surrendering to the shadows and pretending like we were all still together, and safe.

Chapter 23

Icouldn’t control my own body.

An endless cycle of chills and sweat coursed through me. Stopping wasn’t an option.

Ian’s voice was hoarse the few times I regained consciousness. He spoke to me, desperate for me to hear him.

“This is why I didn’t want you coming. I can’t lose you. Lana, I can’t. We’ve been through too much to let one of those fucking animals be what takes you.”

I desperately wanted to reassure him, but my mouth had dried hours ago. At least I imagined it had been hours. I couldn’t talk. My fingers twitched, touching his skin. I faded again, but hopefully he felt me squeeze his hand before I slipped into unconsciousness once more.

If anyone could get me to Elisabeth in time, Ian could.

The oblivion offered a reprieve from the anxiety, the fear this would be the end.

It reminded me of shadows. Night. I breathed in and out. I was safe here.

“She lost too much blood.”

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