Page 47 of Echoes of War

“Which one is the most dangerous?” Alexiares questioned, the demand obvious in his voice, and I bit down on my lip, knowing exactly where he was headed in his line of thought.

I mumbled honestly, no point in hiding it. “Whatever’s in those tubes.”

“Great, I’ll take that option then.”

Of course he would, because that’s exactly what I would have done, and he knew it.

“No,” I said firmly.

“This isn’t up for discussion.” He closed in on me but I held my ground. “You got your wish. You’re going through with it, now let me have mine.”

“Cute,” Sloan mocked. “Arguing over who gets to die first.”

“Sloan!” Reina said in an attempt to silence her.

“Just saying,” Sloan replied, not missing a chance to add insult to injury. “I hope it’s him.”

I ignored her, the beef she had with Alexiares growing tired by the day. “Let’s get this over with.”

Moe stepped forward, cutting off our path to where Reina had set everything up. “I have to ask one more time. Are you both sure? Infection is no joke. You’re going to feel like you’re dying before you’re better. And that’s because you technically are, your body has to fight off the rest. Reina won’t be able to heal it away.”

I thought about it for a few seconds to satisfy her, then pulled her in for a tight hug. A goodbye, just in case. “I’m sure. And thank you, for caring.”

An array of, “Love you’s,” sounded around the room. Each of my family and friends said the words in their own way.

A tense silence followed before Sloan broke it with another tease, “I’ll light one for you while we await whatever disaster comes next.”

“If there was any question on how we were friends before, I see none being asked now.” I gave her a soft kiss on the cheek, my hand falling upon her cheek, praying to whoever would listen to guide her if I no longer could. She squeezed my hand, and I made my way over to the Pansie, sliding my sleeve up to make room for the bite.

“Ready?” I asked, turning my head toward Alexiares, now seated next to me at Reina’s station.

Reina wrapped a band tight around his arm and he grimaced. She gave it a few taps, searching for a healthy vein then tapped against the needle, an ooze of liquid seeping out.

“Together,” he said, not taking his eyes off me.

“Together.”

Reina healed the chunk of skin Frankie had chomped out of my upper arm, but the trauma of it remained. I’d been bit once before—by Xavier. This was different though; it wasn’t nearly as terrifying, instead, I found it sickly nostalgic. I mean, if I was going to go out, hell of a way to do it, going out the same way it all started for me.

The peace that came with that had caught me off guard. I didn’t want to die, not anymore. People were counting on me. By the time the panic of the possibility set in, my portion of the experiment was done, and Alexiares’ had commenced.

Staying calm was the only thing I could do as the light faded from his eyes. The syringe emptied into his veins, and those fierce brown eyes kept their focus on me. Then, his body went limp.

Reina’s mouth hung open. The syringe bounced across the floor, rolling away from her as she stared over him, unsure what to do. Abel leaped into action, untying the band wrapped around his arm, massaging the injection site.

“Reina, water,” he ushered softly, encouraging her to remember her training.

She blinked twice before coming out of it, guiding small drops of water over his face. When that changed nothing, she released a gallon’s worth, but still, he didn’t stir. Abel slapped across his face, trying hard to get a reaction. A sign of life. Anything.

“Is he … is he dead?” I sputtered.

Sloan rallied at my side, pulling me under her wing, hand rubbing against my shoulder. The others said nothing. Moe sat in the corner, pale as a ghost, her eyes glazed over, searching for an answer.

Reina lowered her head to his chest. “He’s not breathin’,” she gasped.

Pushing her back to give him space, Abel moved his hands down to Alexiares’ neck. “He has a pulse, but it’s weak.”

I let out a whimper, pushing off Sloan and moving to the ground.My fault, this is all my fault.Brushing my hand against his cheek, the room went silent for agonizing seconds as Abel and Reina toggled over what to do.

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