Page 78 of Amethyst and Iron
“He cannot take any more pain,” Cassius told him. “I will see to it that he does not, and that he’s stabilized during the spell.”
“You are talking about being present within the circle, remaining physically connected to him, and pouring your magic into him in order to numb the pain and the toll of this process.”
“I’m aware.”
“You’ll need to maintain a hefty shield and if it falls under the pressure of my power against yours, you risk your own magic being compromised.”
“Like I said, I’m aware.”
“Cassius… I’ll handle it,” I told him.
“I believe you. But that doesn’t mean you should have to. Not when we can ease things for you, the actual nature of the spell already being horrific enough for you as it is.” I saw him and Velra exchange a look, her nodding at him in agreement.
“We?”
“Maintain eye contact with Velra and she will envelop you in an illusion, which will be far more pleasant than enduring the reality of this spell while it is in progress.”
While we were still at the edge of the circle, Velra came to me again and wrapped her arms around me as Cassius continued to support me. “We’ve got you. You’re not alone, no matter what.” She planted a soft kiss on my cheek, my forehead, brushing over my lips even though they were stained with my own blood. “Not anymore. Do you hear me, Sylas?”
“Yes,” I croaked, fighting to swallow down the emotion that her words had wrought.
I forced a smile, then Cassius passed us through the circle, and he eased me onto the chair. I sank down, my head tipping back against the heavy cushioning because I could no longer even hold it up.
Cassius walked behind the chair and clasped my shoulders.
He erected a blindingly bright white shield and then he pushed his power into me—temporary power that would leave as soon as the spell was done.
A rush of warmth surged through me and in moments not only were the aches and pains associated with the massive strain my sickness had afflicted me with gone, but there was a calming numbness that rolled through me also.
I groaned and wearily looked out at Cornelius.
He stood just a few feet from us with both palms upturned and flaming with his silver magic.
Silver magic?
Hold on… with everything that had happened, I hadn’t made the connection or thought too much about it. I’d just accepted the interference that I’d felt during the Blood Trace I’d performed on Lazriel, because it had only been brief and I’d been focused on our goal. But come to think of it now—
My body jolted violently in the chair and I looked to see Cornelius’ magic streaming into me—two fucking powerful streams.
I couldn’t feel any pain, thanks to Cassius, but my body was certainly taking notice.
He started uttering an incantation that I made sure I didn’t take notice of.
I didn’t want to think about that—about incantations, about magical protocols, about any of it. Especially not the fact that after these few moments, I wouldn’t be able to utter my own, to perform any magic whatsoever.
I wouldn’t be able to beme.
I choked as his magic continued streaming, but then started causing a scraping sensation through my body, like rot was being dug out.
I knew it wasn’t the rot being removed, it was my magic.
He was digging it out in effect, separating it from my body, my very being, and then once it was all loose, no longer intrinsically linked and fused to me, he’d gather it and lock it away. Bind it deep within me, a part of myself that would no longer be accessible to me.
“I can’t slow down! I can’t demonstrate weakness! Why is that so hard for people to understand? Thinking they can take care of me… that’s not how it works!”
I bucked in the chair as my own words to Cassius slammed into me.
A warning.
