“Let’s go home.”
Chapter 19
Ryder
“Have you found anything?” I ask Artemus before he has a chance to sit down.
“Not yet, but we’ll keep looking. There has to be something about phoenixes out there. It just might take a little longer to find it.”
I appreciate his attempt at reassurance, but it’s been over a month since I brought her back to the Shadow Lands and we haven’t found a speck of useful information.
“Start asking around if anyone has any stories passed down. I don’t care if it’s a child’s bedtime story, we need any information we can get.”
“Good idea. I’ll start on that right away.”
“I’ll beback for the council meeting.”
He nods, but I can tell by the look he’s giving me that he knows exactly where I’m headed.
Amaya instantly stands when I walk into the infirmary. Can’t say her wariness is undeserving. Between everything she’s heard about me and knowing my father is the one who did this to Reign, her reaction to me is fair. Not to mention she has an overly protective nature when it comes to anything related to Reign.
“How is she doing?” I ask, taking my place at the foot of the bed.
“Same as always. Our real-life Sleeping Beauty,” she reports as she strokes Reign’s hair. My grip tightens around the bed bars and Amaya seems to pick up on my frustration. “Maybe today is the day. You never know.”
“She’s been in a coma for over a month. Every day we think she might wake up and every day she doesn’t.”
“But she’s here. She’s alive. She’s not a pile of ash. I want her to wake more than anyone, but I won’t ignore that her simply being here is a miracle.”
She’s right. Right now, this bed could be empty, and Reign Calloway could just be a distant memory. I should do my best to remember that.
“Council is waiting for you, sir.”
“Duty calls,” Amaya says, motioning to the door.
“You should get some rest. Henry will report to me if there are any changes.”
I can tell she’s annoyed with my not-so-subtle order, but she kisses Reign’s forehead and walks out of the room.
“Sir?”
“I’ll be right there. Leave me.”
As I move to the side of the bed, I can see her chest rise and fall with steady breaths. Something about it is comforting. It’sa reminder that she’s just sleeping. The feeling of her hot hand against my icy skin is electrifying. Her warmth seeps into me, thawing my cold exterior.
I’ve convinced myself that my attachment to her is only due to the guilt I feel, but right now I can’t deny that I would do just about anything to see those emerald eyes again. Even if they stared daggers of hatred at me.
I release her hand, letting it fall to her side. If I stay any longer, I’m afraid I’ll never find the willpower to leave. Before I force myself to head for the door, I lean down so that I’m only an inch from her ear.
“The world needs you, Reign Calloway. Come back to us.”
It’s only a whisper and she probably can’t hear a thing, but I needed to say it. This is all my fault and I’ll never forgive myself if she doesn’t wake up. I quickly head for the door, pushing down the faint aching clutching at my chest. I’m suddenly thankful for the distraction of the council meeting.
“Alright. Who wants to go first?” I ask as I take my seat at the head of the long, rectangular table.
“I can,” Jace offers from a few seats down on my right. “We finally have everyone placed in units based on skill level. I’ve been working with the luminaries, but the Avelion and Nazrelian refugees need a lot of work. Most of Cyron, Strellesia, and the few Aexetan civilians can at least hold their own, though.”
“Good to hear. Not everyone is meant to be a fighter. There are plenty of other jobs for the ones who are not as comfortable with combat. Skill level isn’t only physical. Figure out who excels at other things like making medicines and thinking outside of the box when it comes to war strategies. You’d besurprised at how many of the people sent here as Lesser had much more to offer once their individual gifts were recognized and appreciated. Who’s next?”
