Page 84

She took a steadying breath to avoid making a sound of pain before turning her arm over and bringing it to Cyn’s mouth.

He latched on and groaned, eyes fluttering closed.

My eyes widened as the discoloration along his torso started to fade within seconds, revealing his lightly tanned skin. “It’s working!” I laughed, relief hitting me so hard it made me lightheaded.

We remained like that for what felt like forever, but I knew it couldn’t have been more than a minute or so. Otherwise, Rae wouldn’t have stayed conscious. I only hoped that this truly worked and I wouldn’t need to knock Cyn out and drag him back to Elyrdin to see if a vallant knew of a cure.

A Nyrith’s blood could soothe their mate, but aside from the Kilnejar bloodline, none could heal their mate. It further proved that Rae was special.

Rae sat back down and cradled her arm.

I ripped the sleeve of my shirt and moved to her side, wrapping her arm. She couldn’t transform to heal faster, so she’d need to keep it wrapped for at least a day.

I glanced over at Cyn.

He sat in silence, staring at Rae’s blood on his fingers after wiping it from his lips, his expression shuttered.

“We should stop here and sleep.” I looked around the mossy space. It was as comfortable a place as we’d find. Stopping anywhere else could mean sleeping in rotten leaves, overrun by all kinds of creepy-crawlies.

Rae looked at the trees. “Are we safe here?”

“As safe as anywhere else out here.” I glanced at Cyn.

We needed to let him rest. I wasn’t sure Rae’s blood had completely purged the dark magic of Feranzis from his system, but I knew his body wasn’t up for another round of hiking through the underbrush.

“I’ll take the first watch. You two sleep.”

22

ACCEPTANCE

CYN

Screeching in the distance startled me awake. Sitting up, I scanned the treeline, listening for its source. Hearing nothing, I let my gaze drop to the body beside me.

Despite the lack of moonlight and artificial light, the glowing flora and fungi provided enough illumination to see each other and our position in the dark forest.

A nearby cluster of glowing mushrooms cast a cyan glow on Raelynn’s face as she lay curled on her side, facing me, breath coming slow and even.

I didn’t know why she chose to sleep next to me when she had Zeke.

Was she worried about me?

I wanted to laugh at the ridiculous thought the moment it crossed my mind.

My gaze shifted to her torn sapphire dress. She ripped it to cover my wound, but the magic from the cursed woods seeped through anyway, accelerating the inevitable change we’d all face if we didn’t escape.

Still, she’d taken care of me. Offered me her blood to save my life. Even if the idea that she cared seemed ridiculous, her actions proved it true.

I didn’t understand it.

I slumped back against the tree, the rough bark scraping my bare skin.

Zeke rested against the tree across from us, having fallen asleep while on watch.

I wasn’t mad that he’d fallen asleep. He’d held it together for all of us through a taybil attack, then my descent into madness. He looked out for Raelynn all alone while keeping me from the abyss until she healed me.

He remained in his alternate form, ready to fight if needed. I’d transformed back while asleep without conscious thought, likely from exhaustion.