Page 90 of Forgotten Arcane

“I need you to hold his soul to his body, just for a few minutes longer so that I can heal the worst of it,” Doc says urgently.

The woman in my arms whimpers.

“It’s okay, they’ll save him,” I reply, because I know that they will. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they will save Asher’s life.

“I’ll protect the soul. So he doesn’t have to feel the worst of it,” Raiden says.

The woman whimpers again, but says, “Thank you.”

Raiden doesn’t hesitate for a moment longer. His magic swirls around him, making the surrounding wolves gasp at the sheer strength of it. It surprises me when he doesn’t shift into his reaper form, where he’s dressed in robes and stupidly tall. Instead, his eyes glow, the stars in them swirling, as he crouches on the other side of Asher to Doc and lays his hands on him.

“Perfect,” Doc says, letting us all know that it’s working.

It doesn’t take very long for us to be able to see Asher healing before us, and Doc gives Raiden the all clear to let go. The woman lets go of me and throws her arms around a shocked looking Raiden.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, I know that he would have died without you,” she says and then moves over next to Asher, and takes his hand while Doc finishes up.

I move over to Raiden, wrap my arms around him, and squeeze him tightly, “You did really well.”

“Thanks, gorgeous,” he replies, and he drops a kiss on the top of my head. “I’m going to go and make sure that no one else needs me. The others are all in here somewhere, helping the wounded or leading some of them out. River is directing it all and doing a really good job.”

I smile, “He’s really good at this.”

“He is,” Raiden grins.

Raiden walks back through the large cavern, and I turn back to Doc, Asher, and the woman.

“He should wake up in a few moments,” Doc says to her, and then looks over her beaten features, “Can I heal you?”

Her eyes widen, but she nods, “Yes, please.”

Doc holds his hand out for hers, and she takes it. Her tight features instantly relax as his healing magic washes through her.

“Thank you,” she says gratefully.

Asher suddenly sits up, spots us, and growls a menacingly low growl. Doc and I move backward as quickly as we can while keeping our eyes on the disorientated wolf.

His mate tries to talk to him, but it’s clear that he isn’t capable of listening to her right now. The last thing he remembers is most likely trying to protect these pack members, and then being in excruciating pain and nearly dying. That’s all that he knows, and we’re unfamiliar, so that means we’re a threat.

River suddenly appears, standing between Asher and us. He holds his hands up, and I can feel his magic swell.

It’s obviously strong enough to make the wolf pause.

“We’re here to help. Dare led us here,” River starts.

Logan jogs up with worry in his eyes, “It’s true. River killed Derek, we’re finally free.”

Those words clearly shock the shit out of the beta because he shifts back and just stares at us.

“You killed Derek?” he asks, cautiously, almost like he’s afraid to believe it.

Which I can’t blame him for, they’ve all been tortured by him for decades, and now it’s over.

River nods, “Yes. Most of his wolves are dead. There are some that are being held at the compound, and some that are secured back at the pack house. Those are the only ones left.”

Asher surprises me when he immediately drops to the floor and bares his neck for River.

“Thank you for freeing us, Alpha,” he says, with so many different emotions in his voice.

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