Chapter 27 #3
“Shhh, I know.” I closed my eyes, bringing up my body channel for the second time tonight.
My soul channel leaped into my mental hands as I touched it, as though it had just been waiting for this chance.
Gold mixed with burgundy in a spiral pattern as my power flowed over him, examining the infection spreading rapidly through his body.
Already, it had reached beyond his heart, heading toward his extremities.
No one really knew how the darkness spread, other than through the touch of the hufen. I hoped he wasn’t so far gone that it would pass to me. Because this was never going to work if I couldn’t touch him.
I reached toward his chest, toward those black veins, stopping a hairsbreadth away.
Warmth spread through my hand. My eyes were still closed but I imagined that if I opened them, I would see my hand glowing in a soft golden light, tinged with burgundy.
Gingerly, I touched the center of his chest and heard his sharp intake of breath at the same time Griff swore.
I could see the darkness inside him, swirling and diving, tunneling through his body, reaching toward mine, while his poor heart desperately tried to protect itself.
“Think of something that brings you peace,” I told him softly.
I had never performed such detailed work with my channels. I tried not to think about how high the stakes were as I pushed that small thread of golden light into him.
“Search,” I commanded it.
It swirled out from my fingertips and settled into his chest, golden designs swirling amidst the darkness. Andrei’s voice came back to me, reminding me that fire could burn a sickness—not the most precise method, he had said, but it would do the trick.
“Burn.”
The gold and burgundy light doubled its tempo, surrounding each of the dark veins. He cried out as it suffocated the darkness, purifying his body. I cringed at the sound, wishing I knew how to do this with more finesse, but being burned was better than turning hufen.
I kept my hand there until all of the darkness was purged and he slumped over. His mother cried out and enveloped him in her arms.
It was only then I realized my eyes had been closed the whole time.
We had formed an audience. Slowly, I stood. All around me, people touched their foreheads, lips, hearts, and dropped to their knees. I looked at Griff, admiration, relief, and awe warring in his expression.
He reached me in two strides. “I can’t believe you were able to do that.”
I smothered a yawn. “That makes two of us.”
Dizziness hit, and I began to tip over. I had been drained before this but now—there was barely a flicker left of my power. It was possible I’d overdone it. Again.
Griff caught me before I hit the ground. “Will you never learn?” His voice tried for irritation, but tenderness leaked through.
“Probably not.” I nestled against his chest. How did he smell this good after a fight?
“You are fucking amazing,” he whispered for my ears only.
“Freya could do better,” I muttered.
He hoisted me higher against his chest. “No one could have done better, my princess.”
I cuddled into him, relishing his strength as he walked toward the trees at the edge of the village, away from the worst of the destruction.
A woman followed him, briskly brushing away leaves and debris before laying out two bedrolls and leaving.
We were relatively alone in this corner of the village.
He gently placed me on my bedroll. “Sleep, Princess. You earned it.”
Right before oblivion took me, I could have sworn he kissed my head.
Griff stood across the battlefield, bodies of our enemy scattered at his feet. I ran to him, leaping over the fallen, and threw myself into his arms. Our mouths met in a punishing kiss as we clung desperately to each other, knowing this was the end.
“I have to,” I told him, tears streaming as I broke out of his arms again and started running toward the enemy.
“No!” he bellowed, chasing after me to grab my hand and yank me back.
“It’s the only way.” I twisted, trying to free myself.
“You are my soul!” he roared. “You will not sacrifice yourself!”
I bolted upright, searching for Griff. I found him by the fire, concern creasing his features as he started to rise. I shook my head, pausing his movement.
What the hell was that?
“A warning.” A man stood propped up by a nearby tree.
He looked like the rest of the villagers, pelts draped over his clothes for warmth, but there was something different about him that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
His dark hair was starting to silver, but other than that, he was as ageless as everyone else.
And he had the most vivid green eyes I’d ever seen, ringed in gold.
“A sign of what could be,” he continued.
“Magic is fragile out here, with the Veil ripping to pieces. It doesn’t know what to show.
The path is not set. The one who came before paved the path, but to decide to follow is solely your choice.
More than one have been confused by what is, what could be. ”
Who was this man? And how did he know my dream?
His eyes sharpened on me. “Lile Alastriona.”
My eyes widened. It sounded like my name, but spoken with layers of time.
How did he know my name? And why did he pronounce it like that?
His eyes unfocused, the gold overtaking the green as he spoke more of those ancient words. I only caught one of them: Orlaith.
His eyes shifted back to green as his gaze locked on mine.
“The ocean calls me home. She beckons,” he said, barely above a whisper.
He shook his head, as if to clear it. “Not the first, but the last. There are many paths you can take. The nightmares are the outcome of only one. Don’t wait too long to claim the bond. It may just save us all.”
With that cryptic-as-hell statement, he wandered away just as Griff disengaged from his conversation to make his way over.
He crouched by my side. “What’s wrong?” Concern filtered through his voice.
I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. It took me a minute to remember what had awoken me. “Just a dream.”
He reached out like he was going to cup my face but stopped short. “Nightmare?”
Screw it. I leaned into his almost-touch. “I thought it was.”
He raised an eyebrow but let it go. “You should be sleeping.”
“Hard to, without you by my side,” I quipped before thinking better of it.
He ran his thumb over my cheek. “I know the feeling, Princess. I’ll be there soon. Try to rest.”
I lay back down and stared up at the stars until sleep claimed me.
Sometime later—minutes or hours, I couldn’t tell—I felt Griff’s presence as he climbed into his bedroll beside me.
I turned toward him and he wrapped his arms around me.
The unspoken rules we’d been living by felt distant out here.
Instead of maintaining our usual careful distance, I moved closer and rested my head on his chest. His fingers found my braid, drifting upward until he was cupping my head, stroking my hair.
Between the gentle motion of his hand and listening to the steady beat of his heart, I drifted back to sleep.