38. Hettie
Chapter 38
Hettie
T he world is on fire, and I watch it burn right in front of me. I don’t move, resigned to my fate. Maybe this is hell. My mate is dying, and I can’t do anything about it. I wanted to make things better, but I’m cursed to only make things worse.
Rip is fighting consciousness. His eyes are swollen shut. His busted lip is still bleeding from the cut, but he wears a smile. Or what I interpret to be a smile, at least.
His face is bad, but it’s the rest of his body that scares me. Long, deep gashes cover every inch of him, exposing red tissue. Most are still bleeding profusely. I don’t know how he hasn’t passed out from loss of blood. The strange hitch to his breathing also tells me his ribs might be broken.
Smoke fills the area, making it harder to breathe. Where is the fire coming from? Did Michael decide to torch the area? My mind desperately tries to come up with a plausible reason when the sky darkens above us.
I lift my head and gasp. I don’t know what I’m expecting, but it isn’t the black-scaled dragon hovering fifty feet above us. It’s massive, probably the size of a commercial airplane. A terrible sound, almost like a growl, emits from the dragon, followed by red flames. Heat from the flames warms my body to an uncomfortable level.
A soft, feminine voice makes me jump. “Luna Hettie?”
I protectively angle myself over Rip’s body. A wet nose presses against my forearm, and I sigh in relief that Grass is here.
I take a moment to allow my brain to process the woman standing before me. She’s beautiful. Reddish-brown hair with pale skin. Her choice of clothes is interesting. She wears a full black leather dress that looks tailored perfectly to her skin. The sleeves extend to her wrists, where she wears black gloves. Her kind eyes stare at me before dropping to Rip on the forest floor. He’s gone unusually still. If it wasn’t for the faint rise and fall of his chest, I would think he’s dead.
Despite her lovely appearance, she’s a stranger, which makes her dangerous. “How do you know my name?”
“A friend sent me.” She smiles.
“A friend? Who?”
“Hettie, it’s okay,” a new voice sounds behind her. I squint to see past the smoke, but soon I catch sight of a familiar face.
“Thorne,” I sob, never so thankful to see a friend. “How are you here?”
Thorne kneels down next to me, gently taking my hand. I didn’t know how much I needed comfort until it’s freely given. My relief only lasts a moment until I realize Thorne doesn’t know his mate is sick. Cursed because of me.
My smile fades instantly. “Thorne, I need to tell you something.”
“Later,” he says. I know this isn’t the time to bring it up, but it still bothers me that he doesn’t know .
“This is Queen Rose,” he explains, gesturing to the pretty red-headed woman. “She’s married to King Malix, the dragon king.”
My lips part in a surprised O. “You’re the one from Grym Hollow. You’re like me.”
The woman—Rose—smiles. “I am, and I sensed you needed me.”
“You did?”
“She did,” Thorne answers on her behalf. “Rose and Malix were already halfway to Lycan Forest when we found them. Said she knew we needed their help. We’ve been on our way back since last night when we caught sight of Nephilim movement.”
“Nephilim? They’re here now?” I expect one to appear in front of me. The smoke and flames make visibility near impossible, so even if one stood near, I probably wouldn’t see it until the last possible second.
“They are. Not many, but enough to be a problem. My dragons and your wolves are in battle now,” Rose says.
“Then we should help them. We…we should?—”
“Hettie, I need you to take a breath for me, okay?” Thorne moves out of the way so Rose can crouch down next to me. It’s silly, but I want to tell her not to get her dress dirty on my account.
“Go help your people, Alpha. Hettie and I will be okay,” Rose assures Thorne.
The man hesitates, not sure if he should stay or join in the fight happening around us.
“It’s okay, Thorne. We’ll be fine,” I say, though I’m not sure if I’m telling the truth. It seems to calm Thorne, though. He nods once and shifts before running off to join the others, but not before he casts a pained expression to his fallen friend .
“Now, let’s heal your mate, shall we?” Rose smiles, reaching for my hands. Under different circumstances, I think Rose could be my friend. I instantly like her. She has a warm, calming presence to her.
“I hear you were able to cure your people. Is that correct?” she asks.
Realization is slow to dawn, but when it does, I shake my head. “Not really. I just found the cure to help them. It wasn’t actually me.”
“Sounds like it was you. Has Ender talked to you about your magic?”
It was the same thing Michael said. Rose thinks I have magic, when I only have weird little voices in my head telling me where to find wolfsbane.
“No…but I don’t have magic,” I admit.
Rose purses her lips, and then drags my hands to Rip’s chest. “Can we try something? I’ll guide you through it, but you’ll need to trust me and yourself.”
My confusion only deepens, but what other choice do I have? Rip will definitely die if I don’t do something. If this is even a chance to save him… “Yeah, okay.”
“Close your eyes.”
I do and wait for my next instructions.
“I want you to picture Rip and the memories you have of him. Channel the love you have for your mate and the need to make him feel better. Just feel.”
I don’t know how this is going to help Rip, but I do as she asks. I think back to the first time I saw Rip. How handsome I thought he was. I remember our first kiss at our mating ceremony. I didn’t know then that the kiss would change my entire life, but it was the catalyst for love. Every moment after was like trying to feel that way again without giving in to our feelings .
Falling in love had never been so easy or surprising. The comfort I feel with Rip is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I’m not ready to lose that. I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’ve had enough time with him. I want many more days with him. To show him I can be the mate he needs.
I push love into our bond. His connection to me is faint, but he’s still there. Michael didn’t erase us completely. I fill the bond with warmth and devotion. With strength and healing. But will that be enough to bring him back from the gates of death?
I don’t know.
I’m not sure how long my eyes are closed or how long I keep my hands on Rip’s chest, but soon I feel a gentle hand on my back. “Open your eyes, Hettie,” Rose says. Something in her tone gives me pause.
Did I fail?
Slowly, afraid of what I’ll see, I open my eyes. A wishful part of me hopes I’ll see Rip without a scratch on his body. But when I stare down at the man I love, nothing has changed. He’s still bloody and bruised.
I failed.
“No, you haven’t,” Rose says, and I don’t realize I’ve said the words out loud. “Look at him, Hettie. Really look at him.”
And so I do.
Through my helplessness, I didn’t see the changes in him right away. I scan his body and stop at his lip. Moments ago, it was busted and bleeding. Although the blood is still there, it no longer is puffy or bruised. His eyes, though still a little swollen, aren’t blackened or swollen shut any longer.
His body is still covered in blood, but the deep gashes are now scabbed over. Some are faint pink lines. He’s not breathing strangely anymore. His chest rises and falls normally.
I blink once in case I’m imagining what I’m seeing. Rip isn’t completely healed, but he is healed. His wounds look days, if not weeks, old now.
I’m crying again, but this time for a new reason. “What just happened? How is this possible?” I sob. Rip’s eyes flutter, which only makes me sob harder.
“You’ve healed him. Mostly.” She laughs softly. “Ender isn’t the most forthcoming with information, so I’m left to figure out why he chose us and discovered our magic. I woke up the cursed dragons in my kingdom. When Thorne told me you led him straight to the cure for your wolves, it made me wonder what else you could do.
“You see, I think our powers are all centered on healing. I didn’t know that for certain until I watched you heal your mate,” Rose says. “I think if we work on that magic—or whatever you want to call it—we’ll get stronger.”
Her words are slow to process. Magic. Healing. Mate. Soon I’ll be able to wonder if her theory is correct, but right now I’m more concerned with the man moving underneath me.
“Rip?” I move my hands from his chest, only to stare down into two deep brown eyes.
“You healed me, Dove.” He grins and goes to move. I don’t miss the wince he tries to hide as he sits up. “I’m fine. Just a little sore, but you took away the worst of it.”
“Never scare me like that again,” I growl, flinging myself into his arms.
Rip lets out a pained gasp, and I curse, trying to pull away. But his hold on me tightens, so I stay firm against his chest.
“Thank you,” he says, and I realize he isn’t talking to me. He’s looking at Rose.
The Dragon Queen smiles. “Told you we could be friends.”
A loud howl interrupts our moment. I turn and see a large wolf charge for us. Michael. He’s still alive amidst the chaos. He’s a wolf who knows he’s losing and plans on taking down anyone he can before they take him down.
I go to push Rip out of the way, but he doesn’t budge. He pushes me behind him, and I yell in protest. I just healed him; he’s nowhere near ready to fight. Michael lunges, and I can do nothing but close my eyes and wait for the pain of his jaws.
Except it never comes. A loud thud followed by a crunching noise makes me blink in surprise. A purple dragon sits in front of Rip with a wolf dangling from their mouth. The wolf howls and desperately tries to claw itself free, but the powerful dragon clamps down.
And then Michaels falls.
In two pieces.
“That was very dramatic, Vivia.” Rose rolls her eyes but smiles.
“Friend of yours?” Rip asks, hiding his shock better than me.
“One of my best friends,” she says before addressing the dragon. “Can you tell us what is going on?”
The dragon shifts and, in her place, is a petite but muscular woman. Her black hair is cropped short, and blood runs down the sides of her lips. She’s not pretty per se, but there is a certain attractiveness about her.
“King Alpha. Queen Luna,” she greets with an elaborate bow. For anyone else, it might seem as if she’s mocking us. But she’s able to make it look sincere .
“Six Nephilim are down. The wolves are taking care of the last few. The rogues,” she looks at Michael’s dead body in two on the ground, “are now dead. No casualties on our side, but a few injuries. Should we burn the bodies of the Nephilim?”
“Hettie,” Rose says gently, “would you like the dragons to dispose of Nephilim bodies?”
The question is so absurd, I choke out a laugh. These are not questions I ever thought I’d be asked.
“Oh, there goes another one,” Vivia says, staring at something behind me.
I turn just in time to see a giant creature with shredded wings. I didn’t expect the Nephilim to be so tall, and it makes me feel smaller than an ant next to them. Their large, skinny bodies are blackened, almost charred-looking. Where their eyes should be, white orbs stare hauntingly at me.
These horrific creatures were what Michael believed he could take down on his own? I’m almost sad that Michael’s dead because I would have loved watching him fight these monsters—and fail.
The Nephilim falls, shaking the ground on impact. Wolves howl as they jump on top of the creature, tearing viciously at its body. I have to turn my head because the sight is too gruesome to watch.
“Yes, burn them,” I say, because what else is there to do with creatures of that size? “And the rogues too.” I look over at Rip to make sure he’s okay with that, and he’s smiling at me with pride in his eyes. It feels…good.
Vivia gives a curt nod and shifts back to her dragon form. “She’s off to let the others know,” Rose explains. “You did amazing, Hettie, but Rip still needs to see a healer. I don’t think your alpha will take kindly to riding a dragon? ”
The disapproving growl from Rip tells us exactly how he feels about that. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. In which case, let’s load him up on a horse. Have you ever ridden before?”
I just stare at her before she bursts out in giggles. “Right. Grym Hollow resident. Not exactly the best place to learn how to ride a horse.”
“I know how. I’m well enough to navigate us home,” Rip says, though he doesn’t sound overly pleased with the idea. I’m just glad he’s not being difficult about it. “Send your injured my way. Our home is closer, and they’ll receive immediate care.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you,” she says as a black dragon lands beside her. His dark scales are a stark contrast to the white scenery. Horns protrude from the top of his head, looking just as deadly as his piercing teeth. The dragon huffs and wraps its tail around Rose. “My husband, Malix,” she says. “He’s ready to get me home.”
“Wait.” I untangle myself from Rip and stand. “Thank you. Both of you. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you all didn’t show up.” Rip wouldn’t be sitting, talking, and smiling like he is now. That I know for certain.
“Of course. The fight might not have been on our land, but it doesn’t make it any less ours. We can’t stop until they’re no longer a threat,” she says.
“So, I’ll see you again?” I love the friends I made in my pack, but Rose is from Grym Hollow and knows how it feels to come to a strange new world and marry a man you know nothing about. The thought of not seeing her again makes me feel empty.
Rose smiles with her whole face. It’s contagious, and I can’t help but return it. “Of course. Our kingdoms are so close, and we can write. ”
“I would like that. A lot.” I close the distance between us and hug her. Rose returns the embrace. We stay like that for a minute. Just two women who came from Grym Hollow and now have kingdoms to run.
When we finally break apart, Rose gives me one last wave before climbing atop her dragon husband. Malix nods once and then pushes off the ground, stretching his powerful wings. And then they are airborne.
“Hettie.” Rip’s voice pulls my attention away from the ascending dragon. Our eyes meet, and love floods the bond. “Let’s find Grass and go home, mate.”
Home. Together.