Page 117 of Knightfall
“NO!” I blasted more peace power, ignoring the fact that a jagged cut ripped open in my right thigh. Blood shot out with each beat of my heart. It gushed down my legs. It soaked my skirt. The pain made it impossible for me to hold weight on it; I shifted and Connor struggled to keep me balanced.
In the distance, the dragon shook his head as though startled. But he didn’t flame the house beneath him.
I didn’t revel in that tiny victory. I was past emotions. I was fading. I felt lightheaded. My eyelids flickered.
I think I’m going to faint,I told Quinn.
Ryan!Quinn’s mindspeak blasted all of us.Heal her now. And don’t stop healing her! Forget us! Heal her.
Wait. Were they hurt? Did I hurt them? I asked myself.
I fought to stay awake. I thought the arms around my waist might feel wet. Sticky.
Sard.
Ryan and Quinn held a silent argument behind me.
Until Quinn’s shout accidentally reverberated through our heads.—We won’t drop her!
“I’ll siphon off whatever rage I can,” Connor said. “Just do it, Ry. She’s getting pale.”
I started to wobble. My vision blinked in and out.
Warm pink light surrounded me. The magic buzzed over my skin, knitting it together. But the magic wasn’t just healing. It was tenderness itself. It felt like a summer night full of lightning bugs. It filled me. Until I felt like a shimmering pink light myself. Like a stained-glass window. Like the dawning sun.
The magic faded and my eyes opened. I could see clearly again. And there was no summer night or pink dawn. There was the wind, growling at me. And the howl of a dragon making the hairs on my arm stand up.
Ryan’s voice sounded near my ear, “Bloss, he made you use your power. But tone it down. Wait. Until the beast gets closer.” He stroked my hair once; his hand trembled as he struggled for control.
Awe filled me.
He’s right. He’s a genius. What was I thinking? I’m an idiot! I shouted at myself.
I toned down the green glow until it was hardly visible. And though my wounds reopened, they bled more slowly. They were the slashes of a thin knife, instead of the jagged hacks of an ax.
Footsteps sounded and then I heard athunk, thunk, thunkas Ryan pounded the wall behind us. He roared. The sound made the hairs on my arms stand up. Pebbles clattered to the ground. The wall wouldn’t last long.
Is everyone inside?I asked Quinn because I was too scared to look below. Too scared to take stock of how many people I might shred to pieces.
Quinn didn’t answer me.
Is everyone—
Shut it. I’m helping Dec.
I focused back on my foe, determined not to distract Quinn and Declan. The dragon was halfway through Marscha. Five more beats of his wings and he’d be in the dead space in front of the castle.
Declan! Can he—
“Sard!” Declan’s curse answered my question. Whatever he’d done, whatever he’d tried, wasn’t working. “Sentient creatures are a no-go!”
Bloss, you have another minute. We need a new plan.
I, what? No! It’s almost here! Run. You all need to run. Or I’ll drain you. Save Avia. Save the people in the castle.
Smack!Somehow, my ass stung. Even through the skirt.
Another minute. Go, Bloss.
