Page 50 of Voices in the Stars
“Don’t give up now,” I whispered. We were so close to Leon’s house. It was why I thought we were safe. I was an idiot, and now she was paying the price for it.
“I’ll fix this,” I promised.
She was kept close to my chest as I ran through the trees. Hours could have passed. It could have been days with how slow it felt like I was going. Her chest barely moved. Her body only burned hotter the further we went.
By the time I broke through the last line of trees, sweat was pouringfrom my forehead. Holes were burnt into my shirt. My skin throbbed and ached where it touched her. My chest heaved as I collapsed into the clearing. My hands tightened on her even as my arms shook.
“Leon!” I screamed, hoping my hoarse voice was load enough for him to hear.
Silence followed. My heart hammered in my ears. All I could hear was my ragged breathing. I stared down at her in my lap. My skin was blistering and changing colors where she touched me. It didn’t matter. He didn’t hear me. We were almost there. I’d crawl if I needed to. My legs shook as I tried to stand. The growl that came from me was purely animalistic as I tried to stand.
A large hand on my shoulder pushed me down. My eyes snapped open to see the giant standing in front of me. My shoulders sagged slightly as I took in my friend.
“Help her,” I croaked out.
My fingers reflexively tightened as he placed a hand on Cece’s forehead. Leon ripped his hand away with a hiss, brows furrowing as he looked between us.
“What happened?” he asked, kneeling down to face me.
I shook my head, opening and closing my mouth several times. There was no answer for him. Something went terribly wrong. That soldier had burst into flames, collapsing into a pile of ash. Only for Cece to fall after him.
“Magic,” I tried to explain. “I don’t know what happened.”
Leon just nodded, nothing but concern in his dark eyes. “Can you stand?”
No. But I would for her. My legs shook fiercely as I stood. My teeth ground together as I fought against the searing heat that raced through my body. Even at my full height, I still had to look up to stare at Leon.
He must’ve read the determination as he raced toward the cabin in the center of the clearing. I followed after him much slower. I wanted to run after him, but there was little my body had left for me to give. My legs felt like weights had been attached to them. I refused to stop. She was mine. I wouldn’t leave her here. No. I was scared I would never be able to leave her side again.
A sigh left me as we walked into the cabin. The slightly cooler air feltamazing. Leon led us through the house to the bathroom. I arched a brow at him as he pointed toward the wooden tub.
“We need to cool her off” was all he said before grabbing the two buckets on the floor, each larger than my head. I could’ve set Cece in one of those buckets, and it would’ve been similar to the tub.
I was half tempted to follow that thought. Then we could get her into the cold water faster. Leon didn’t seem to have my same thoughts as he rushed out of the room. With a groan, I walked over to the tub, gently lowering her into it before dropping onto my knees beside it.
My hand quaked as I reached out to her, ignoring the pain as I held her hand.
“I’m sorry,” I admitted. “For more than you could possibly know. I’m going to do better by you. I promise.”
My head dropped to the side of the tub. I kept my eyes open just enough to be able to watch her chest’s slight rise and fall.
“You’re going to be safe here. I won’t put you through this again,” I promised her, hoping I would find a way to keep it. I would find a way to keep it. Even if it meant my father killing me the moment I set foot into Kilrest. It’d be worth everything if I knew she would be safe. Hopefully I could convince her of this.
We were alone for only a short while before Leon came rushing through the house, water sloshing over the edges of the buckets he carried. No time was wasted as he emptied the first one into the tub. I sucked in a deep breath as the water started bubbling around her. My eyes widened as she started tossing around.
“It’ll be okay,” I promised, moving to hold her still by her shoulders.
Once I held her still, Leon emptied the last bucket in with her. The tub was half full when the bubbling slowed to a stop. I felt like I could breathe again as touching her became easier.
Leon took the buckets back out of the house. I ran my fingers through her hair, humming softly as I watched her. Her breathing became deeper, her shoulders relaxing against the tub.
As Leon came back and emptied two more buckets into the tub, her color finally returned to normal. Her cheeks were no longer flushed as her breathing found its normal rhythm again. Leon stoodin the doorway, watching us. It wasn’t until her fingers were wrinkled and her shoulder started to shake before he said anything.
“Brother,” Leon commented, clasping my shoulder, “let’s get her out of here.”
I shook my head. “No. What if it just happens again?”
“You can’t keep her in the tub forever,” he commented, the smile obvious in his voice.
