Page 154 of The Sins of Silas

Only once my injuries ceased bleeding did she pull her hands away and begin releasing my chains. But it wasn’t until Viola finally noticed my back that she gasped, tumbling back, her hand flying over her mouth.

I winced, biting down on my busted lip. “Please,” I begged her, disgusted by the desperation in my voice. “Please, no one can know about my back.”

“Who…” she began, but in seeing the agony in my eyes, she refrained from asking. Her widened eyes filled with tears, and she nodded. “I won't say a thing. I promise, Silas.”

Once the chains clanked against the hardwood floor, she brought her hands to my shoulder. I braced myself, giving her a nod, and I swore colorfully as she set my arm back in place. I bit back a scream as I slid my broken arm through the armhole of a dark shirt—a long-sleeve button-up Viola found tucked in a dresser. Viola helped me cover up the place I kept hidden with no protest.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered, quickly buttoning my top.

“Don't be.” It was still hard seeing her through my swollen eyes. “I owe you.”

She gave me a smile back, and I groaned as she helped me up, assisting me as I limped out of the room.

We only descended the first staircase before I began coughing. Smoke filled the air, the smell of fire invading my nose. When I saw the state of the corridor before me, I loosened a breath.

The hallways had been seared, and every soldier had been turned to ash—I could tell by the charred remains that littered the floors.

My eyes skated down only slightly, and then I saw her.

Encasing her body, her flame glowed brighter than ever before. Hues of blue and violet this time, with sparks of electricity wrapping around her arms and legs, fusing her two elemental powers. When Lena's eyes found mine, she froze, her look of vengeance vanishing.

“Silas,” shecried, letting her magic rescind as she ran to me.

“Lena…”

When she halted before me, she lifted her fingers, examining my damaged face. Tears were spilling down her cheeks. “T-they said you were dead.”

I gave her my best attempt at a smile. “You can't get rid of me that easily.” My eyes slid to Viola, who was still helping me walk. “Viola saved my life.”

Lena gave her a grateful nod, then wrapped her arm around me. I hissed when she touched my broken arm. “We need to get you healed.”

“There's no time—"

“I'm healing you.” She shifted her gaze to Vi. “Go. We will join in a moment.”

Viola nodded, then rushed off.

Lena guided me into a room, shutting the door behind us, and quickly fished into her bra, withdrawing chalk. The room was off the hall, all empty due to the mayhem Lena had unleashed. She bent down and began drawing on the wooden floor.

It was a pentagram with symbols I couldn't decipher.

“Lena, there's no time,” I protested.

She ignored me.

“Stand in it,” she ordered after completing the drawing a minute later.

My arm throbbed, so I listened.

“Sana omnia vulnera eius,”Lena chanted, a golden glow traveling down to the pentagram.“Sana omnia vulnera eius.”

The circle began to glow as she repeated the words, and when Lena's eyes finally shot open, her pupils had vanished.

“Holy fuck,” I breathed, and my eyes peeked down. My pain disappeared, and my broken arm was able to move with ease.

Lena blinked, her glow fading, her pupils returning. “It worked. It actually fucking worked,” she exhaled, a half grin on her face as she grasped her knees to balance herself.

“You did too much,” I murmured, rushing to her and seizing her shoulders. “How did you know that spell?”

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