Chapter 29

29

DAX

O n the battlefield…

I have never felt such paralyzing fear as I do in this very moment. The strings of fate guide my eyes to meet Eira’s , and I see specs of blood marring her lips. Three thoughts rush through my mind in this moment…

Why is she by herself?

Why is she bleeding?

Fate would not be so cruel to take her away from me… would it?

M y vision shifts without much thought. Colors become brighter, and my vision grows sharper. I’ve never minded the enhanced eyesight that comes when my eyes turn black, but right now, I can feel it for the curse that it is. It’s as if the battle around me blurs in slow motion, and I can hear each stuttered breath that leaves my gaping mouth. My eyes track Eira as she crumples to the ground.

The world changes fast as it speeds up again. The cold, dead thing inside my chest shatters. My body aches as her name erupts from me, sounding guttural. “ Eira !” The world explodes as the darkness within me surrounds the battlefield.

No one sees me coming, and I don’t see the bodies in front of me as I slash and cut my way to her side. Friend or foe; it doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is getting to Eira . My raven.

I don’t know where my brothers are, but I don’t care. Eira is the only thing filling my thoughts. She is my obsession. It takes what feels like centuries to make it to her side. Kasim is hunched over her as he tries to staunch the bleeding in her stomach.

I startle when I see his face, his dark hazel eyes shifting to black with his grief. I’ve never seen my brother-in-arms weep, but the trails of blood smeared down his face tell another story. His eyes shine as he looks back to Eira .

His voice breaks when he says quietly, “ It won’t stop.” He sucks in a breath as he continues, “ She’s going to die if the bleeding doesn’t stop.”

Her eyes shift to me as I kneel near her head. Her eyes are glazed over with exhaustion and pain when she smiles softly up at me. My voice is hoarse as I ask, “ Are you trying to fly away from me, Little Raven ?”

Her smile widens as she whispers, “ Capture me before I get too far.”

This woman… I can hardly breathe as I watch her eyelids flutter closed before opening again. Have I not suffered enough in my life? Does fate find me so distasteful that I’ll be forced to watch the woman I love die in front of me? Must I do the unthinkable and curse her the same way my brothers and I have been? The light in her eyes fades quickly as I shift my body and rest my hand against her chest. “ Your soul is mine for reaping. You will forever be tied to me… to us. A raven forever trapped.”

She looks around before her eyes land back on mine. Her voice is filled with exhaustion when she says, “ I l-love you.” I have to bite my lip to hold back the tears that threaten my eyes. It’s as if she is saying goodbye.

Her eyes move to the others again before landing on Kasim as she repeats the words. I watch as my brother crumbles under her words. Sobs erupt from him, and I can no longer stop tears of my own from flowing down my face. He holds her hand so tightly to his cheek as his chest heaves in anguish.

I know I need to start the spell, or it will be too late. So , I begin chanting the words as my hand heats against her skin. The scream she releases nearly makes me recoil, but I muscle through the need to pull back. The spell is painful, which is why each of us has a scar on our chest.

The moment her screams cut off, I know her heart does too. I throw the magic of the spell into her chest as I yell, “ Pay the price!”

Without hesitation each of my brothers slices their hand, placing their bleeding palm on Eira . Once the spell is complete, I scream for the healers. There is only a short window between finishing the spell and forcing her heart to beat again, or it won’t work.

I watch as three healers surround her, pouring their magic into her. There’s a snap inside my chest, and I know the magic has taken hold. I can feel her restless soul as it tries to leave this plane of existence. I wrap my spiritual fingers around the orb and hold on tight.

I can feel her writhing and fighting my grasp, but that makes me only hold her tighter. Her emotions wash over me, and I almost release her. Fear’s icy fingers try to take hold alongside the pain. She feels unimaginable pain. How was she able to stay so calm in Kasim’s arms?

I suck in a breath as I hold her soul closer. My tears fall in earnest as I say softly, “ I’ve got you, Little Raven . You are safe.” The orb quivers before settling against me. The cold orb slowly turning warm as I curl myself around her. “ I’ve captured you,” I choke out.