Chapter 19
Ryder
“Have you found anything?” I ask Artemus before he has a chance to sit down.
“Not yet, but we’ll keep looking. There has to be something about phoenixes out there. It just might take a little longer to find it.”
I appreciate his attempt at reassurance, but it’s been over a month since I brought her back to the Shadow Lands and we haven’t found a speck of useful information.
“Start asking around if anyone has any stories passed down. I don’t care if it’s a child’s bedtime story, we need any information we can get.”
“Good idea. I’ll start on that right away.”
“I’ll be back for the council meeting.”
He nods, but I can tell by the look he’s giving me that he knows exactly where I’m headed.
Amaya instantly stands when I walk into the infirmary.
Can’t say her wariness is undeserving. Between everything she’s heard about me and knowing my father is the one who did this to Reign, her reaction to me is fair.
Not to mention she has an overly protective nature when it comes to anything related to Reign.
“How is she doing?” I ask, taking my place at the foot of the bed.
“Same as always. Our real-life Sleeping Beauty,” she reports as she strokes Reign’s hair. My grip tightens around the bed bars and Amaya seems to pick up on my frustration. “Maybe today is the day. You never know.”
“She’s been in a coma for over a month. Every day we think she might wake up and every day she doesn’t.”
“But she’s here. She’s alive. She’s not a pile of ash. I want her to wake more than anyone, but I won’t ignore that her simply being here is a miracle.”
She’s right. Right now, this bed could be empty, and Reign Calloway could just be a distant memory. I should do my best to remember that.
“Council is waiting for you, sir.”
“Duty calls,” Amaya says, motioning to the door.
“You should get some rest. Henry will report to me if there are any changes.”
I can tell she’s annoyed with my not-so-subtle order, but she kisses Reign’s forehead and walks out of the room.
“Sir?”
“I’ll be right there. Leave me.”
As I move to the side of the bed, I can see her chest rise and fall with steady breaths. Something about it is comforting. It’s a reminder that she’s just sleeping. The feeling of her hot hand against my icy skin is electrifying. Her warmth seeps into me, thawing my cold exterior.
I’ve convinced myself that my attachment to her is only due to the guilt I feel, but right now I can’t deny that I would do just about anything to see those emerald eyes again. Even if they stared daggers of hatred at me.
I release her hand, letting it fall to her side. If I stay any longer, I’m afraid I’ll never find the willpower to leave. Before I force myself to head for the door, I lean down so that I’m only an inch from her ear.
“The world needs you, Reign Calloway. Come back to us.”
It’s only a whisper and she probably can’t hear a thing, but I needed to say it.
This is all my fault and I’ll never forgive myself if she doesn’t wake up.
I quickly head for the door, pushing down the faint aching clutching at my chest. I’m suddenly thankful for the distraction of the council meeting.
“Alright. Who wants to go first?” I ask as I take my seat at the head of the long, rectangular table.
“I can,” Jace offers from a few seats down on my right.
“We finally have everyone placed in units based on skill level. I’ve been working with the luminaries, but the Avelion and Nazrelian refugees need a lot of work.
Most of Cyron, Strellesia, and the few Aexetan civilians can at least hold their own, though. ”
“Good to hear. Not everyone is meant to be a fighter. There are plenty of other jobs for the ones who are not as comfortable with combat. Skill level isn’t only physical.
Figure out who excels at other things like making medicines and thinking outside of the box when it comes to war strategies.
You’d be surprised at how many of the people sent here as Lesser had much more to offer once their individual gifts were recognized and appreciated. Who’s next?”
“We finally got word back from Zane and Nexus,” Akari starts.
She’s become the newest member of the council after Emeric insisted I trust her.
Apparently, Officer Delecroix’s betrayal didn’t only hurt Reign.
“They said the Training Sector is back to the way it was a few years ago. Witches are being taught banned spells and they’re training the students on torture techniques, amongst other things. ”
“That’s no surprise. It was bound to happen, eventually. Are the two of them safe?”
“As safe as they can be. I told them in the letter we sent back that if at any point they need extraction to use the vials of vapor we sent with them.”
“Any updates on the lost island?” I direct the question to the other end of the table where Artemus is fidgeting with an old quill pen he found in the study this morning. He hates these meetings almost as much as I do, but he’s the only one I trust enough to be my second in command.
“After what you told us about the ancient wards, we’ve been looking for a way through them, but so far everything is telling us that normal magic won’t work. There has to be some other power source that could break through them,” he reports.
It’s not the update I wanted after letting Slader spend three weeks sifting through my memories. I had hoped by now we would at least know of a way to break through the wards or have nailed down the location, but we have neither and time is not on our side.
When the meeting ends two hours later, I’m thankful Emeric finds me for a sparring match.
His technique has improved immensely since I started mentoring him.
Hopefully in another month or so he’ll be able to help train some of the newcomers who haven’t fought since they left the Sector years ago.
He may not be quite as advanced as Damien, but Akari was right in her comparison of the two.
“Have you seen her today? I haven’t had a chance to stop by yet.” He doesn’t have to say her name for me to know who he’s referring to.
“Only for a minute. No change,” I say dismissively before connecting my fist to his jaw.
“Ow! What was that for?” he whines as he moves his jaw side to side.
“What have I said about always being ready for a fight?” Although punching him is a good lesson to stay ready, there’s a small part of me that enjoyed retaliating at his mention of Reign.
It’s hard enough having to push her from my mind every second of every day. I don’t need a reminder from him, too.
“If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,” he mocks with the roll of his eyes that instantly reminds me of her.
“Exactly,” I snicker before vaporating behind his back. This time, he whirls around and catches my fist before it has a chance to land the blow. “Now you’re learning.”
I let him land some of his own punches, welcoming the pain. What does it say about me that I find comfort in violence? I suppose it only makes sense considering how I was raised. Pain equals punishment and I’m still punishing myself for not protecting her. For not saving her.
“Have you found anyone to help my brother?”
The question catches me off guard. It’s been weeks since he’s brought Elias up to me.
“Not yet.” His head drops at my answer, and I can tell he’s trying to hold back the tears so I quickly add, “but I have Roman asking everyone if they know of anyone back in the realms who may be able to help.” I put my hand on his shoulder and he looks up at me.
“If there’s someone who can help, we’ll get them here.
Even if that means we have to go get them. ”
With that promise he appears to perk up slightly right before crashing his fist against my temple.
“What was that about staying ready?” he mocks with a smirk that I’ll make sure he pays for later. I never got a chance to grow up with a little brother, but I imagine this is what it would feel like.
“She’s awake!” Akari shouts from across the way as she attempts to catch her breath. “She’s—”
I don’t wait for her to finish. I’m already standing at the end of the bed paralyzed by the pair of jewel-toned eyes burning into me.