34. Thirty-Four

Thirty-Four

“Pri is ready to begin,” Andrues said, pulling the door to his bedroom shut behind him.

“I have to stay with her. I have to be here while you heal her,” Wren stated, his words still frantic—rushed.

“She will not allow that,” Andrues said, his voice firm. I glanced over at Landers who was leaning against the wall of the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest and his face pulled together in tight lines. “She has asked me to heal her while you find Ata, and that is what I will do.”

“She is in pain. She needs me,” Wren said, taking a step toward the door as Andrues hand gripped the handle tighter.

“She needs you to protect your family more.” Andrues voice was soft as he said the words. He let his hand slip from the door handle as he placed it on Wren’s shoulder. “Pri is strong, she has not survived as an Intelligence Officer in these realms for centuries out of luck. She understands the pain healing these wounds will cause, but she knows she will survive it. All she wants is for Ata to be found, even if that means she must endure this pain alone.”

Wren nodded, dragging a hand over his face as I stepped to his side, lacing my fingers through his.

“I will stay with her, Wren. I will not leave her side until Andrues is done healing her,” I promised, squeezing his hand. His eyes met mine, so full of desperation and pain, and nodded.

“Can I see her before we go?” Wren asked Andrues.

Andrues nodded, stepping away from the door and gesturing his arm toward it. Wren let out a sharp breath, squaring his shoulders before turning the handle and stepping into the room. I watched as the door shut then turned to Landers.

“How long will you be gone?”

“As long as it takes to find her,” Landers said, pushing off the wall and running a hand through his hair. “Keep an eye on the necklace I gave you. If anything happens to us, the five of you need to get to Ithia, immediately.”

I let out a sharp breath and wrapped my arms around my middle. I watched as Landers gestured his head to Andrues. Andrues nodded in silent understanding then stepped around us and disappeared down the stairs. My eyes met Landers’s as he took a step toward me.

“Mornos is dangerous. The magic that this realm holds makes it almost impossible to know what is real and what is a glamour—or a distortion of reality. I cannot say for certain that Wren or I will come back alive . . . or that Ata is still alive,” Landers said, his jaw clenching as the words left his mouth. My throat began to constrict. “Whatever happens, please promise me that you will help Andrues get everyone else to safety. Promise me that you will help him protect Locdragoon from whatever is coming next.” My brows furrowed at his words.

“Landers, I—”

“You are strong enough, Hyacinth,” Landers interrupted. He knew what I was going to say. He could read it all over my face—the doubt that was etched there.

“You are not going to die,” I said choking back a sob. Landers face softened as he reached his hand out and pulled me into his chest. His arms tightened around me as I breathed him in. Memorizing his scent—his warmth.

“Hyacinth, I—”

Wren opened the door, cutting Landers off as we both looked over to him.

“Let’s go,” Wren said sharply. Landers gave a curt nod, pulling away from me. I tightened my fingers around his hand frantically as he pulled away—not wanting to let go, not ready for what would happen next.

Landers’s emerald eyes met mine one last time, and as I whispered his name he vanished from the room.

I stood there, alone, in the silent hall as a single tear slid down my cheek. My hand still stretched out to where Landers had been—unwilling to move.

“Hyacinth,” Andrues’s voice rang like a warning bell in the heavy silence and my head snapped in his direction. I hadn’t seen him come back up the stairs; I hadn’t heard his footsteps. He laid a hand on my shoulder and let out a deep breath. “We are doing everything we can for Ata, and right now, Pri needs us.”

I nodded. He was right.

“What do you need from me?” I asked, shifting my weight.

“Please, just be there for her. Don’t let her feel this alone.”

It was the first time I had ever seen such raw emotion in Andrues’s eyes as he spoke. His sapphire eyes pleaded with me to comfort his sister while he cut her open. I could see the pain there, the hurt knowing the agony he had to inflict to heal her. I understood it.

Andrues, let his hand drop from my shoulder as he stepped into the room. I followed behind, latching the door shut behind me. Pri laid on the bed that was pushed into the corner of the room. There was a table set up beside it with all of Andrues’s salves and herbs. A tattered chair sitting across from a lit fireplace was the only other thing in the room and I swallowed as I examined the dank space, knowing the agony the torment that was about to unfold.

Pri gave me a limp smile from across the room. Returning the gesture I sauntered over to her, placing her hand in mine.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered

“I know,” Pri croaked, her voice hoarse. I slid into the bed next to her, leaning my back against the stone wall and pulled her between my legs. She winced in pain with the movement.

“I need you to stay as still as you can. Can you do that for me, Pri?” Andrues asked as Pri nodded in response. “I am going to start with the wounds around your neck, they will take the longest to heal.” My heart raced in my chest, the memory of the anguish rolling through my veins. Pri’s fingers gripped my forearm as Andrues stood to begin the process.

Just as Andrues lifted the blade to Pri’s neck, the door to the room opened. Our eyes shot across the room to see Ardan standing in the doorway. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair disheveled. He walked slowly toward us and my heart splintered at the expression on his face.

“I want to help,” Ardan whispered, his eyes locking with Pri’s. “You are my brother’s mate. I cannot let you suffer this pain.” My heart cracked at his words as Pri took in a sharp breath.

“I am scared,” Pri whispered, a sob escaping her chest.

“So am I,” Ardan said, kneeling at her side and taking her hand in his. Andrues’s eyes met Ardan’s, a question in his gaze. “I am ready,” Ardan said as Andrues cut into Pri’s throat.

A gasp left Pri’s lips as I held her still and Ardan’s body stiffened. A low groan escaped his lips and I could see his body convulsing with the pain.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched, my heart cracking at the sight.

But Ardan did not let another sound leave his lips as Andrues sliced open another burn.

Hours passed by the time Andrues set down his blade and began to pack Pri’s wounds. Ardan collapsed onto the floor, fading in and out of consciousness from the pain he had just endured.

My mind was numb and I struggled to bring myself back into the present—back to the reality I did not want to be in. Andrues helped Ardan to his bedroom as I tucked Pri under a blanket and moved to the chair in front of the fireplace.

I needed sleep, but I would stay. I had promised Wren I’d stay.

A soft tap on my shoulder pulled me from my trance and I pulled my eyes from the fire that was now just glowing embers. I looked up to see Andrues standing over me.

“Get some sleep. We need you strong,” Andrues said, careful not to wake Pri whose deep breaths echoed throughout the room. I slid my fingers around my neck, clutching the chain that was still holding fast and nodded.

I walked toward the door and stopped at the entrance before turning back to Andrues.

“Are we going to survive this?” I asked, my eyes meeting his sapphire gaze.

“I do not know,” Andrues responded. I let out a sharp breath, his honesty hanging in the silence of the room as I pulled open the door and stepped into the hallway.