Page 105 of The Sins of Silas

‘Lumen,’I quickly repeated three times, sending the glowing lights into the air to lighten the space. The night was upon us, and this was the quickest option to brighten the space.

Roland and Hendry gently placed Silas on the ground.

When the Prince's eyes shot open, we all fumbled back at the sight of the black gaze that stared back at us. Not all black like the Undead, but Silas’s golden irises were gone as if his pupils were completely blown.

I quickly went to work, scattering the salt in a large circle around us.“Averte sonum intra hunc circulum. Averte sonum intra hunc circulum.”

His face crumpled. “Lena?” he whispered.

My whole body froze, and my eyes broadened at the tone of his voice. I quickly pivoted my head toward Era and the men. “Leave. It’s only going to get worse.”

“Averte sonum intra hunc circulum…averte sonum intra hunc circulum.”

Erabella's worried eyes darted between the two of us. “I need to be here for him—”

“LENA!” Silas wailed, lunging forward to grasp me, the action causing Era to jolt backward.

I held a forcefield out, shoving Silas down on his ass. He grunted as he hit the ground. “Please,” I begged them. “Please leave.”

“Are you sure?” Hendry asked desperately. “What if we can help?”

“Yeah—” Roland began, just as Silas turned to his side, lying down.

“I think I'm going to be sick,” Silas grumbled, panting as sweat dripped down his forehead.

“Averte sonum intra hunc circulum…averte sonum intra hunc circulum.”

The circle was now complete. I glanced at Hendry. “Check if it works.”

He did as I asked, stepping out of the circle.

“Can you hear me?”

He shook his head no.

I tilted toward Roland and Era. “Just go. I can handle this," I assured them.

A few more moments of consideration passed, and as Silas began to wail again, Era gave a curt nod, then bolted out of the tent, Hendry and Roland in tow.

“Shh…” I whispered as I hurried to his side, rubbing his back. But Silas’s cries wouldn’t stop. “I’m here, I’m here.”

He flipped over, wide-eyed as he gazed at me. His dark eyes made my stomach turn, knowing that I couldn’t just pull him back to reality. Despite all the pain he was in, no tears trailed down his face.

I held my palm to his head. I felt no burning in my palms, no sign of healing being needed.

This magic…it wasn't normal. I couldn't place what was different about it, but I could feel its wrongness.

I willed my healing magic to the front, anyway, hoping that the comforting touch could relieve some of his pain. If Elowen weren't also inebriated with this power, she could make this painless for him, I reckoned.

I bet the Lord of the Shadows knew that.

“I can’t.” Silas's voice broke as he stared at me. “I have tried, but I can’t.”

I focused my magic on his temples. I didn’t know if it was helping.

“Can’t what?” I asked softly.

“I can’t!” he wailed, squeezing his eyes shut. I stifled a cry as I watched him begin to hit himself, punching at his head. “I can’t stop. I can’t turn it off!”

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