Page 169 of Deadwood
I watched as the opal stone glistened in the rising sun, the rays shooting out in all directions. I had a suspicion, but…
“What are you thinking?” Raiden asked, studying me.
“I think he’s using Deadwood as bait to get her back. Wherever she is, he thinks she’ll show up back here if she’s avoiding going back home. He didn’t burn our town to the ground because he needs it standing to take her back.” I looked at my two friends, their curious gazes trained on me. “But we’re going to find her first.”
We had to.
“Where do we start?” Siara asked. She looked exhausted. Another glance at Raiden told me he was, too. I was sure Flynt could use some rest as well, but I doubted he would if I told him to.
Smoke snaked through me, calm and deadly all the same, mirroring how I felt with her disappearance. The sensation was like a cold blade slicing through my beating heart.
The rising sun did nothing to warm my cold skin as Glacies rose to her full height, watching my every move to determine what I might do to fix this.
But I already knew what I’d do.
From the beginning, it wouldn’t have been a question.
“With tearing apart every inch of this world until we find her.”
CHAPTER 53
FLYNT
Blood. So much blood. More blood than anyone should have lost over an arrow wound, human or fae. My shirt, my hands, even my arm where Taylin’s leg had laid limp in the crook of my elbow as I carried her clear across town, were stained red.
But despite the ocean of crimson coating the table and my skin, all I saw was blonde waves and blue pools of pain.
Her screams…
I gripped the edge of the table, forcing myself to stay out of the black hole I was on the verge of getting sucked into.
“Jestin,” Doctor Quinn called out, a soaked hand putting pressure on the wound as she surveyed the arrow sticking straight out of Taylin’s thigh.
She was panting, every breath pained and full of her plea to make it stop. I wanted nothing more than to take all of it from her. To bottle up her hurt and pour it into me. She didn’t deserve this?—
She is not your sister, my magic hummed, worried I was losing myself. I feared I was already there.
I didn’t even know the girl, and I was teetering on the edge.
“I need a healing vial and more towels before I can pull this out.” Doctor Quinn listed off other supplies, items I couldn’t focus on as Taylin’s head shook back and forth.
“No, no, no. Please, no. Please,” Taylin pleaded, tears rolling down the sides of her face. The sedative had worn off on our rush to the infirmary, bringing her back to a confusing and treacherous present.
Quinn set a bloody hand on Taylin’s shoulder, attempting to keep her still. “We have to get it out.”
“Is there nothing you can give her?” I asked, tugging a hand through my hair and pulling on the strands from where I stood a couple feet from the table, giving them space to work.
“I need her awake to make sure her vitals don’t drop,” Quinn said as Jestin rushed over with a pile of supplies.
Taylin’s panicked eyes darted back and forth. “Please. Just—just?—”
“Hey.” I knelt beside the head of the table and set a hand on Taylin’s upper arm, pulling her attention my way. “I know it hurts. Okay?” I bit down on my lip as her eyes filled with more tears, willing myself to stay calm. “It’s going to hurt a hell of a lot more, but then it won’t anymore. Once the arrow is out, Quinn can heal you, and it will all be over.”
“You promise?” Taylin asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.
I nodded, my thumb running along her cold skin. “I promise. Just keep your eyes on me, okay?” I moved my other hand to hers. “Squeeze my hand if you need to.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” A tear slipped from her eye, running along the bridge of her nose.
