Page 2 of What Courses Through Her Blood
“Yes, it was beckoning me. I suspect I was the only one who could hear it, because I’m the one intended to save it.”
Releasing Nyx’s hand, I move closer for a better view.
“It’s dying,” Colton murmurs, and I lightly brush his shoulder in agreement.
“Is this another of Euric’s secrets?” Nyx asks, impatient.
Meanwhile, Colton and I remain captivated by the heart. Despite its eerie presence, its beauty and power are undeniable.
“This,” I begin, “is the heart of Eguina. Drew was accurate in saying that the heart of all magic is here in Zomea, though I doubt she meant it so literally. Thisheart specifically is the nexus of all life and magic in Eguina, and Euric has been leeching its magic,” I explain.
“This is why magic has been weakening in Eguina,” Colton says, his gaze shifting to me. His emerald eyes are glowing bright, a stark contrast to his disheveled sandy-blond hair. I nod in agreement, and he lets out a breath, running a hand through his hair, twisted strands falling lightly over his shoulders.
I catch eyes with Nyx, who adds, “So this is why magic was fading and the monstrous creatures were spreading. It wasn’t you. Euric was meddling with things he shouldn’t, disrupting the balance. What was happening here had immediate effects in Eguina.”
“Yeah, I think so,” I confirm. “It was never about Gholioth blood needing to be returned to Zomea. It was always about my father getting what he wanted regardless of the consequences.”
“And why exactly was he siphoning power from this heart? And you mentioned ‘this heart.’ Are you saying there’s more than one?” Colton inquires.
I fill them in on everything that transpired before their arrival at the gates, where they found me confronting Euric.
“So there are other continents, similar to Eguina, and that’s what the portal we discovered in the tunnels leads to?” Colton asks.
“Yes,” I reply sorrowfully. “He showed it to me to convince me of his truth. The land was ravaged, desolate as far as the eye could see.”
Nyx’s tone hardens. “I always knew Euric was power-hungry. That’s precisely why my father exiled him from Nighthold and why I ended him the first time.”
Colton steps closer, his hand gently brushing my cheek. “Hey, regardless of his motives, I know this must be tough for you,” he says.
I swallow hard, not wanting to dwell on all of this here inthe tunnels.
“I’ll tell you the rest later. Right now, I need to touch the heart again and let it absorb some of my dark magic. It’s the only force potent enough to heal it.”
I step forward, feeling the pull as I raise my hands.
“Wait,” Nyx says, concern etched on his face. “You’ve already touched it once, and you said it weakened you. What if you’re not ready for more contact? What if you’ve already given too much?”
“I can do this. I need to,” I assert firmly, facing Nyx. “Step back.”
I glance at Colton, and my look has them both giving me the space I need.
Guided by instinct, my hands press against the wet surface of the heart. As I do, my head falls back, and time seems to warp around me. I feel as if I’m merging with the heart’s fluid coursing through its chambers. My mind is inundated with images, sweeping me through a torrent of visions: lands I don’t recognize, scenes flashing by too swiftly to grasp. Then an intense cold grips me.
I sense hands on my shoulders, pulling me back against a warm body, and I sink to the ground, my strength ebbing away. My eyelids are heavy, and I blink several times, struggling to clear my vision. As I do, I notice the heart beginning to transform, its color growing more vibrant, its form fuller, its beats strengthening.
Next thing I know, Nyx squats before me, still worried. Warm arms encircling my waist, and I must be sitting in Colton’s lap, my back resting against his chest. I’m too weak to move, barely able to speak. Something did happen.
“I’m alright,” I whisper. “This is how I felt before. It won’t last long.”
Nyx stands, starting to pace, a visible tension in hismovements. “I don’t like this,” he mutters, or at least I think he does. I’m too exhausted to dwell on it, succumbing to the weariness that envelops me.
“I’ve got you,” Colton murmurs in my ear, his arms tightening around me. The urge to succumb to sleep tugs at me, but I resist, leaning into the warmth of his embrace. Being here with him, I realize how much I’ve missed this closeness. Since awakening my dark magic, a distance had crept in between us, but now in his arms, I feel a profound sense of rightness.
I attempt to reach out through our tether, seeking to gauge his feelings, but my strength falters, and his shielding is too effective.
“We need to get out of here. The heart is stable now. Let’s take her back to the bridge,” Nyx suggests, his voice carrying from a few feet away where he paces restlessly.
“No.” I muster the energy to object, feeling a gradual return of my strength. It’s not enough to stand but sufficient to hold a conversation. “I want to go to the palace. I need to find Athalda and rest before facing everyone again.”
