Page 92 of Feathers and Scales

He attempted to lift her, but pain shot up his back from a wound. He stumbled into the couch. Placing his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes. She chuckled softly, but when he growled, she laughed harder.

“You’re still just a man even if you have a dragon inside you,” she said. “And right now, you need to rest.”

He smiled, his exhaustion agreeing with her words.

“Come on.” She held out her hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”

He grumbled but followed her with slow steps up to his bedroom loft. The morning sun peeked through the closed blinds, burning his eyes. Squinting, he collapsed atop the mattress, chest heaving. Izzy stood at the end of the bed, her stare prickling along his flesh.

“Well…” His eyes slid open. “Are you going to join me, or do you want to watch me all morning?”

Face turning bright red, she placed her glasses on the nightstand and crawled under the blankets. Daxton stretched his body along her side, wrapped his arm over her stomach, and rested his face against her shoulder. Images of Jamal carrying Serephina’s injured body flashed past his closed eyes. Daxton’s dragon paced, furious at its prey getting away, and Daxton calmed his beast with the reassurance that they’d bring him down.

He squeezed Izzy. “How is Serephina doing?”

Izzy’s fingers soothed over his short hair, calming his worrying mind. “She’ll be able to leave the hospital tomorrow.”

His eyes shot open. “So quickly?”

Izzy stared at his chest. “I may have helped.”

She must have healed Serephina like she had Simon. Daxton didn’t press, knowing it was a sensitive topic, but the question burned in his mind.

“Do you remember the day you found one of my feathers in the library?”

He smiled. “The trinket you swiped from me and broke into a thousand pieces of dust?”

“Fallen lose them when we grant miracles.”

“What do you mean, miracles?” Daxton whispered.

“I lost that feather, among others, because I returned some ancient texts from the Archives to their original condition. I needed every page to learn which codex might have information about our link. I told Mrs. Renly not to ask questions or make a commotion about it.”

“How did you do it?”

“By using the energy of our feathers, we can perform a variety of miracles, but I lose the feather in the process.”

Her words punched his gut. She sacrificed her ticket to Heaven to help others. “So, when you sent Simon the laptop or when you healed Simon…”

“I lost feathers,” she said, her voice thick.

“Is there a limit to what you can do?”

“I can’t do whatever I wish. I have learned there are laws to our ability as we interact with a theoretical Spirit Dimension. I can heal Simon by reverting him back to a younger, healthier version of himself. Sadly, I cannot do the same for myself or any other Fallen.”

Daxton blinked. He didn’t quite follow her idea of another dimension. But he understood her need to find a scientific explanation for their abilities; it was who she was—a scientist.

“There is a reason we are more secretive now,” she said. “Many have hunted us for the fountain of youth. Such a group has captured andtortured me.” Shadows laced her sun-gold eyes. “Fotios refused my miracle after a few millennia—said he had lived long enough. It felt like he had given up on me. I honored his wish, knowing it would break me. I’ve spent only one hundred and forty-three years with Simon, but I can’t fathom losing him.”

The air left Daxton’s lungs. He’d suspected Simon was older, but never would have imagined she’d extended his life. Her frown creased her forehead and cheeks—pins to his heart.

“How is Simon doing?” he asked.

“He’s loving it here.”

“Here?”

“We may or may not have crashed through the Illusion.”