Chapter 25

E mara sat in the infirmary on one of the only chairs in the room whilst she watched Naya bathe a cold cloth over Kellen's forehead. Her healing magic urged to help, but she knew he was in good hands with his mother and her sister. So, Emara focused on keeping everyone else balanced in the room, reaching out to them all and soothing their worries.

Gideon stood against the unlit fireplace on the right in silence, and to her left stood Torin, his arms folded across his chest, an uneasy expression still screwed into his features. She knew Artem and Breighly stood outside with Arlo, guarding.

No one knew what had happened to Kellen, and that was the way they wanted it to remain until they worked out what to do. She hoped that the whispers that would surely spread of Kellen's condition only claimed that he was intoxicated or that he hadn't eaten enough and the trauma of the day had taken over his body.

But she knew the truth.

Kellen had had a vision without sleep, and it had wiped him out, the vision so powerful, so destructive, that it had taken Kellen to his knees and rendered him unconscious. It had forced him into a nightmare.

Naya knew it too, and Emara hoped that the glances they exchanged were discreet enough for no one else to pick up on.

Emara now understood why the hunters deemed it bad luck to have a True Dreamer fighting for them; if Kellen had been hunting when the vision occurred, he would have been helpless, unable to fight. It was terrifying to watch him squirm on the floor, lost in the horrors of his own head. And if that had been on a battlefield, he might not have made it out of there alive.

Emara only wished that the clan would see Kellen's visions as a blessing if they could stabilise them. They could be a tool, a skill and talent that could be honed to make the Blacksteels and their unit unbeatable. If Kellen learned how to control his visions, he would be an incredible asset and powerful weapon. He would not be bad luck or a hindrance. He could only make them stronger, but she had no idea what questions he would get when he awoke from his slumber.

"His temperature is coming down," Naya confirmed as she removed the muslin cloth from his head. "Once Rhea comes back with the elixirs and I know he is okay, I will head down and tell everyone that it was a seizure caused by the stress of today."

Emara nodded. "Is there anything I can do?"

Naya smiled woefully, her hair an unbound heap all around her shoulders. "You have done everything you can, my love. He will be okay, thanks to your protection."

"And is that what it was, Mother?" Torin's voice croaked out. "A seizure? Because there was an awful lot of whispering. If there is anything else going on, I should know."

Emara twirled the ring on her left hand around and around, hoping it would take the edge off the frosty air even as the heat of the summer night swelled her hands.

Naya rose from the bed. "To the Gods above."

Emara lifted her gaze to find Naya's eyes planted on her hand.

She looked from Torin to Emara, her mouth open, eyes filling with tears.

Emara pulled her hand into a fist and immediately tried to hide it, but it was too late.

She hadn't even thought to remove it until a better time.

"We didn't have a chance to tell anyone." Torin's voice was rough. "We were going to announce it earlier, but there was a change of plan." His ocean eyes went to his brother and then back to his mother.

Gideon sucked in a breath, his chest puffing out, and a warmth twinkled in his pine eyes. He pulled himself from the fireplace mantle and walked towards his brother before wrapping his arms around him in an embrace. "Congratulations, brother."

Torin's eyes widened and shock set into his features as his arms came up to return the embrace. Naya let out a cry of happiness, her hands coming up to cover her mouth and her cheeks flush with surprise.

The door opened sharply. "Is he awake?" Artem Stryker asked, but his face fell as his eyes took in Kellen, still unconscious. Arlo and Breighly peered in from behind him.

Naya whirled to face the inked warrior. "No, but the Gods have given us a gift of good news whilst we wait for a miracle."

Artem's gaze explored the room and he squinted like he always did when he was trying to put a puzzle together. Breighly moved into the room, and Arlo hovered by the door.

Naya cut across the space to where Emara was now standing and took her into her arms. As she clung to her, she whispered, "I saw this in the stars for you, my girl, many moons ago. I am utterly thrilled. Thank the Gods it's you. Gods bless Rhiannon."

Emara fought back an emotion that almost choked her as the small earth witch pulled back. Her motherly energy was always so comforting and it smoothed out all the worry in Emara's heart, even if it was just for a few seconds.

"Are you happy?" she asked as tears pooled in her glittering blue eyes.

"Yes," Emara breathed as her chin dipped. "I am."

"Happy about what?" Artem called out, still confused. "What is happening here? Someone fill a guard in."

"Seriously," Breighly scoffed, rolling her eyes before they set on Emara and then Torin. "Congratulations." Her smile was genuine.

"Congratulations?" Artem looked for a sign of something to celebrate.

Emara's cheeks flushed as she flashed up the hand that bore the engagement ring, and Artem's grin instantly beamed across his face. "You have got to be fucking kidding me." He ran at her, lifting her into the air and squeezing her. "Apologies for cursing, Mrs Blacksteel." He fired a look at Naya before he turned his attention to Emara once more. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"

"Put me down." She elbowed his ribs the only way she could, squished by his huge embrace.

"I knew Tori-boy had it in him," he said as he let her drop back to her feet. Torin coughed, and Artem flashed him a grin. "I mean, congratulations to you both. Seriously." His golden gaze was back on Emara's face, ablaze with so much genuine happiness. "He doesn't deserve you, and don't let him forget it." He winked before making his way over to Torin. "Come here, big man."

Torin tried to put his hands out to stop him, but his big inked arms reached out and got him in a headlock. "Engaged, eh?" He rubbed his head with this knuckle. "No longer a free man! Who would have thought Torin Blacksteel would ever be in love?"

Torin stuck his leg behind Artem's and swept him to the ground, letting him out of his hold. The massive warrior hit the ground in a loud dump.

"Boys," Naya barked. "Really, here?"

Artem bounced up from the ground and swung an arm around Gideon. "So, who is it going to be, T? Your best man at the wedding. Come on, let us know. Me or him? May as well put Gideon out of his misery now."

Gideon rolled his eyes, shoving him off, and Torin gave his friend a rude gesture that earned another scolding from Naya. "Boys, do I need to remind you that we are in an infirmary? For Rhiannon's sake."

Artem bowed his head and whispered, "Sorry." He nodded in Torin's direction with a cheeky grin. "So, when did you ask her? I need all the details."

Torin didn't look fazed at all by his questions. "I am giving you no details, Stryker."

Emara giggled, and Naya rolled her eyes as she wandered over to look out the window. Arlo tried to smile as he gave them his congratulations too, but his eyes were on his friend.

Artem strolled over and tapped Torin's shoulder. "Come on, man, just one little detail. That's all I ask. I am in this now. I am invested. I am president of the Tormara fan club."

Emara scoffed.

Torin gave a cheeky grin of his own. Trust Artem to be the only person in his own club. "I asked her when she found me in the office."

"The commander's office?" he gasped like a wife of the elite. "You asked the Empress of Air to marry you in the commander's office?"

"It was perfect," Emara cut in, and she could feel Torin's gaze on her. "It didn't need to be anywhere else or anything else. It was perfect for us."

"So, let me get this straight, this happened before we walked you back down to the entertainment hall?" Artem's voice was high in disbelief as he looked from Breighly back to Torin.

"Yes. Not everyone needed to know until we were ready to announce it. And if I had told you, the full kingdom would have heard about it by now."

"Damn right they would have," Artem agreed, scowling at Gideon, who just sighed. "That's what a best man would do."

Emara let out a giggle, and Torin gave her a quick wink before his gaze set back on his friend. "I asked her to be my wife because I can't go another day without her."

"Awwww," Artem cooed. "You honestly surprise me every day, Blacksteel. I knew there was a nice bastard in there somewhere." His eyes flew to Naya. "Again, apologies for my language."

Everyone in the room laughed, including Gideon. Even Naya smirked.

Emara played with the ring on her hand again, looking down as it sparkled. "We were going to tell everyone at the celebration, but everything moved so quickly…"

"It's okay." Naya's kind azure eyes blinked a few times before she stepped towards Torin, her emerald gown sweeping the floor. "I am so proud of you, my boy." She reached up on her tiptoes and ran a hand over his face. "I have never been prouder of you than I am today."

When Torin hugged her, dwarfing his mother, Emara's heart found itself in her mouth and tears stung her eyes.

"Rhiannon has blessed us when we needed it most," she said as her heels found the floor again.

"Yes, she has, Mrs Blacksteel," Artem said. "And I am sure she will bless us again and send health to Kellen too."

Arlo looked up with concern then, his eyes went to his brother as his words echoed around the room.

"She will," was all Naya said.

As Artem begged for more details from Torin and Naya went back over to Kellen, Emara found her feet travelling over to Gideon.

"Congratulations," he said with a nod. "I am happy for you and Torin."

"Thank you." She flashed a nervous smile at him. "You have no idea how much that means to hear that from you."

Gideon nodded before letting out a small laugh. "There is never a dull moment in the Blacksteel Tower, is there?"

"No," Emara said back, a little note of endearment in her voice. "There really isn't."

Her head turned to the door when Rhea came through it holding a tray full of elixirs. Gideon moved quickly to hold the door open for her and then Torin moved to take the heavy tray from her hands.

"Did you find the witch-hazel and the leaf of a mandrake?" Naya asked.

"I found everything we need," Rhea confirmed. Her hair was a mess, hinting that her search for the plants had been frantic.

Once everything had been crushed, mixed, and brewed, Naya placed the vial of potion to Kellen's lips and poured the liquid down his throat.

Before long, Emara saw the greyness of Kellen's skin start to take on the golden Blacksteel colouring again. Relief washed over her as his fingers relaxed. As the potion worked through his arms, legs, and spine, the tension in his body eased. Naya took a seat on the edge of his bed and brushed his hair back from his face. "Come on, my baby. Come back to us."

His chest began rising and falling normally, and his lips parted from the thin tight line they had morphed into. His eyes flickered open, and Rhea handed Naya some water for him to drink right away.

A gasp left his mouth, and Naya caught the back of his head, encouraging him to drink.

"My baby," Naya cried out. She hugged him tightly. Gideon let out a heavy breath, and Torin ran a hand over his face and through his inky hair.

"Welcome back, baby Blacksteel," Artem announced. He nodded in Emara's direction, taking his leave. "I will leave you guys alone."

"Actually…" Kellen's voice was scratchy like his screaming had done some damage, and everyone froze. "I need as many of you to hear this as possible."