39. Chapter 39
Yareli strode into her bedroom, her door slamming into the wall as she threw herself onto a chair.
When she had exited the arena, Erick had pulled her into a small tent where Augrys and Leo waited.
Sparsely furnished with only three seats and a small projector, she assumed that was where they had watched the challenge.
Leo had pulled her into a hug, congratulating her, but she’d winced.
And that had been the start of the spat.
It had taken Augrys all but a second to determine that she had pulled too much magic from her core, and he pounced on her like an unforgiving sergeant. She still heard the echo of their exchange in her ears, ringing like a loud bell.
“You used too much magic,” he had said—a fact, not a question.
She had looked away, irked at his reprimand. “I had to.”
“Did you?”
“Yes, I did! We wouldn’t have subdued the egheur otherwise. Besides, I’m fine. Look!”
A strong cramp had rocked her body at that moment, and she lost her balance. Leo caught her, holding her close to him.
Augrys’s face had gone firm, losing all softness, and the muscle in his jaw had twitched. “You’re not fine.”
“Here, I’ll take a look,” Erick had said.
She had swatted him away. “I’m fine.”
“You need medical attention. Erick will treat you.”
“And I said no.”
Leo had interjected then. “Augrys, maybe now isn’t the time to—”
“It is time. You know the risks of magic drain, or are you content with her throwing her life away because you wanted an alliance?”
Leo’s hold on her had tightened, and she had flinched again. From the pain of his grip or Augrys’s accusation, she wasn’t sure. What she had been sure of was her mounting anger.
“That isn’t what this is.”
“Then, what is it, Leo? Because it sure as hell looks like you’re fine with her being reckless.”
Augrys was angrier than she had ever seen him; his eyes flashed golden white, the air crackled, and Yareli’s anger rose in response.
“I knew the risks, and I chose to do it,” she had yelled. “I didn’t die, so back off.”
She had shoved Leo’s arm off her and had stormed out of the tent, intent on returning to her room alone.
Except that she was now in her room, and she was most definitely not alone.
Augrys walked in, followed by Leo and Erick.
She shoved Erbert’s medicine into her mouth, crunching it into pieces and swallowing.
It soothed the stomach cramps, but its efficacy was less.
Her feet remained cold, and it crept upwards.
It reminded her of her magic core’s steel wall and its frost. She was not fine; she knew from her lightheadedness and heavy breathing.
“Leave me alone!” she snapped at them, drawing her knees up.
She hated it. Everything was about what she should or shouldn’t do, but she didn’t need that. She wasn’t a child who needed to be led by the hand; she needed guidance, yes, but she needed support in her pursuit of power. Because only power would keep her safe when everything else failed.
After some hushed words, Leo squatted in front of her, his gray eyes narrowed in concern. “Reli, you need to let Erick take care of you. Magic drain is dangerous and needs to be treated within hours. If it sets in, there’s a chance you die.”
She avoided his stare, focusing on a small imperfection on the floor instead.
She had been near death several times on Tuom’s table; it had always felt the same—a chilling awareness that her heart was seconds away from ceasing its beat.
The sensation plagued her now, hovering at the back of her consciousness—if she didn’t listen, she would die.
But her stubbornness wouldn’t let go of her defiance.
Besides, death spelled an end to her struggles, to her sense of responsibility.
The only problem was that Tuom still lived, and that was unacceptable.
Erick tried next. “You should be able to recover in a day, and that’ll still give us enough time for the mending session, but you need to let me heal you now.”
It was also true that she wanted the mending session; she wished to remember her family, but it was also for them that she sought power.
If the Watchers succeeded, their world would be in danger, and that was also unacceptable.
She would break a million times before she allowed it to happen; if it meant she took risks, then so be it.
Augrys was the last to say something.
“I’m sorry. I was an ass. Please allow Erick to treat you.”
She glanced at him, daring him to lie, but he hung his head in shame. It was enough to gratify her, and she nodded.
“Fine.”
Leo squeezed her knee, stepping away to allow Erick to scurry over. His magic swept over her like a spring rain washing away winter’s grime.
He clucked his tongue. “It’s not unsalvageable."
“How bad is it?” she whispered. She didn’t want Augrys to hear. Erick could tell him later, but she didn’t want to deal with another outburst now.
“You’re magic drained. If it weren’t for the magic replenisher you had, it would have set in before I had a chance to look at you.”
She bit her lip; Erbert had known, and she had responded with suspicion. She made a mental note to apologize to him the next time she saw him. Shooting pain ran across her abdomen, and she hunched over, exhaling shaky breaths.
“Any chance,” she said, her voice wavering, “that you can knock me out during treatment?”
“I was about to suggest it. Here, take my arm.” He helped her stand up, leading her to her bed. “The treatment itself should take about an hour, but its effects will take a while to set in. I’ll let you stay asleep after I’m done. That sound good?”
She bit her lip harder as another cramp hit. “Yeah, whatever works. Just… make it stop.”
Erick frowned like he wanted to say something, but he chose to keep quiet. He cast the spell to put her to sleep. Leo stood at the foot of her bed, offering her a supportive smile.
“You’ll be back up and running in no time,” he said.
She smiled at his encouragement. “Thanks.”
Augrys, however, stood farther back, enshrouded by her room’s shadows.
He had returned to his sullen self; only his hazel eyes revealed his concern.
She felt it then—regret. She shouldn’t have fought with him, but it was getting harder to understand him, harder to communicate with him.
In her memories of him, it had been the opposite.
She had been comfortable with him, trusting him with a lot of her personal struggles.
How long ago those memories seemed, how far away he felt from her.
But it was too late to change her decision—she would not look back. There was only forward.
She closed her eyes, accepting their schism.