“Guards!” Thaddeus cried, but no one paid us any attention. They didn’t give a flying fuck.
“He’s gone into shock,” Marcus said frantically.
Thiswas how I knew I felt zero remorse for what I’d done. Those fuckers deserved everything they got for hurting my friends.
“Oh, for the gods’ sake,” Kallie sighed. She’d been pushing Ava’s wheelchair, but she abandoned Ava to kneel beside Alistair. “Grab his cane and Pig. I’ll help him to the infirmary.”
Let me help first,Oberi offered. She flew off her perch on Ava’s chair and fluttered down beside Alistair. I felt the warmth of her magic in my chest as she worked her healing on him.It’s not perfect, but it will speed up his healing. Get the doctors to set the break immediately.
I quickly translated, then our friends took off, leaving Ava and me alone with our Familiar.
She reached out for my hand. “Charlie, are you okay?”
Her voice was full of pain, and I knew she had to be crying. Deuce had really hurt her.
“It’s just a little blood,” I said. “I’ll be fine. But you need to get some help. We have to go to the infirmary.”
“No,” she rasped, her tone pleading. “Don’t make me go back there.”
My heart dropped. “Ava, we need to make sure you’re okay.”
“Oberi can help me,” she insisted. “I don’t need another doctor telling me they can’t help, like they always fucking do.”
Oberi’s wings fluttered as she hovered before Ava. I felt magic leave her, like I had when she’d healed Alistair’s arm, and she said,My magic doesn’t detect any injury, just irritation and pain from aggravating the wound. She’ll be all right, but she needs rest.
“Good.” Ava gave a light cough. “Let’s get out of here.”
I hitched a breath. “I’m not sure—”
She is fine, Charlie. I would not tell you she is if she was not, Oberi noted gently.
Her reassurance was welcome, but barely enough to satisfy me. At the same time, I wasn’t going to drag Ava down to the infirmary kicking and screaming. I knew she’d had a horrible time there.
“If your pain gets worse, we’re going in,” I said.
“Whatever,” Ava breathed. “Just take me somewhere I can forget about it.”
I wheeled her to the Arboretum, because her mood always seemed to brighten whenever we were there. We stopped by the small pond inside, and I took a seat on the ground while Ava gulped steadying breaths beside me.
“I’m sorry Deuce pushed you out of your chair,” I said quietly.
“It was horrible,” she said bluntly. I heard a splashing sound as she threw something into the pond— probably a rock. “Just another reminder I’m fucking helpless now.”
“You’re not helpless. Deuce is just an asshole. I’ll teach you how to defend yourself, just in case magic isn’t quick enough,” I promised.
There was a heavy silence, before I added, “I tried to make it right.”
“You can’t kill people for me.”
“Well, why not?”
“Because it’s going to change who you are.”
It took a moment for her meaning to hit. “Pidge, those guys broke Alistair’s arm and tried to kill Thaddeus. If we’re going to save the Elves, we’re going to have to do a lot worse.”
“You didn’t have to take that warlock's life. You chose to,” Ava said. “There’s a big difference.”
I shrugged. The gesture would seem cold to someone on the outside, but I couldn’t help it if I felt detached from it all. This world couldn’t keep pushing me to my limit and expect me not to fight back.
