It was a relief to see the spire of Nadir’s home. Our whole flight I was antsy, monitoring her heartbeat and breath. Both were labored but still strong considering her wounds.
Astraea teased me over my fussing, but I knew she was trying to hide her pain, both physical and within.
“Oh my–Nyte!?”My name came out in a squeak from Davina when she looked at me. “You’re… you’re walking! You’re awake!”
“I sure hope I am,” I said.
Her gaze widened, skimming over Astraea.
“What happened?” Davina cried.
“She needs Lilith’s help, now.”
“We’ve been coming up with all kinds of reckless plans to come for you since Drystan left with Nyte,” Lilith said, rushing across the yard to meet them.
She assessed Astraea as I carried her hurriedly into Nadir’s home.
Inside, I didn’t take her to the table; she needed warmth. Nadir straightened from their lounging position by the fire as I kneeled to lay Astraea on the rug in front. Davina fetched pillows, and Lilith began cutting away Astraea’s clothing to better tend to the wounds.
“My blood was on the blade,” I informed them.
Lilith’s eyes snapped up and the fear in them rocked through me anew.
When she peeled back the layers around Auster’s dagger wound… the whole room spun. Her skin had turned gray around the thin stab site, webbing-thin vines like those of a leaf reaching over her ribs.
“What does it mean?” I asked desperately.
The terror only grew in Lilith’s soft eyes when she looked at me.
“I think… I think it’s like poison. These vines will continue to grow, and when they reach her heart…”
No. I didn’t accept that.
“How do we make it stop?” I asked with deceptive calm. When no one answered I growled under my breath, cutting my wrist with my teeth.
Lilith’s small hand lashed out to stop me before I could give Astraea my blood.
“That might only make her worse now… considering it’s your blood that’s harming her. Drinking it now could trigger a counter effect to the healing properties it once had.”
I looked Astraea over with absolute desolation. Yet she smiled for me, running her touch up my arm.
“How long do I have?” she asked Lilith.
Her friend’s brow pulled together with a wash of devastation. Lilith examined the wound more closely for a few long, tense minutes.
“It’s not spreading too fast. Three weeks, maybe less.”
Astraea blew out a long breath, contemplating her thoughts with her distant sight on the dark, wooden roof.
“Then we need to get moving to stop the gods sooner rather than later.” Sheplayed the situation off so nonchalantly while I was silently losing my godsdamned mind.
“Never mind that. We going to find a fucking cure.”
“Nyte—”
“No. You don’t have three weeks, Astraea. You have eternity with me.”
Again, she smiled, but she couldn’t hide the weight of her doubt. She might accept her time was draining, but I would never.
