Chapter 22
—Danek—
Danek stepped out of the room while Moira helped Kienna change her clothes.
Tislin’s blood covered her. She’d need to bathe as well, but Connak was nowhere to be found, and Danek didn’t want to leave Moira to tend to both Kienna and Tislin while he fetched water.
Though Kienna would be fine to go with him, the shadows swarmed in Moira’s bedroom, and Danek would never allow her to be alone.
When Moira opened Kienna’s door to give the all-clear, he couldn’t help but smirk.
Moira strapped Kienna’s arm in a makeshift sling with linens.
Underneath was the shirt he bought her. So, she did get it.
She looked radiant. He’d seen her in nice clothing before, usually in River Storm when King Vaerin made her wear outfits suited for special occasions, but he never saw her wear something special that she wanted, and that was worth the price alone.
“She needs rest,” Moira scolded, pointing her finger at Danek before leaving for the common area to sit. She stared at Tislin’s door, writhing her hands, but she never went in. She curled her legs into herself instead, whispering quietly, as if praying.
Moira had changed the linens, ensuring all the specks of blood were cleaned. He went to her, lending his hand as she crawled onto the mattress. “I can help you get more comfortable,” he offered, lighting his hands.
Kienna shook her head. “It’s okay, Danek. I’m sore, but I can sleep. Please tell me Tislin is okay.”
“Connak said he would make a full recovery. He was awake before Connak left.” Danek should have taken the hint and left her be.
She truly did need to relax, but even injured and dirty, she lit up his world.
His feet remained planted, body drawn to her light.
“I found you something,” he said quickly, remembering he’d scoped out the Dove Port markets again after working on the ship.
A small stand sold different trinkets and adornments.
Danek’s eye had caught on a set of golden rings with beads that moved across the band.
He pulled them from his pocket and handed them to her.
“What are they for?” she asked, feeling the heavy gold in her palms.
“Here,” he said, taking them and placing one on each finger. “Now, when you feel like picking your nails, you can fidget with the beads.” Danek pointed to the one he placed on her middle finger. “This one has a star that spins.”
Kienna smiled and let her fingers fidget with them. “Where did you find these?”
“You should pay attention to the shops. The locals create trinkets of all sorts.”
Her eyes drifted to the corner of her room, staring at the dark shadows flickering behind the candle. Her smile dropped, and she pulled her blanket over her with her good arm. “Stay with me?”
Danek swallowed. Surely, she meant platonically.
He wouldn’t be foolish enough to think anything else, but watching Kienna sleep was intimate.
He nearly crumbled under the weight of it.
Slowly, he untied his boots and swung his feet up, sitting back against the headboard while she rested.
He helped her adjust to a better position.
Then he sat there, watching her stare at the dark bits of her room.
Danek conjured a sparkle of fireflies into the corners.
Kienna turned her head to look at him, her eyes focusing heavily on his jaw. He angled to get a better view, wondering if maybe she was looking at his lips.
“Thank you,” she said. “For everything you always do.”
Danek removed his gaze from her, taking hold of her hand and twirling the rings once. “I hope they help you heal the wounds that I can’t with my magic.”
She sat up, inching herself closer until she pressed her lips to his cheek, then settled her head on his shoulder. Finally, Kienna’s eyes grew heavy enough to drift.
Screams jolted them awake. Danek bolted to the other room where Tislin writhed in pain.
Moira stood with her hand over him to calm him.
His eyes were black, the wound in his abdomen coursing with dark veins.
Shadows floated in the corners of the ceiling, trapped by whatever Connak left behind.
They were restless, their wisps warping in shades of black along the edges of the walls.
Danek lit the room further to keep them at bay, and then he ran to assess Tislin’s wound.
Connak still hadn’t returned. Danek had no clue what he was dealing with as he stared into the pits of darkness in Tislin’s soul.
This was nothing like the dark shadows he fought on the island.
This was more sinister, something he couldn’t reach within himself to defeat.
“Tislin, it’s me, Moira.” She snatched his face, forcing him to look at her, though her voice trembled, hands shaking against Tislin’s jaw. He pushed her backward, sending her reeling to the floor.
Kienna entered the room. Her breath filled the shadows with glee as they swirled in frantic circles.
They recognized her, and they wanted out of the corner.
Tislin muttered in a language Danek couldn’t comprehend.
Moira was upon him again, touching his skin and desperately urging him to return to his true self.
“The light’s not working,” Kienna said. “How do we heal that?” She pointed to the veins spiraling in his stab wound.
“Moira, back away from him,” Danek said, reaching for her. She wouldn’t allow it, pulling her body fiercely against his.
“See the sun,” she cried.
“Can you summon the sun?” Kienna asked.
Moira turned to her, brows knitting together. “No, I pull from it. I can’t summon it.”
Danek threw his healing magic at Tislin.
It recoiled, burning his fingertips in sharp reprimand.
It was as if he’d gotten frostbite in the snow, then dipped his hands directly into fire.
He dropped to his knees, the pain overcoming the tiny nerves in his hands.
It seeped into his wrist. He tried to heal, but his magic wouldn’t flow.
He would not be as helpful in this fight as he had planned.
—Kienna—
Ruva whined in Kienna’s mind. The room blared, and she could barely hear. She tried to call Connak. For once, a faint flicker of his mind coursed through her world. No answer. How desperate did she have to become for him to realize she needed him?
Fuck, Connak! She yelled it to him, but it manifested to no one. For once, get off your high horse!
I’m not on a horse, his voice echoed.
Relief draped over her shoulders. We need you.
Tislin’s wound grew blacker by the moment, his body writhing. Moira needed to get away fast before he did to her what he did to Danek.
Jeez, no welcome back? Connak laughed.
What the fuck—no—are you drunk? I don’t care. I need you—
Oh, great, he groaned. What do you need this time? Another ship we can—
Get the fuck back here, Connak!
Tislin stood from the bed. His ribs were still swollen, purple bruises forming around his skin. It had to hurt. If it did, Tislin indicated nothing. Kienna wasn’t even sure he was in there.
Danek pulled himself from the ground and lunged for Moira, grunting as his black fingers yanked her away. He pushed her over to Kienna, standing in front of them. “I need you both to leave. I’ll handle him.”
“We can’t leave him,” Moira said through tears.
I’m in Trinity. I’ll be back tomorrow.
WHAT? Tislin is—
Going to be fine, Connak sighed. I set his wounds before going—
Shut up. SHUT UP! Tislin is…fuck, what is he? I don’t know. His eyes are black. His skin is turning black. He’s…he hurt Danek.
Shit.
“Connak’s of no use,” Kienna said to everyone. Danek remained in front of them, despite his hands looking as charred as Tislin’s abdomen.
“So, we improvise,” Danek said.
“Your magic is burnt, isn’t it?” Moira asked. Danek glanced at them over his shoulder as Tislin took a step closer. “And Kienna is blocked. And mine…”
She trailed off. Kienna didn’t think anyone knew what Moira could do without the sun’s presence.
Unless Kienna wanted to burn the entire apartment to the ground, Moira had to be their light.
Magic flowed in its true strength when Kienna experienced strong emotion.
Moira should have already been there. She just had to be ignited.
The only way Kienna knew how to do that was the same way she was ignited.
She had to throw Moira directly into the fire, despite her gut ripping her to shreds for it.
“Moira,” Kienna turned to her. “You’re the sun.”
“No, I need the sun.”
“You. Are. The. Sun.”
Kienna pushed her forward. Danek tried to reach for her, but Kienna pulled him back.
Moira’s body trembled at first as she took a step toward Tislin.
She saw the way they both looked at each other.
Tislin, cursed by shadows or not, wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her. At least she hoped he wouldn’t.
Moira inched closer as Kienna repeated for Moira to light herself. Nothing happened. Tislin set his dark, dead eyes on them. The shadows screeched, and Danek’s light completely disappeared. Connak’s faded. With newfound darkness, the shadows crept closer.
Kienna took a step back. “Now, Moira!” she begged.
The light died completely, and Danek pushed Kienna out of the room.
He went to shut the door but missed, his fingers grazing the knob.
He grunted in pain. Nothing was happening with Moira; the shadows seeped out into the common area.
Danek gripped Kienna. His fingers brushed against her charm, and Kienna glanced up, searching Danek.
He pulled her back in close. “You’re our only shot now. ”