Page 81 of Blooms of Darkness

Kalliah’s voice filled my ears. Were we home?

“I’ve never failed her before, and I’ll die before I fail her now. Bring me the blue bottle on my middle shelf, the brown one, bottom right, and the black dropper immediately next to it. Go.” Elisabeth quickly barked out orders.

I couldn’t open my eyes, but hearing her voice soothed my soul. She would fix me.

Ian had done it. Now, the Fates would decide if they wanted to keep me around.

The silence and blackness surrounding me stretched on. Unending.

“Andras is suspicious. Which means so is the king,” Ian said. “They can’t find her like this.”

“I can only heal her as fast as I can, child. You know better than to rush me,” Elisabeth scolded.

I coughed, smiling.

“Lan?” Ian’s strong hands wrapped around mine. “Come back to us, Lan. You can do this.”

I forced my eyes open, blinking. It hurt. It hurt so much, but everyone fought for me, so I could fight, too.

“I’m—” Oh, bleeding fates I couldn’t talk.

“Get her water,” Elisabeth said.

Kalliah stood next to Ian, pouring me a glass, and raising it to my lips.

“Slowly,” Elisabeth instructed.

I gulped the cool liquid. “I’m okay,” I whispered.

“Barely,” Kalliah choked out, stroking my hair.

Ian still held my hand.

“Give her space,” Elisabeth spoke softly, and as Ian and Kalliah stepped back, she came into view. Tears were in her eyes. “If you ever scare me like that again, I will kill you myself.” She cupped my cheek, and I pressed my head into her touch.

“The king is demanding to see you,” Ian said, “but we don’t know if you’ll stay awake long enough.”

He was unable to hide the deep notch of worry in his furrowed brow. His face scanning my own, searching for answers to questions yet to be asked.

I hated this. Denial, anger, rage—it all swirled in my gut, thinking of how everyone had to lie for me. How Ian had to race home because I couldn’t heal myself.

Weak. Magicless. Unworthy.

All the words flung so callously at me for years were true.

“Kade and Storm?” I asked.

Ian shook his head. “It took us a full day riding. You were out most of the time, and you’ve been out for a day and a half here.” He’d answered my next question, already knowing my thoughts.

My lip quivered, but I forced the fear of not knowing what happened to Kade and Storm aside. Not now. Not when I needed to sell our story of my recovery, since we were home.

“She looks like she’s been on death’s door. We will not fool him,” Kalliah said, her comment directed toward Ian and Elisabeth, rather than me.

“I can hear you.” I glowered. “I can do this.” I shifted to the side of the bed, the healing site of my wound aching.

“It was deep, and you suffered significant damage to some of your organs. It’s going to be sore, even with my magic,” Elisabeth said. “We’ll have to watch for any permanent damage. I’m not as strong right now as I normally am.”

I nodded. I could handle recovery. The last thing I wanted to do was take from Elisabeth when she already drained so much of herself for my father. He needed it more than I did, and I refused to be the reason he didn’t get the healing he required.

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