Chapter 47
Chapter
Forty-Seven
Arms pulled me backwards, and despite not knowing who they belonged to, I let my body sink into their owners.
My breathing was harsh, every inhale tearing me further apart. I was physically fine. Mentally, I wasn't sure.
“Sebastian?”
The figure who held me shuffled, releasing one arm to pull off their helmet. It hit the patio with a harsh chime.
“No.”
Sawyer.
He tightened his grip on me, careful to avoid any parts of my body that he shouldn't be touching. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I…I—” I tried, but couldn't speak about it. I didn’t even know how to explain what the fuck just happened.
“Never mind that. Are you hurt?”
Still not facing him, I shook my head just enough to give him an answer, then I allowed my eyes to close and ignored the rest of the world.
“Thank the gods.” He sighed in pure relief. “The others are on their way. Kohen found me first. Sent me back here while he went to find Seb and Pia.”
I sniffled, more tears pooling from me. I didn't know why I was so upset. I was alive.
Sawyer held me while I sobbed. “You're okay. I promise you. Everything is okay,” he whispered, pulling my hair back in a way that almost felt too intimate coming from a friend.
I shook my head. “It's not okay.” I didn't know why I felt that way, but something was off. I couldn’t quite place what, but I just didn't feel like me.
“You are safe for right now. Try to relax.”
“I…I…Can’t. I—” My words broke through the midst of my hyperventilation, the shallow breaths not allowing for my vocal cords to function.
Sawyer’s armored biceps tightened around me, the pressure helping to ease the other feelings that swirled in my veins. “Deep breaths. Inhale for me. Come on, Maeve. You can do this.”
I was panicking—a feeling not new to me, but very much unappreciated at this time. There was still a battle going on just steps away from where we sat, huddled together in the center of the courtyard.
“Look at me.”
I scanned my eyes to find Sawyer’s deep green ones, my shoulders following my neck.
“Follow my lead. Breathe in.” Sawyer drew a deep breath, and I tried to do the same.
The dusty air pulled into my lungs, crackling when it met the walls of my chest.
“Good. Now out.”
It blew out completely broken and shuddered, but it was air nonetheless.
“Again.”
When I no longer gasped like a fish out of water, I turned back towards the statues.
Still shaking in his arms, Sawyer asked, “Is there anything I need to know?”
We both fell silent while he waited for my answer. He didn't move a muscle until we heard heavy, panicked footsteps rushing towards us, and I hardly flinched when I felt his body be replaced by one more familiar.
Pinewood and frost.
“How are you here?” My words were no more than a broken whisper.
Sebastian's breath tickled my neck as he settled himself behind me, cradling me in his arms. His armor felt cool on my skin, and helped ease the flames of starlight that raged within me. “I don't know.”
I went out on a limb and assumed that when Blythe transferred her magic to me, it undid any commands I had in place. It was okay though—I was glad he was here. I needed him.
His hair was matted with sweat and his eyebrows were pulled together as I looked back at him. My eyes were drawn to his battle leathers, sopping wet with someone's blood.
“Yours?” I asked, now noticing his lower hip.
“Yes.” Sebastian nodded. “I'm fine.” He sat on the ground behind me, pulling me back between his legs. His arms cradled around me, holding me tightly against his chest as I continued to cry.
Another glimpse of my hands made me realize that the markings sparkled. Shimmering pieces of starlight permanently emulating from my flesh. The sight caused my breath to lock in my lungs, initiating more hyperventilation.
Sebastian brushed my hair to the side. “You're okay,” he said as a statement. “You're alive.”
My body shook as I used him for support. I pretended there was not a war going on around us and took a moment to collect myself. The knowledge that we were both alive was almost enough to calm me completely, despite the intensity of the aftershock.
I breathed out one last shuddered breath, but that was all the panic I allowed myself to have. There was still work to be done.
“What happened?” Sebastian asked in a whisper when I got a hold of myself.
“You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”
Sebastian leaned into my ear. “Maeve, you have brand new markings on your hands.
Kohen only left you for maybe a half hour, and I know from experience that ink that intricate would take longer than that to complete—and that's if you aren't in the middle of a war.
Not to mention, you're completely naked in the center of the courtyard.”
Shit. I forgot my clothes were burned away.
I cringed when I turned my attention, noticing the rest of my friends standing a few yards back, staring at me like they had no idea who I was.
Good thing Sebastian's frame was large enough to cover most of mine, although I’d try to forget that Sawyer had his arms around my bare body only minutes ago.
I turned my whole torso so I could look at him without straining my neck, ignoring the eyes of my friends as I revealed more skin with my movements. “Everything in the manuscripts and my visions were true.”
Sebastian gave me his full attention while I debriefed him as quickly as I could. There was still a threat waiting for us just beyond the courtyard.
“It wasn't me who the sacrifice was referring to,” I finished, quiet enough so only he could hear me. “It was her. She transferred her magic to me before she died, and I think…I think I can control the stars,” I stuttered.
Sebastian shuffled uncomfortably. He didn't look as shocked as I’d expected. “I know,” he said, though I didn't fully absorb his words.
“She told me to finish this war. End it. Then to go to the passageway in the dungeon. She said if we can reach the end of the tunnel we will be safe. Wait—” My head cocked to the side as I gathered what he had said. “Know what?”
He exhaled deeply through his clenched jaw. His lips parted and his face looked pained, as if what he was about to say would cut deep. “There's some things I really need to tell you. Now isn't the best time, but I found—”
Our attention was directed to the tower closest to us as its peak came crashing down in chunks of stone. The impact made the whole patio shake, and I jumped up instinctively, forgetting about my lack of clothing.
Sebastian moved his body to block me from the eyes of our friends. “Clothes. Please!” he yelled over to them, and backed us away from the tumbling rock.
Pia stepped forward with my rucksack in hand. I always had an extra pair of pants and a shirt packed for emergencies. My instincts must have kicked before I even knew what would happen.
She flashed Sebastian a sideways glance while handing me the clothes. He put his head down, disregarding her presence.
I pulled the top over my head, then worked on the pants. They were an old pair, so they were a bit snug. I had to wiggle them over my hips, but it beat fighting in the nude.
Sawyer took a pair of boots from a deceased female soldier, setting them down in front of me once I was fully clothed. I stepped into them and he bent down on one knee, tying the laces tightly around my shins.
Another boom of destruction echoed through my eardrums.
Our heads turned towards the castle. Flames rose throughout the building, peeking out from the windows on the higher levels. Voices screamed in distress. I had tuned them out before, but was sure they had never ceased.
We didn’t have a lot of time before our escape route was destroyed.
I looked around desperately for my dagger, praying it was intact. The glint of the hilt caught my gaze near the statue of Sloane. The burst of energy from Blythe’s final use of power must have caused it to slide over there.
I moved for it—the one thing that didn't melt off of me. The starlight had even melted my Caelestian armor, and I couldn't help but wonder if the goddess had something to do with the preservation of my blade.
When I crouched down to pick it up, something crunched under my foot. I raised my boot and saw the pendant from my mother lying in a seam of the cobblestone. My hand automatically snapped to my chest, feeling to make sure it really had fallen off.
I picked the necklace up with a sigh—the last reminder of my family. I jostled it in my hand, admiring it briefly then stuffing it in my pocket. Make that two things that didn't melt. I glanced up towards the veil and whispered an airy, “Thank you.”
With my dagger firmly in my palm, I joined my friends. They were huddled together, their weapons drawn and ready to combat anyone who may strike. Their wide eyes were all the confirmation I needed to know that Sebastian had filled them in on what happened to me.
Pia pulled me into a constricting hug. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. I feel weird, though.”
“I’d imagine so. What's up with this?” She pulled back and took one of my forearms in her hands, examining the swirling design that trailed up from my fingertips.
“I have no idea, but now isn't the best time to try and figure it out.” I turned to the rest of the group.
“What's the plan?” Kohen asked, and they all looked at me.
“Blythe said to use my power and told me how to make a clean exit if needed. Other than that, I have no idea.”
They still stared at me like I had died and come back to life—aside from Sebastian, who seemed pretty unfazed by all of this.
“Well, by the looks of it, if our army doesn't get a grip, the rest of the castle is going down,” Sawyer said.
I peered over the shrubs surrounding the patio.
Spouts of water from sapphire gifted soldiers shot down the flames that raged inside the castle.
I thought back to my visions and tried to remember if I saw the outcome of this, but all I could remember was the castle burning, not if it met its demise.