Page 156 of The Sins of Silas

“What did you do?!” I howled, racing up to her and scooping her into my arms. Her dagger slipped from her grasp. I craned my head up at the monster before me, who stood frozen. “WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

I held her, tears spilling down her cheeks. “H-help,” she cried.

My eyes darted down to her. “I know it hurts." I quickly assessed the damage.

Fuck…she was gushing blood.

“ELOWEN!” I wailed. But the healer was lost in battle. I doubted she could even hear my cry.

Saoirse clutched onto her bloodied kitten, her lip wobbling, her body trembling with adrenaline. She was losing too much blood.

By some blessing, I caught the pink-haired healer rushing to me.

“Help her,” I pleaded as she knelt on the ground beside us.

Elowen’s big blue eyes were filled with tears as she waved her hand above the injury.

“L-Lena did a spell. It healed my broken arm—”

“It’s pierced her major artery. There's no time to perform such a spell.” Her glossy eyes raised, and she mouthed, “There’s nothing I can do.”

No.

I watched in torment as she withdrew the dagger crafted by Immeron.

The one that could take a life painlessly.

Saoirse was shaking violently in my arms, Elowen behind her, charging the weapon with her magic.

“I’m…scared,” she wept, her voice so small.

“Don’t be.” I tried my hardest to give a smile. “My friend is going to heal you, okay?”

Elowen’s face crumpled as she rubbed the top of Saoirse’s head, bringing the dagger to her neck.

“You will be just fine,” I whispered, stroking her cheek.

I blinked repeatedly as Saoirse lifted her teeny hand, Boots in her other, and placed it on my face. Placed it over my fresh cut.

A golden glow emitted from her little palm as she used her magic to heal the cut on my cheek.

Despite the pain, Saoirse smiled, her eyes threatening to shut. “I…I knew you’d save us.”

My face crumpled the moment she uttered those words, the moment right before Elowen dragged her dagger across Saoirse’s neck.

Saoirse didn’t scream as her throat was cut open. Didn’t cry out. I knew that the magical weapon had eliminated all of her pain while it took her life quickly.

The vitality behind her watery eyes withered until her vacant eyes stared back at me, that slight smile of hers fading to a straight line as her hand slipped from my cheek.

Elowen broke into a sob as she withdrew her bloodied blade.

My whole body was shaking.

I saw it then: Roland and Edmund were lugging the council members down, tied up, and at their mercy with the help of a few Mages.

Walking out behind them was Viola, in her true form, Dimitri restrained and in her grasp.

We won.

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