Page 56 of Halfblood Deceived

Sebastian cradled Luce in his arms, placed a hand on her forehead, and cast a spell in… Feynish. Which should have been impossible.

Kamilla cursed soundly as she cast a flash of healing topaz-colored magic into Gabby’s chest with one hand. She cupped Gabby’s head carefully with the other.

Knowing his family was receiving help, Zeydan’s attention returned to Aella. She was so pale, goddess, too pale. Her gray eyes were almost black and glassy. Blood poured out from the corner of her mouth.

“I saw you,” he said, throat tight and eyes burning. “I saw you fight like the Amazon you are.”

Aella’s eyes overflowed with tears. “I’m so-sorry.”

Zeydan saw Andreas and the twins—still in their wolf forms—approach along with the fey female. Relieved as he was to see them in one piece, his attention remained glued to Aella. “Why are you sorry? This is not your fault.”

“I-it’s not y-yours either,” Aella rasped. “I wi-wish…” her voice faded, but her eyes remained open, unseeing. Her heart went quiet.

“No,” Zeydan whispered. “No.”

The fey female crouched next to him. “Let me try,” she said, placing her hands on Aella’s chest and sending a wave of electric energy that jolted Aella’s body.

Her heart impossibly started to beat again.

Zeydan blinked to clear his sight, gaping at both Aella and the striking fey female with emerald magic glowing in her eyes.

Kerian, Kamilla, and Sebastian left the library. Kerian had Mari in his arms, and Kamilla held Gabby close, bridal-style, still casting a healing spell under her breath.

Andreas hurried to take Luce from Sebastian’s arms. “Luce. My baby,” he rasped out, his voice choked with anguish.

A warm blast of wind hit them all as a jet that seemed like something straight out of a superhero movie landed on the destroyed grounds of the mansion.

“Is there anyone else?” Kerian asked.

Zeydan shook his head, gripping Aella firmly in his arms and standing.

“Then let’s go,” Kerian commanded, leading the way toward the jet.

* * *

The jet was spacious. With cream leather seats that were adjusted so that they could create improvised beds for Gabby, Luce, Mari, and Aella.

Still, they all had to shift back into their humanoid forms to fit. Idly, Zeydan noticed the black armor shifted along with his cousins’ frames.

Evan was wrapped in a blanket shaking, sitting on a chair, and cradling his left arm and side. But he firmly refused any help. He and Lex were now wearing black sweatpants Sebastian had given them.

Zeydan felt a spark of guilt at how his attention was divided between his wounded family and Aella, a near-stranger, but he couldn’t help it.

The fey warrior, Aylana—Zeydan had heard Sebastian call her—had Aella’s head and shoulders on her lap. She was casting a complex incantation that created a blanket of warm magic that covered Aella.

A stasis spell, Zeydan realized. To keep Aella alive.

Sebastian covered Luce with a blanket. “She has a concussion, but she’ll be fine,” he reassured Andreas.

“Thank you,” Andreas said, wincing as he sat next to his daughter. He took her small hand carefully, his eyes drifting to Mari.

Kerian imbued his topaz-colored healing power inside Mari’s neck and back, feeding her his blood simultaneously. “Just a bit more pressure and her spine would have severed. Even with my magic and blood, she’ll need a few days of recovery and many potions.”

Lex hovered near Kamilla and Gabby, hands shaking and eyes almost manic as the vampire princess cast healing magic on Gabby’s arm.

“Cradle her head and open her mouth for me,” Kamilla said to Lex.

He hurried to obey, carefully holding the back of Gabby’s head, and softly coaxing her lips apart.

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