Page 102 of Fate and Flame
Exhaustion rumbled through his words. “She’s with Wren. She’s a wreck. Everyone is.”
“Are the others back?”
“Not yet.”
I grabbed his arm and shoved the bit of replenished magic into him, focusing solely on his wing. He dipped low for a moment. My feet hit the ground, dragging trails into the sand.“You needed that.”
“So did Greeve.”
I didn’t want to tell him that Nadra could refill the void, but I didn’t want anyone to know her ability. That was the only way to protect her. But as Rhogan bounded higher into the air, the wind pushing against us as we moved, I realized I was going to have to tell him. If no one else. He knew I was empty.“I need to tell you something,” I started.
“No time like the present,” he strained. Though his wing was repaired, he was still tired.
“Nadra is . . . special.”
“She’s your mate. Of course she is.”
“No, I mean there’s more. She’s going to need extra protection.”
As we flew, I went through the whole story: what she had learned from the king, the items he hunted, and what he was trying to do. I explained the flower and how it had claimed her somehow. How its power was now somewhere within her.
He was silent for a long time. He processed things differently than I did. While I was analytical, Rhogan was far more emotional. “I’ll protect her always, brother,” he said, low and deadly.
As the castle came into view, I pulled and tugged on the bond until she was doing the same. I needed her to meet me at the door. When we dropped outside, she was already there, running for me.
She crashed into me, nearly bowling me over.“Oh gods, Temir.” She cried, hugging me, pulling away to look me over, and then hugging me again.
“I’m fine, love. But I need your power right now if we are going to save Greeve.”
She nodded and held out her hand. The moment our bare skin touched, that foreign power began to vibrate and thrum through our fingers.
“Let’s go.” She yanked me into the castle. They hadn’t moved him from the entryway. His body, no longer bleeding, laid still upon the marbled floor. His shirt lay discarded to the side and deep red welts covered his body.
“I couldn’t move him or he would die. I’ve done everything I can to help him,” an old fae in long robes said. “He’s breathing, but only just.”
Wren cowered in the far corner of the hallway, her eyes withdrawn and rimmed with tears. She held a tissue to her nose and watched, sniffling as I knelt over him.
I placed my hands upon him once more as the healer stepped away, closed my eyes, and drew the power forward. Nadra put her hands on my shoulders, and suddenly Greeve’s body jerked in response. Not to me, but Nadra.
Pulling my hands away from his perfectly restored skin, I looked up to her and back to Greeve. Nadra had not just refilled my magic, she amplified my power.
Shifting, Greeve groaned and sat up, swaying.
“Gaea,” he mumbled, trying to pull himself to his feet.
Wren rushed forward, shoved her head under his arm and helped him stand. His eyes were half open. Seconds ago, he was on death’s doorstep and now he was standing. Assisted, but standing. I could not wrap my medical brain around that.
I spun to look at Rhogan, shocked to find the old hag standing beside him. She dipped her chin to me, and I knew she was confirming the thoughts swirling through my mind. I hadn’t just imagined it. Nadra was powerful.
“Where have you been?” I snarled at her.
“Not that it’s your business boy, but I was handling my own beast and restoring The Mists to keep what lurks beyond from pushing back into this world. And you will watch your tongue when you speak to me.” She slammed the solid end of her staff into the hard floor, the sound ricocheting around the castle entryway. “We must go, dear,” she said to Nadra, holding out her hand.
Rhogan and I stepped forward, blocking Nadra from Aibell’s site.
“Good grendel, you male fae are insufferable. There’s no time for this.”
“Take me to her.” Greeve stumbled toward Aibell, arm still around Wren for support.
