Page 33 of The Sins of Silas

“What the fuck was that?!” Silas demanded, prowling at me before shaking my shoulders. “Why didn’t you kill him?!”

“He…he was just hungry,” I muttered.

His gaze burned into mine. “He is a monster!”

“Clearly not,” I retorted, shoving his arms away. My eyes quickly found Roland, who was being healed by Elowen.

I rushed over, kneeling beside them. He was out cold. “Is he alright?!”

“Yes,” Elowen responded. “He fainted from the blood loss. It’ll take a bit to get him fully healed…this wound is more complex. But he’ll be good as new by morning.”

My lip wobbled as I took in the sight of him. If he wouldn’t have made it…

I wasn't even going to go there. Hedidmake it.

My thoughts drifted back to Daris. “The look in his eyes…” I peered at the Empath. “You felt it too, didn’t you, Merrick?”

He nodded slowly, using his own healing magic on Era’s bite mark, her chest rising and falling. “He feared for his life. He was beyond terrified…and,” Merrick grasped his collarbones, “he was painfully starving.”

“Perhaps the Vampires are like Mages…people believe them to be demons, but really, they wish to survive in this world…to live,” Elowen said softly.

When I stared off into the distance, I realized that Daris and I shared a similarity…and that the flowers wrapped around those bodies were not a sick display, but a sign of mourning.

Morning came, and I hadn’t gotten a lick of sleep. While Daris had promised our safety for the remainder of our time in this pass, I couldn’t be sure.

That, and I found myself nervously watching El as she worked on Roland throughout the night. He slept through it all.

The sun was now rising, and Edmund was up, rubbing El’s back as she attempted to keep her eyes open.

Merrick healed Erabella’s wound quickly. Thankfully, hers wasn’t deep.

“Let me take over,” I offered, walking over. Everyone else was still sleeping.

“He doesn’t need much more,” she murmured, eyelids drooping.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “I got this.”

Edmund gave me a grateful smile, and El nodded. Almost instantly, she fell asleep in Edmund’s arms, completely drained from her magic usage. He carried her to her bedroll.

I sat down, bringing Roland’s head to my lap, and began healing once I felt that burning in my palms. Elowen was right; it was almost fully healed.

I used my free hand to stroke his cheek and decided I would no longer complain of his incessant flirting or jokes. I would never take any of him for granted again.

Two hours passed, and as the healing was nearing completion, Roland’s eyes began to flutter open.

“Hey, you,” I said softly.

He blinked, clearing his vision, then smiled. “Hey, you.” His brows drew together, his smile dropping as he quickly leaned up, looking around. “Did we—”

“We won. We're all alive.”

He angled his head back to me, and I tapped my lap, wishing for him to lie back down. He smiled and obeyed.

I then told him everything that happened after he lost consciousness.

“I can’t believe you spared one…”

“I know, but I really believe he will keep his word. Ensure our safety.” Despite my nerves, I brought my hand to his cheek again. “I was so scared seeing you like that,” I whispered.

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