Page 86 of Faeheart
Professor Blackwood rushed forward, her normally composed features twisted with concern as she surveyed the destruction around us. “We came as soon as we could break through the interference. The entire Veil was locked down by something powerful.”
“The Cube of Binding,” Elias explained, his voice hoarse as he continued to hold me against his chest. “It’s been destroyed now.”
Councilor Ashwick stepped carefully over the rubble, his silver robes flowing around him as he approached. “We felt the explosion from three realms away. What exactly happened here?”
Atlas shifted protectively closer to us. “The Purity Front brought a soul prison to trap us. They didn’t count on us fighting back.”
“Or on my father sacrificing himself to stop them and Lady Briar,” Elias added quietly, his grief pulsing through our bond.
Professor Blackwood knelt beside us, her hands already glowing with healing magic as she assessed our injuries. “What happened to Lady Briar?”
“Gone,” I managed, wincing as her magic probed a particularly tender spot on my ribs. “Absorbed into the cube along with Elias’s father before we teleported it deep into the Veil.”
The councilors exchanged alarmed glances. “You teleported an unstable blood magic artifact into the Veil?” Councilor Vael asked, her pristine eyebrows nearly disappearing into her hairline.
“It was that or let it explode in here with us,” Caden replied, his gentle voice carrying unexpected authority. “We didn’t have many options.”
More magicians were streaming through the portal now, medics rushing to our sides while security personnel from Widdershins Academy spread throughout the mansion, checking for remaining threats. I felt Elias’s grip on me tighten as they approached, his protective instinct flaring despite his exhaustion.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, reaching up to touch his face. “They’re here to help.”
Professor Blackwood stood, addressing the councilors with a fierce expression I’d never seen on her before. “These students need immediate medical attention, not an interrogation. The debriefing can wait.”
“Of course,” Councilor Ashwick nodded, though his shrewd eyes continued to assess the surrounding damage. “But we’ll need full statements from all of them once they’re stable. The Purity Front attacking a hidden sanctuary in the Veil is unprecedented. The Council will want answers.”
“They’ll get them,” Atlas growled, helping Caden to his feet as medics surrounded us with stretchers and healing potions. “But first, we rest.”
I felt myself being lifted onto a stretcher, Elias refusing to let go of my hand even as they began to move me toward the portal. Through our tetrad bond, I could feel all three of my mates’ exhaustion mingling with relief and lingering fear.
“Stay with me,” I murmured to Elias, suddenly afraid we’d be separated at the hospital.
“Always,” he smiled. “I’m never leaving your side again.”
I squeezed his hand, love flowing through the bond.
“Hey Professor?” I called, beckoning her over.
“Yes, Mr. Briar Hall?”
“Do me a favor and have them take me to the infirmary,” I said, a mischievous grin filling my face. “If you ever tell anyone about this, I’ll deny it, but…” I let out a long sigh. “I want to go back to the academy.”
“Of course,” she smiled. “I’ll make sure we have the best clerics in all the realms bringing the four of you back to perfect health.”
“Thanks.”
She gave the four of us a nod as we headed for the portal, Elias’s hand still holding mine as I was carried on the stretcher.
“I love you, Elias,” I said softly. “More than anything.”
“I love you too, Wild.” He glanced up at Caden and Atlas, the pair of them hand in hand as well. “I love all of you.”
Chapter 33
Elias
Despite all odds, we’d survived.
And for the past week, all four of us had been living in the Widdershins Academy infirmary, recovering from our battle with the Purity Front. The infirmary had become our temporary home, with four beds arranged in a square so we could always see each other. Professor Blackwood had made sure we weren’t separated, understanding that our tetrad bond needed proximity to properly heal. The clerics had worked around the clock to repair the damage. Wild had several broken ribs and internal injuries from his mother’s torture, Atlas’s concussion from being thrown against the wall, while Caden and I were recovering from magical exhaustion.
