29. Elora
29
ELORA
A llocer had decided it was best for us to leave immediately which I was happy to do. He had pulled me into an embrace, and then we were falling through space and time.
We portal directly into the corridor outside Amon’s chamber.
I step away from Allocer, facing Amon’s door. The sinking sensation within me only grows, and I worry at my lower lip as I stumble towards it.
Strong hands catch me, and I look back thankfully as Allocer rights me. He watches me warily as I turn back to the door, wrapping my hand around the latch.
My heart hammers in my chest, and I let out a shaky breath.
“Elora.”
Allocer reaches out a hand, stilling me.
“I must warn you, Amon doesn’t look well.”
My heart breaks further as I turn back to the door, pausing only a second before I squeeze the latch, pushing it open.
It groans, and I step past the threshold. The room is dark save for the dim light from the dying fire in the hearth.
I move towards the bed slowly, wrapping my robe around myself tightly.
As I approach, I can make out the frail frame of my demon lying in the center of the bed. His face gaunt and his skin pale, he was a shadow of the demon I’d fallen in love with.
His eyes are sunken, and I swallow the lump in my throat as I sit on the edge of the bed gingerly. Reaching out with a shaky hand, I brush the tips of my fingers over his cheek.
He turns into my touch, groaning as he shifts under the furs.
I run my hand down his arm to grasp his hand in mine, and when I feel how cold he is, it shatters the last of my resolve.
A sob escapes me as I lift his hand, placing his palm against my cheek.
“Amon…” I sob, brushing my cheek into his hand.
He stirs, frowning and when he finally opens his eyes to find mine, my heart shatters into a million pieces. His amber depths are faded, and I can’t find any lucidity there.
“Allocer…” He says, the single word coming out choked and dry.
“I’m here, brother.” Allocer replies, moving to stand next to me near the bed. He reaches out, clasping Amon’s other hand.
“Elora is here too.”
At the mention of my name, Amon’s eyes fly open, and he struggles, trying to get up.
“No!” He breathes. “Allocer! Get her out of here!”
I gasp as he struggles against the furs.
He starts to cough, and I grab him by the shoulders, forcing him down.
“Amon!” I say, grasping his face in my hands. “Amon! Look at me!”
His clouded eyes find mine, and he relaxes, grasping my wrist with clawed fingers.
“Elora…” He says, his voice pained and gravelly.
“Can we get him some water?” I ask Allocer over my shoulder. He moves to the table near the fireplace, pouring a cup before bringing it to me.
I thank him as I take it before tipping it to Amon’s mouth. He takes a few sips before his head falls back, sputtering.
When he looks at me again, I can tell he’s actually seeing me, because his features relax. He raises a hand to brush clawed fingers across my face wearily.
“You came back?”
I nod, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Yes, Amon, I came back.” I grasp his hand to my face once more, turning into his palm to kiss it. “I came back because I love you.”
The words come out on a whisper, and I watch as something in his eyes shift.
I lean down, brushing my lips across his gently. They are so dry and chapped, but still just as full as I remember.
“I love you, Amon.”
I say it again as I look down at him, willing him to understand my words.
He squeezes his eyes shut in pain, and a sob escapes me as I lay my head against his chest.
Allocer reaches out, placing a hand against my back.
“Elora, if you make a bond with him right now, it will strengthen him long enough for you two to seal your mate bond.”
I turn to look at Allocer, pausing only a second before pointing to the bookshelf across the room.
“Amon has a letter opener tucked into one of those nooks.” I say.
Allocer walks to the other side of the room, digging around before producing an ornate letter opener.
He walks to me, twirling the small blade in his hand deftly before placing it in my mine, handle first.
My eyes meet his before I turn back to Amon.
His dim amber eyes bore into mine, pleading with me, but he doesn’t move to stop me.
I reach out, slicing the letter opener against the flesh over his heart. Blood wells before spilling down the side of his chest into the furs beneath him.
“Amon,” I start, “I bind myself to you, body and blood.”
I let out a shaky breath as I run the blade over the palm of my hand.
“Take my bond, and let it strengthen you.”
I didn’t know if I was doing this right, but when I look over my shoulder at Allocer, he nods at me.
Turning back to Amon, I place my palm against the wound on his chest.
I gasp as our blood mingles. Amon stiffens, gritting his teeth, baring his fangs and letting out a pained cry.
For a second I can feel his pain as our bond is made, and I cry out before removing my hand. It felt as though my entire life force had just been sucked from my body, and I watch in awe as the wound over his heart heals.
His color returns almost instantly, and I watch as the gauntness of his face begins to disappear.
My demon starts to look more and more like himself as the second’s pass.
Holding my hand to my chest, I back off the bed, eyes wide as he continues to grit his teeth in pain.
I hardly notice when Allocer reaches for my hand, wrapping it tightly.
Amon cries out, and I turn to look at Allocer with worried eyes.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders as he attempts to comfort me.
“His body has to regenerate. It will take time.”
I worry at my bottom lip as I watch Amon writhe in pain.
“If you want to go…”
I shake my head earnestly. “I will not leave him.”
Allocer regards me as I become increasingly uncomfortable with the sight of my demon in distress.
“What do I do?” I whisper.
He shakes his head.
“You’ve done all you can right now. He will be ok, I promise.”
I let out a sob as he wraps me into his embrace, smoothing his hand over my back comfortingly.
“It will be ok.” He whispers as I sob against his vest.
Amon
When my body is done regenerating, all I can do is sleep. As badly as I want to go to my mate I can’t.
Not yet.
My body needed rest.
I’m vaguely aware of Allocer’s presence.
He assures me that everything is going to be ok, and anger lances through me briefly.
I could kill him for bringing her back here. This was exactly what I was trying to save her from.
Dreams of silver hair and lavender eyes assault me, and a few times I think I hear her voice.
The scent of jasmine permeates the room and I feel her hand in mine, squeezing gently.
“When will he wake up?” I can hear her ask.
“When his body has fully regenerated.” Allocer’s voice says softly.
I can feel Elora’s hand against my face, brushing the hair from my brow, her lips a whisper against mine.
I want to reach for her, but I can’t.
I reach for her in my mind, reach for our bond.
“I love you, Amon.” she says against my mouth.
“I can feel you. Come back to me, demon.”
I long to. God do I long to.
But I can’t, and I feel the darkness swallow me once again.
I stir, groaning as I stretch my muscles, moving to sit up. I was sore, but altogether felt normal. Looking around my chamber I spy Allocer sitting at the table, book in hand as always.
“You look so much better.” He says, snapping the book closed.
He stands, walking over to me, placing his hands in his pockets.
I grunt in response, looking around my chamber.
“Where’s Elora?”
I move to sit on the edge of the bed, grimacing at the soreness in my limbs.
“She’s here somewhere. She was here earlier.”
I stand, stretching gingerly. “How long was I asleep?” I ask, walking towards the washroom.
“Eight days.” Allocer says, pushing his glasses onto the bridge of his nose.
“Eight days!?” I bellow, spinning on him.
Allocer holds his hands up and shrugs. “We have no knowledge of how long it can take to regenerate. But please keep in mind, brother, if I would have let you go another day you would have died.”
Dying was such a generic term, demons didn’t die.
We either ascended or we ceased to exist.
I grunt in response as I stalk towards the bathroom.
“I need a bath and something to eat before I see my mate.”