Page 85 of Shadow of Spring (Wild Haven 2)

I look up and find Anthony grinning. We’re doing exactly what he wants, but I can’t see any other way to proceed. Our friends surround us, and when I look at them, all I see is fear for Archer. They know as much as I do that we’re screwed without Anthony’s help.

Anthony touches two fingers to Archer’s hand. I can immediately sense the foreign magic running through Archer.

“You can heal?” I gasp, staring wide-eyed at Anthony.

“Mmm, when it suits me.”

“Then fix him.” My voice turns pleading, but I don’t have any dignity left. Archer can’t die.

“That wouldn’t fit with my plans now, would it?” He pulls back from Archer, only healing him enough to wake him.

A low, pained groan escapes Archer’s mouth and I bite down on my lip to keep from sobbing. His beautiful gray eyes open and find me unerringly. They’re glazed with pain and confusion.

“Luna,” he rasps, but I shush him. I want to comfort him, to brush his hair off his face, but my hands are covered in his blood.

“You’ve been hurt. We’re going to make it better, but we need to form the bond.” My chin trembles as I try to keep it together, only just barely stopping myself from bursting into tears.

“Okay?” I need him to tell me it’s okay, even though I’ll do it, regardless.

“Trust you,” he gasps in pain, and tears stream down my cheeks.

“I’ll need your hand, Ms. Marsten.” Anthony removes a dagger from inside his jacket, making the group shuffle and curse around us. He motions for my hand, and I extend it, recalling what Miri told me about forming the bond with Davis.

Anthony swipes the blade over my palm, and I flinch at the sudden bite of pain.

“I don’t think Mr. Warren needs to spill any more blood.” Anthony chuckles.

So fucking funny, asshole.

“If you don’t mind, place your palm on his skin. Somewhere with blood.” Anthony waves his hand over Archer’s stomach, his polite words so at odds with what’s happening.

“Repeat after me. I am spring born, master of life and shadow. My blood will bind, body and soul. I tie myself to you.

Even though Anthony is feeding us the words to say, I block him out. Eyes locked on Archer, we speak the words that will bind us in magic, forever. We may not have been prepared to do this, but every part of me knows this was inevitable. I felt it even if I didn’t admit it out loud. This is right, regardless of the pieces of shit who are forcing our hands.

Magic swells where our skin meets, a glow that flickers low at first and then grows by increments that match the pulse of my heart. It’s steady, like the boiling of water, increasing in intensity until the magic surges through our bodies.

There’s so much of it, I can’t breathe. All at once there’s an explosion of feeling, sights, and smells. The loamy scent of a forest coming out of winter, death and decay covering the ground. The sweet floral fragrance of growth in spring, bringing new life and starting the cycle of death and rebirth once again.

It’s my magic. Life and death, pouring into me with complete synergy. They aren’t two halves of a whole, they belong together. Beneath my magic, I feel the caress of Archer’s shadows enveloping me in his essence. With one final surge, our magic connects, and the bond forms. Shadows explode from Archer, throwing the room into darkness.

I don’t waste any time, concentrating on healing Archer and throwing all of my newly unleashed power into the effort. Even in his weakened state, the shadows of his magic join with mine and help me heal.

I can feel each layer of his wound knitting together, closing and repairing the damage bit by bit. Then all that remains is the blood left behind that proves this wasn’t all a bad dream.

Despite the influx of power, the healing exhausts me. I slump over, barely keeping my body from falling onto Archer’s. The shadows dissipate around us, revealing the anxious faces of our friends, our family.

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