Page 108 of Knight's End
Then Avia held her hands out toward my men, waiting for a hug. Ryan stepped forward first. He was careful not to touch her wings as he wrapped his arms gently around her waist and lifted her up.
Quinn was less restrained. He hugged her hard, picking her up and swinging her around. When he set her down, she looked at the jagged dagger he’d won. “Is that one of theirs?” she asked.
He nodded. He pulled out the blade and handed it toward her.
Tell her how I got it, Dov—
Quinn’s thought was cut off as Avia plunged the dagger right into her own chest.
It felt like she’d stabbed me instead. Disbelief shackled me. Hopelessness grabbed her whip, ready to strip me of all the happiness that had just been within my grasp. Despair whispered in my ear.
What the sard?! Why?
I had to shove back all emotion as I ran forward, splashing through the pool as my sister collapsed in the water.
Quinn went to yank back the blade, but Ryan stopped him. “It’ll make the bleeding worse.”
"No!" I scooped up my sister, my hands sliding on her wet wings as I pulled her up and cradled her on top of the water. She looked so small, so young. Helpless. I caressed her face as I held her close. “What did you do?” I scolded.
“You said … she put her heart … in me,” Avia closed her eyes and whimpered.
“Yes, but why’d you go and stab yourself?” I demanded, my voice gruff with panic and fury.
“It hurts,” she sounded surprised.
“No shite!”
I looked up at Quinn. “Get Blue and Connor down here now!”
Avia looked up at me confused. “But Ryan’s here. He can heal me. Right?”
Agony and irony shot through me. I’d told my sister her story. But I hadn’t mentioned ours. She had no idea my knights’ powers were swapped. She had no idea. My knees nearly buckled.
Ryan splashed toward us and his big arms enveloped Avia and me.
“Sweetie,” he looked down at Avia with pity. “Connor has my powers now.”
“What?” her face grew pale. Her lavender eyes grew panicked as they met mine. “What?”
I shot a tiny thread of peace through her. I didn’t want her heart pumping faster. I didn’t want her losing blood any faster. It already coated her stomach. It already had turned the water around us a sickly-sweet pink.
“A wish swapped their powers,” I explained as briefly as I could. “Sweetheart, Ryan can’t heal you.”
Avia’s eyes swept down toward the knife. “I — I didn’t think …” her hand latched onto mine. Tears marred her beautiful inhuman eyes. “You mean … I’m gonna die?”
Quinn, where the sard is Connor?!I roared
He’s coming!!! Declan and Blue are carrying him. He’s not healed yet,Quinn said back, tersely.I’m trying to help Blue navigate the caverns.
Shite. Shite.
Sarding gods in hell.
I stared down at Avia and shook my head. I clenched my teeth to release some of the tension in my body. Then I said, as softly as I could manage, “You’re not gonna die. Connor’s almost here.”
A tiny smile crossed her lips. “You know I can tell when you lie, Bloss. You’re my … sister. Or—”
“Yes, I’m your sister dammit.” I wanted to crush her in a hug and tell her I didn’t care about blood. I cared about her. But that stupid jagged knife still stuck out of her chest.
