7. Oakes
7
OAKES
WYNSTELLE
I clutch to Merlara’s waist, as my mate bond link with Oakes fills with agony. “Oakes is hurt!” I yell out.
Still riding full tilt, Eldrin turns on his horse to look at me. “Can you feel where he is?”
I close my eyes to sense my mate. “Yes. That way—same as the screams.”
Merlara kicks her horse’s flanks to move faster than we have before. We charge blindly toward his location, and the entire way, I worry that I’ll lose my beautiful healer.
Once again, I reach out with our telepathic link to ask him what’s happened, but I receive no answer.
We race around a corner to discover a mob of humans chasing after a few ghouls. The ground is littered with dead bodies—both ghouls and humans.
In the center, I spot Oakes. It breaks my spirit, seeing his usually strong body crumpled on the ground. There is blood everywhere. I can barely feel our bond.
Is he going to die?
Corwin and Baelen are squatting down and inspecting his wounds.
My fear overtakes me completely.
Before Merlara pulls her horse to a full stop, I jump down and run to him on foot for the rest of the distance. Any fatigue I had, seems to vanish.
Pushing Corwin out of my way, I ask, “What happened?”
“Ghouls.”
My hands hover over his ripped flesh, wanting to wipe away all the pain and gore. But I’m afraid to touch him and make it worse.
Twyla calls out, “Use your magic! Heal him.”
I call upon the healing magic, but I can’t feel my power stirring. I must have exhausted myself with the ghoul experiment with Eldrin and Twyla.
Nothing .
I’m failing my love.
I keep up my attempts to access my mirror healing magic. Am I unable to mirror his healing ability because Oakes is already lost?
“See if you can help me! Now!” I order my changeling sister.
Twyla’s eyebrows raise in shock over my assertive tone, but she obediently hops down from her horse. When she is close enough, she whispers, “I only know my healing ability worked on you… but that’s when we were connected?—”
“Can it hurt to try?” I snap.
“I guess not.” Twyla crouches down and places one hand on Oakes’ ankle and one on my shoulder. She closes her eyes to call upon her healing magic, but I sense there’s no power coming through the princess.
Holding back her tears, Twyla sniffs, pulls away, and staggers backward. “I’m so sorry.”
Rhys catches Twyla in his arms and pulls her up into an embrace, consoling her.
Baelen rummages through Oakes’ pack, finds his healing salve, and runs back. “Water! To wash out his wounds,” she commands, waving for someone to put a waterskin in her hand.
Corwin rushes forward and pours his canteen over the large scrapes on Oakes’ body. “I think the blood has flushed away a lot of the toxins,” he says when his water runs out.
With a deep breath, I focus again on the healing energies, hoping I might summon enough strength to use my magic just one more time. But I can barely think straight. Oakes’ fatal condition makes me feel like I am breaking into a thousand pieces.
Does he know how much I love him? All I want is to prove to him I love him more than seems possible.
Oakes opens his eyes and weakly reaches out to touch my cheek. “Don’t cry,” he whispers.
“Don’t die,” I order him. My voice is firm yet sounds strangled all at once. “I’ll never forgive you.” The pain of loss overwhelms my senses. All my love for him seems to explode inside my heart.
Then magic pours through me.
Oakes gasps as his skin rapidly seals shut. After a moment, he regains his wits. “Wyn! How are you doing this? And so fast?”
I don’t understand how, but I’m able to heal him even faster than Oakes usually heals me, and in the mortal realm, no less. “I… I don’t know. I’m just so scared of losing you.”
“Love,” Twyla whispers. “ Her love,” she says louder. “I think Wyn mirrors your powers when she feels the love that she shares with you.”
Oakes nods. “A focal point.”
“No,” Jaden disagrees. “Love is her magic. Love. Caring. Compassion.” He paces. “Wyn, it’s likely the key to fully accessing your abilities.”
I wonder if it might be true. I remember using my powers with Oakes. They seem to magnify when I feel my connection with him, my mating bond, our love. It makes sense, since the power of our love created our magical mate bond.
Oakes gingerly touches his leg, still pink with light scars but with the cuts now sealed shut. “Whatever you are doing, thank you.” He reaches out and draws me closer. “I love you.” His lips lock with mine, and our passion grows until Rhys coughs uncomfortably for our attention.
I pull back, my cheeks blushing pink. Then I glance down at Oakes’ torn pants. “Are you sure the poison isn’t still in your system?”
He closes his eyes, using his magic to take stock of his health. “It feels like it’s completely gone.” When he looks at me, awe shines in his gaze.
“Then let’s go.” Eldrin helps me to my feet. He takes a long moment to study my face, brushing the loose locks aside. “You are amazing.” His lips crash down upon mine, and I gasp at the urgency in his kiss.
After helping Oakes to his feet, Jaden grumbles, “Eldrin, you’re making me jealous now.” He snags me from Eldrin’s grasp and kisses me, too.
“Are we done?” Rhys asks, exasperated. “Not all of us have people to kiss.”
Twyla glances over at him, her own cheeks flushing pink.